Car Rental South Africa companies operate with you in mind

Travellers approaching car rental South Africa companies need different things. There are those who are able to splurge on their choice of car rental South Africa vehicle. Others must be more careful. Some are inclined to explore the country’s wilderness in their car rental South Africa vehicle, while a different group may enjoy the buzz of driving around the major cities. Thus, here at the tip of the continent, where car rental South Africa companies are familiar with all of these people and their preferences, the car rental range on offer is extensive.

As regards markets, car rental South Africa companies cater for travellers wishing to see lots of the country on a conservative budget. By way of example, consider the case of the students who, at an average age of 21 and travelling with limited means, heard five of South Africa’s official languages spoken in their native regions. That’s a lot of driving in their car rental South Africa vehicle. But necessary for a trip which they might never forget.

Car rental South Africa vehicles which favour this sort of traveller include car brands like the Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta, and City Golf. And the price for these car rental South Africa vehicles is somewhere between R200 and R250 per day.

Car rental South Africa companies recognise that the country has a number of locations which may appeal to off road drivers and campers. There’s the dry, rugged Sekhukhune area in Gauteng; the lush bush of Chuenespoort on the northern side of the Olifants River; and the Lekgalameetse Provincial Park in the Drakensberg mountains.

Thus, car rental South Africa companies have vehicles which may appeal to this market. They include the Toyota Hilux Single Cab 4x4, and the Voyager Double Cab 4x4.

There are car rental South Africa vehicles available for those wishing to see the country in large groups; options like the Toyota Qantam eight seater.

Moving into the luxury car rental market, travellers wishing to experience the country in upmarket cars have a wide selection from which to choose. Their car rental South Africa options include the BMW 330Ci 3.OL, the Mercedes Benz SLK, and the Audi A3 convertible.

And lastly, car rental South Africa companies cater for travellers with particular tastes. These tastes may revolve around exploring Cape Town and the Garden Route, or visiting wine estates for picnics in vintage car rental South Africa vehicles.

This type of traveller will be able to choose from a number of car rental South Africa vehicles which include the 1980 Peugeot 504, the 1968 Jaguar 420, and the 1975 Alfa Spider.

So, with this extensive a range of vehicles, travellers in the country are more than likely to find a car rental South Africa option which suits their needs.

Source: Car Hire Cape Town

Cape Town City Centre Travel Information

Get yourself sorted with Cape Town car hire and loose yourseld in the enthusiasm and energy of a new, proud nation as it comes to life on the streets and in the City Centre of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. A rich diversity of shopping opportunities, art, music, cuisine, theatre, entertainment and nightlife awaits the visitor. And for the sporty and adventurous, there is something to suit everybody's adrenaline rush - from all kinds of conventional sports to water sports to helicopter flips.
 
The beautiful Mother City has so much to offer, but since it is not our intention to present a comprehensive tourism brochure - rather consult the various tourism information bureaus for detailed information - we'll stick to wetting your appetite with our Travel Information and some highly recommended attractions and things to do:

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE: Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fort is the oldest colonial and best preserved structure of its kind in South Africa. Guided tours daily - experience cultural exhibitions, military history and colourful ceremonies, the dungeons, blacksmith, fine wines and Cape Malay cuisine.

THE GARDENS:

Established in 1962 by Jan van Riebeeck, the first colonial governor in South Africa, to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to passing ships, the Company Gardens is a green, peaceful oasis in the middle of a bustling modern city, worthy of a stroll and house the SA Museum and Planetarium, the SA Cultural History Museum, the SA Jewish Museum, the SA National Gallery with contemporary works of art.

CRAFT MARKETS:

Get a taste of Africa at Green Market Square and the pedestrian walk at St George's Mall where vendors sell anything from African crafts to clothes, jewellery and books to bric-a-brac. Visit also the craft markets of Greenpoint, Noordhoek and Khayelitsha.

CABLE CAR UP TABLE MOUNTAIN:

The summit of Table Mountain is more than 1 000 metres high, provide spectacular views and sports a restaurant, shop, telescopes and walkways.

CAPE MALAY QUARTER:

Also called the Bo-Kaap, guided walking tours will give you insight into the influence of the colourful Malay culture on the SA cuisine and architecture in Cape Town.

