South African Navy Museum

Taking a walk around Simon's Town after our train ride from Kalk Bay during our summer holiday in December we "stumbled" upon the South African Navy Museum . The museum is housed in and around the original Dockyard Magazine / Storehouse which dates back to 1743. After 1810 when the Royal Navy moved its headquarters from Cape … Continue reading South African Navy Museum →

Just Nuisance

Just Nuisance, along with Jock of the Bushveld, are probably the two most famous dogs in South Africa. Nuisance, a Great Dane, was born in 1937 and as his owner worked at the naval base he started hanging out with the sailors. Nuisance roamed around freely and began to take day trips by train with the sailors, going as … Continue reading Just Nuisance →

Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town train ride

My Kidz have never been on a train in their lives and the ideal opportunity for that first train ride presented itself while on holiday in Cape Town. Cape Town has a very good rail commuter service and we decided to catch the train (along with quite a few other tourists) from Kalk Bay to Simon's … Continue reading Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town train ride →

The blue fishing boat

Fishing boats in Kalk Bay Harbour

Chapmans Peak Caravan Farm

We really enjoy camping and usually try to camp at two different places for our summer camping holiday. Last year (2011) we planned to start out in Montagu and then head down to Cape Town for the second part. It was a bit of a struggle to find a family friendly, sheltered and nicely situated caravan … Continue reading Chapmans Peak Caravan Farm →

Harbour chains

Chains on quay side at Kalk Bay harbour on the Cape Peninsula

Slangkop Lighthouse

The Slangkop Lighthouse standing guard on the Atlantic coastline of the Cape Peninsula at Kommetjie

Chapman’s Peak Drive

Chapman's Peak Drive as seen from Noordhoek Beach.Spending 9 days in the Cape during the Summer holidays I had the opportunity to drive along Champan's Peak Drive on two occasions and just realised again why it is seen as one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Chapman's Peak Drive winds its was … Continue reading Chapman’s Peak Drive →

Cape Point Vineyards

Visitors to the Cape would normally associate wine with the Stellenbosch and Franchhoek areas, so big was my surprise to discover the Cape Point Vineyard on the Cape Peninsula just outside Noordhoek. Although some reports show that vines were planted in the Noordhoek area as early as 1752, the Cape Point Vineyard's first vines were … Continue reading Cape Point Vineyards →

Hydrangeas at Noordhoek

Hydrangeas (or Christmas Roses as we also call them) at the Noordhoek Farm Village during our Cape visit in January.