LONG STREET:

Famous for all kinds of fascinating shops selling antiques, collectibles, clothing and books, a vibrant nightlife and good restaurants. If wine route travel is not your scene try explore the city on the open-top bus and get to know more about the history and culture of the Mother City

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is a working habour that has been turned into South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. It has over 270 contemporary stores, street entertainers, live music shows at the open air amphitheatre, 11 cinemas, an Imax theatre, 7 hotels, the Two Oceans Aquarium where you can swim with the sharks, boat trips, harbour cruises, helicopter charters, art and craft markets, designer clothes, African souvenirs and jewellery shops, a variety of top restaurants, historic sites, a working brewery - to mention a few.

Robben Island

The departure point for ferries and a tour of the maximum-security prison on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years, is at the Clock Tower.

Things to do in Cape Town Central, South Africa

• Visit the V&A Waterfront for excellent restaurants and shopping
• Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront
• Take a trip to Robben Island from the V&A Waterfront
• Take a harbour sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront
• Visit the oldest building in the country, the Castle of Good Hope
• Spend some time in the historic Company Gardens
• Visits the craft stalls at Green Market Square for a taste of Africa
• Explore the Bo-Kaap with its Cape Malay flavour
• Take the cable car up Table Mountain
• Take a helicopter trip over the Peninsula
• Visit Long Street with its antique and book shops
• Explore the city on the open-top bus
• Drive the scenic coastal road from Green Point to Chapman's Peak
• Hike up Table Mountain
• Take a charter cruise from the harbour

The Southern Suburbs

• Visit Mostert's Mill, one of only two Dutch windmills in the Cape, in Rosebank
• Visit Rodes Memorial on the slopes of Table Mountain where antelope roam freely
• Newlands Stadium and cricket fields
• Have a picnic in the Newlands Forest with its an amazing tapestry of trees
• Shop at award-winning Cavendish Square Shopping Centre in Claremont
• Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden - over 5 000 species of indigenous flora
• Visit Constantia Valley and the wine estates

Atlantic Coast, Cape Town, South Africa

• Do one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the world - the Chapman's Peak Drive
• Visit the Green Point craft market on Sundays
• Stroll along Sea Point Beachfront Promenade
• Swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Sea Point
• Visit the four elite beaches amongst the boulders of Clifton
• Enjoy the view from a restaurant at Camps Bay
• Visit Llandudno for surfing and scuba diving
• Tan at Sandy Bay, South Africa's only nudist beach
• Visit the Hout Bay harbour with its Yacht Club Marina and Mariner's Wharf
• Sunset cruises from Hout Bay harbour
• Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing
• Abseil from Chapman's Peak
• Cruise from Hout Bay to see the seals

Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa

• Take a train ride from Simonstown to Muizenberg
• Swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town
• Visit the Toy Museum and Maritime Museum in Simon's Town
• Visit Gemstone Factory in Simon's Town
• Visit Just Nuisance's Grave in Simon's Town
• Swim at Fish Hoek beach
• Snorkel off Sunnycove beach in Fish Hoek
• Golf at Clovelly
• Go caving in the mountains near Kalk Bay
• Browse amongst antique shops in Kalk Bay
• Visit the old fashioned fishing harbour in Kalk Bay
• Horse riding at 8 km Long Beach near Noordhoek
• For excellent surfing, angling, crayfish boat trips visit Kommetjie
• Visit Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve
• Take a walk at Cape Point to see the Fynbos (indigenous flora}
• Visit the ostrich farm - camel rides
• Walk in Silvermine Nature Reserve
• Surf at "The Hoek" or walk along the beach at Noorhoek
• Sunset beach rides - with champagne at Noordhoek
• Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing, power boating
• Blaauwberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa
• Enjoy the view of Table Mountain from 48 km of white, sandy beaches
• Top angling spots as well as surfing, wind and kite surfing
• Shop at Canal Walk, the biggest shopping centre on the continent
• Sail on the Rietvlei Dam in the Nature Reserve
• Milnerton Golf Club
• Visit Sanccob, famous rescue centre for polluted marine birds and penquins.
• Watch whales (July to September) and year-round dolphin watching at Bloubergstrand
• Visit Melkbosstrand, the gateway to the West Coast
• Koeberg Power Station and Nature Reserve
• Tygerberg Region, Cape Town, South Africa
• Visit the Grand West Casino Complex with 2 hotels, Olympic sized ice rink, 60 restaurants
• Take a township tour to Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats
• Entertainment and sport at the Velodrome
• Shop at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Bellville
• The Durbanville Wine Route has six wine estates open for tastings
• Durbanville Golf Club

Oostenberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa

• Oostenberg has six own wine estates with wine tasting and hamper picnics
• Visit the Tygerberg Zoo, Drakenstein Lion Park and Animalzone
• Visit the Wijnland Auto Museum - biggest collection of classic and vintage cars in the country
• Kuils River Golf Club offers an 18-hole course and welcomes visitors
• Helderberg Region, Cape Town Metro, South Africa
• Visit the Helderberg Wine Route, starting at Somerset West
• Visit the Stellenbosch winelands
• Swim at long, white, safe swimming beaches of Strand and Gordon's Bay
• Visit the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West
• Visit the Fynbos Biosphere near Betty's Bay
• Magnificent coastal scenic Clarence Drive to Rooi Els
• Watch whales from August to November from Gordon's Bay
• Scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing in area
• Shop at Somerset Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in the Western Cape
• Take a drive along the beautiful coastal False Bay road to Muizenberg
• Visit historic Vergelegen Wine Estate
• Visit Monkey Town with 24 species or monkeys
• Golf at Erinvale, Somerset West and Strand Golf Clubs
• Go for shark diving in Gansbaai further along the coast
• See the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate

Day Trip From Cape Town To Hermanus

Car Hire Durban Airport

With Around About Cars car hire Durban airport you will drive off with anticipation of indulging in a Durban travel adventure along the beachfront and exciting surrounds.

Settle your agreement with your car hire and venture toward Durban airport in anticipation and on the brink of indulging in a Durban Travel Adventure along the beachfront and exciting surrounds.

Durban weather calls for a dip in the bluest seas and a relaxing stroll along ‘The Mile’. There’s simply nothing as refreshing as divulging Eastern Cuisine whilst viewing an alluring Durban sunset.

Enduring a bumpy Rickshaw ride will be your right of passage. In fact, once you’ve allowed the colourful feather-clad ‘driver’ to lead you across the beachfront your Durban holiday has truly begun.

Of course, there are an array of sights and holiday activities to look forward to, but there are certain truly special aspects to experience before heading toward car hire Durban airport back home. One particular spot to explore is the Durban Beachfront which is truly spectacular and has recently been upgraded in preparation for the World Cup 2010 which expects hundreds, if not hundreds of tourists keen to explore the popular spot.  The beachfront usually buzzes with activity and people enjoying the summer breeze. You’ll find craft stalls selling traditional African arts such as beaded belts, earrings and carved animals – perfect souvenirs.

Durban is particularly popular for the food on offer. The hot curries are a sought-after delicacy. Look forward to fish curries, lamb curry, chicken curries and bunny chows (curry stuffed into a loaf of bread) to mention but a few. Of course, curries are available in mild and very hot as well as meat dishes there are curries for vegetarians too. So, everyone is able to enjoy. A very well-known food store called Sunrise, which can be easily located by enquiring information from a tourist information office, sells various types of curries at very affordable prices.  Keep in mind; most of the curries are not for the faint-hearted as it is particularly spicy and hot. Best advice to calm the burn; drink a good dose of Lassi which is a traditional yogurt type of drink.

Fact File on Cape Town

The South African city of Cape Town was founded 350 years ago, making it the oldest city in the country. It was once just a place where Portuguese ships put in for food and fresh water on their way to and from the Far East. When the Dutch took over the lucrative spice trade, they established a base on the Cape Peninsula but had no intention of starting a colony. Then someone noticed that the land around the Cape was prime agricultural real estate and Dutch farmers came to stake out new lives. They were soon followed by French Huguenots and others and the Cape Colony was firmly established.

Legislative Capital

The city is the legislative capital of South Africa but for many years it was the administrative, social and economic centre of the Cape Colony as well. Today, the distinction and responsibilities of the South African federal capital are shared by three cities: Pretoria is the administrative capital, the headquarters for the judiciary are in Bloemfontein and Cape Town is the seat of the national parliament. The Parliament Buildings, which date back to 1885, are on Government Street and guided tours are available. Cape Town is also the capital of the Western Cape Province.

This Old City is Young

Cape Town has a population of just over three million people. Half of Cape Town’s population is of mixed race; “coloured”, according to South African ethnic classifications. Native black Africans make up 26 percent of the city’s population and white Capetonians of Dutch and English descent account for 23 percent. The rest of the population is of Asian background. Of the total number, one third of the population is under the age of fourteen making Cape Town demographically a very ‘young’ city.

So Many Mother Tongues

The post-apartheid South African government recognises eleven official languages and three of them are commonly heard in the city. Xhosa is the mother tongue of most of Cape Town’s black residents. Afrikaans is a distinct Dutch dialect that is indigenous to South Africa and is the first language not only of the Afrikaners, the descendants of pioneering Dutch farmers, but also of a large portion of the coloured population. English, besides being the first language of Capetonians of British background, is also the language of business and education. Knowledge of English in Cape Town’s tourist industry a given, and most of the people holiday-makers encounter in the city speak English.

Buy Genuine Souvenirs

Poverty is a fact of life for many of the residents of the city and unemployment is high, especially in the black neighbourhoods. The inhabitants of about 40 percent of Cape Town’s households live on, or below, the poverty line. As a result, the city also has a high crime rate and visitors should take all common sense precautions. They can help by purchasing souvenirs that are hand-made by local craftsmen, sometimes from refuse found in the streets. These souvenirs are a genuine product of the community, and the purchase of them helps struggling families.

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Hermanus Whale Watching

Hermanus - Whale Capital of the World

Hermanus, Garden Route

It is possible to drive the entire length of the Garden Route in a day but that is not really the point of visiting this beautiful part of South Africa. Far better to do it in a leisurely fashion, with a few overnight stops along the way. Hermanus is at the western end of the route proper, and only a few hours’ drive from Cape Town itself.

This delightful seaside town is named after an old soldier, Hermanus Pieters, who set up camp here while looking for better pastures for his animals. With plenty of fresh water on hand, he decided to stay. It became a holiday destination almost by accident -- a lucky accident, as it happens, it is now one of the best places from which to watch the whales and dolphins frolicking in the bay at certain times of year. The town itself, part resort, part small fishing port, offers plenty of places to stay, ranging from cheap and cheerful guest houses to smart hotels.

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Hermanus Attractions

Hermanus – The Riviera of the South

 My first memories of Hermanus are from high school holidays, my school friends and I taking the bus up the East coast for a week of getting ejected unceremoniously from bars for being underage, scorned by the local girls for not being cool enough and raiding the liquor cabinets of parents that were gullible and unfortunate to allow us to stay in their Hermanus holiday homes. At around 115kms South East of Cape Town, or around an hours drive from the city centre, Hermanus, also known as the Riviera of the South, can be found. Once a sleepy little fishing village, this bustling town is now a popular holiday destination, with high school students still making that self-same pilgrimage every year.

Originally named Hermanuspietersfontein, after Hermanus Pieters, who made this idyllic seafront spot his summer camping area in the early 1800’s, the town only sprung up in the late 1800’s. The development boom, however, is a much more recent development. With several well-known luxury hotels, guesthouses, self catering houses and cottages, and camping grounds, Hermanus has become one of the primary holiday destinations for Capetonians, and an attractive option for for tourists wanting to see a little more of the Western Cape.

Hermanus is often referred to with reference to its most famous community activity – whale watching. With the annual Hermanus whale festival dedicated to this yearly breeding pilgrimage by the gentle giants of the deep, and the sporting the only whale crier in the world; a man dedicated to alerting watchers to the whereabouts of whales, Hermanus is synonymous with this unique activity.

Hermanus

For the more adventurous, who seek a close encounter with that other denizen of the deep, the Great White shark, cage diving tours are another popular activity. A visit to the old harbour and museum should satisfy history buffs, while boating enthusiasts can take advantage of the yacht club’s facilities. For nature lovers, there are a wide variety of choices, from the simplicity of the unspoiled beaches, to hikes or walks through the Fernkloof nature reserve, or along the unique cliff path that circumnavigates the town offers an opportunity to enjoy the Fynbos typical of and particular to the area.

The town also has a magnificent golf course, located on the slopes of the surrounding mountains, and encircled by the nature reserve, or for a unique educational experience, a visit to the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, part of the network of similar observatories dotted around the globe can be arranged. The town has a variety of shopping options, from small craft shops, and several outlets selling goods crafted from shells harvested off local beaches, to a bustling market selling handicrafts, overlooking the ocean.

Although there are many dining options in the town, from top class restaurants to family oriented eateries, a good choice may be to visit one of the restaurants located in the new harbour, where one can enjoy traditional fish and chips (or the not so traditional sushi) while watching the fishing trawlers in the harbour and around the Walker bay area.

With good food goes good wine, and the region is fast developing a reputation as a wine producer to watch. The Hermanus wine route includes the Hemel en Aarde Valley, where wine producers nestle alongside upmarket residential developments. If fishing, and not wine, is a passion, the visitor will find the surrounding waters well stocked with local fish, including galjoen and steenbras.

All in all, Hermanus is a small town that packs in a multitude of attractions, whether for the family, outdoor adventurer (or high school student) and is well worth a visit.

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Guest House Hermanus

Sandy Beaches of Hermanus

 Hermanus beaches are regarded by some as the biggest attraction in the area. When one catches a glimpse of the soft, white sands and the deep, blue sea, there are not many who would disagree with that sentiment.

Hermanus offers a diverse range of beaches for everyone, from rock-protected coves for swimmers to long expanses of sandy beach for walkers, strollers and surfers. There are also numerous tidal pools in the area, ideal for small children.


  Some of the beaches on offer, include the following:

Breakfast bay
An ideal setting for picnic lovers or those looking to get away for a spot of sunbathing.

Grotto Beach
A highly rated beach which has achieved the highly exclusive Blue Flag accreditation status, given to beaches that meet strict standards and fulfil the required criteria. It is one of the few South African beaches to attain such status and has been considered a blue-flag beach since 2002.

Kammabaai / Lover's Cove
A definite surfer's favourite, but also popular for braais or picnics.

Langbaai
Situated at the base of the Hermanus cliffs and one of Hermanus' best kept secrets.

Onrus beach
Another Hermanus beach popular with surfers, the lagoon also provides a safe area for children to swim.

Keen on this activity? Book your Hermanus accommodation with Villa Blu and be sure to pay the beaches of Hermanus a visit.

Hermanus Accommodation - Bed & Breakfast

Hermanus - The Place to See Whales and More

 The distance from Cape Town to Hermanus is 105 kilometers. This gorgeous seaside town has a proud history dating back to the early 1800's when a man by the name of Hermanus Pieters followed a path etched into the ground by a herd of elephants. He was a teacher and shepard he traveled south of Caledon along the elephant trail and ended up next to the sea where he discovered a fresh spring.

Hermanus Pieters decided to set up camps next to a spring with fine grazing for his livestock. This beautiful setting became known as Hermanuspietersfontein. As farmers begun to hear of his success they made their journeys to this new and fertile location. The fish was plentiful and the fishermen had great successes.

A church and school were built in 1886 at Hermanuspietersfontein. 1902 the postmaster's complained of the long name, Hermanuspietersfontein became Hermanus. The town was so filled with fresh sea air that it was common for doctors to recommend a trip to Hermanus for their patient's health.

Walker Bay is the place you will find Hermanus near the Southern Tip of Africa. Magnificent mountains watch over the town which is home of the Southern Right Whale. Temperature is average 14 °C in winter with many sunny days, and mild with high winds at times.

Temperature in summer is 26 °C dry and sunny, with extreme heat tempered by sea breeze. Hermanus is one of the best whale watching spots in South Africa, with its own Whale Crier - he announces the sighting of whales with a blow of his kelp horn, calling everyone in the town to come watch the whales.

The Old Harbor Museum is a landmark of the town, which has an outside display of an old sea wall, old fishing boats - stone fishing huts. They display anything used for fishing in the early days. In the Hemel & Aarde Valley - outside Hermanus you can visit the Hermanus Wine Route. This area is fast making a name for itself for its magnificent Burgundy varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Great White Shark Diving, in a safe environment. This is where you can experience the Great White Shark in their natural environment. Most visitors come to visit Hermanus to see the Whales.

The Southern Right Whale was so named because it was slow-moving and the 'right' whale to hunt. They are rich in oil and baleen (the large food filter plates which hang from the roof of its mouth) and a whale which floated in the water when killed.

Today, the northern right whale is virtually extinct. In the southern hemisphere populations show a slow increase since international protection in 1935. There are estimated to be about 4 000 southern right whales at present, with South Africa receiving the major percentage visiting its coasts annually.

The southern right whale will be found between about 30° and 55° South. The whales migrate south during the summer months to feed on krill, and north during winter and spring to mate and calve. They appear around the coastline from as early as May and they stay to December. They can be seen in the bays and coves close inshore and near river mouths.

This whale can be distinguished from its absent dorsal fin and V-shaped 'blow'. The callosities on the whales head are actual outgrowths of tough skin which form different patterns on each individual and which are used for identification.

The blow of whale is like hearing the breath of life. The blow is a cloud of vapor produced largely by condensation when warm breath comes into contact with cooler air.

It also contains oily mucus from the respiratory tract of the whale. Whales have large brains and are sensitive creatures. Strong bonds exist between females and their calves. They are non-aggressive and gentle towards man. As yet, knowledge about whales is fragmentary. They need our protection.

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Hermanus Beaches: Alive All-year!

In a coastal town, the beach plays an important role in every resident's day-to-day activities, no matter what stage you are in life, and irrespective of season.

Hermanus has a major asset in a seafront cliff path, which stretches from Grotto Beach all the way to the new harbour, a distance of about 10km. An excellent way to discover your favourite beach is to walk along the well-signposted path, in the direction of Hermanus central.

Benches are strategically placed at look out points along the way, allowing you to take a rest when needed. The cool breeze will keep you going on a hot summer's day and the anticipation of spotting a whale around the next bend, will keep you motivated for the long walk in winter months.

Early in the morning, you will see animal lovers walking their dogs on Grotto Beach - the only beach where dogs are allowed. (On a leash, and bring a poop-scoop please!)

This pristine beach stretches as far as you can see in the direction of Gansbaai, past the Klein Rivier lagoon mouth and De Plaat and area popular with kite-surfers.

Its excellent toilet and shower facilities, security, lifeguards, ample parking, braai facilities and playground make it popular with locals and tourists alike.

Hermanus is very proud of Grotto Beach's Blue Flag Status. Photo: Rosanne Turner

In winter, put on a beanie, and windbreaker, and walk as far as you can, until you can't feel your nose anymore in the fresh Atlantic air. The positive ions generated by the sea will dispel negative winter moods. Pack a flask of coffee and park at a lookout point to thaw out and admire the whales afterwards.

In summer, this is a great stretch of sand to play beach rugby, Frisbee or bat and ball, as it is vast enough to mark out your own space, although it may require trekking a distance from the car park.

As popular as Grotto is Voelklip Beach, although this local surfer's hangout is it is considerably smaller. Lifeguards are on duty in season, there are clean toilet facilities, shops nearby and a grass verge overlooking the beach for those that don't take well to sand sticking to their sun cream.

During the whale season, Southern Right whales can be seen playing just beyond the breakers, companions to the surfers.

On summer mornings you'll find nannies with small children gathered at Kammabaai for a chinwag, taking advantage of the fact that the beach is quiet enough for little ones to play while older kids are at school and moms and dads at work.

For this very reason, this protected little bay is also known as Nanny's Beach as it is within easy walking distance of Hermanus' swanky northern suburbs homes for nannies with prams.

Kammabaai takes on a completely different role in the afternoons and weekends, as teenagers and body boarders enjoy the perfect waves. Picnic and braai spots can be found under the Milkwood trees.

Next on your exploratory route is Langbaai, generally felt to be Hermanus' secret beach. It is small, but flanked by two rocky outcrops keeping it private and protected from the wind.

Take the  well-signposted cliff path to your favourite beach. Photo: Rosanne Turner

As you get to Hermanus central, the cliff path will lead you to the Marine tidal pool, just below the colonial Marine Hotel. The pool has upgraded change-room facilities and is a great place to snorkel and discover tidal marine life. It is ideally located only metres from the village square piazza with restaurants, boutiques and the amphitheatre, where a marimba band often entertains the crowd soaking up the view of the Old Harbour.

Only the other side of Hermanus, you will find the beaches of Sandbaai, Onrus and Vermont. Sandbaai Beach offers safe swimming at low tide, and is a great place for kids to explore tidal pools, teeming with sea life. It is a popular snorkeling spot, with toilets and showers to wash off the salt water. Another coastal path on this side of town, will lead to Onrus Beach.

Onrus Beach is multi-faceted. Local kids congregate here on weekends and after school to surf, body board, watch the talent or just ‘hang out'. The Onrus River flows into the sea here, creating an ever-changing beach and lagoon mouth.

On any given day, the beach will look different, depending on the flow of the river. Sometimes a gentle stream meanders toward the sea. At other times after heavy rainfall, a torrent of gushing water creates steep banks and beach-goers hop from rock to rock to cross to the other side.

Onrus is a great family beach, with well-maintained ablution facilities, a restaurant, ample parking and grass banks. Resident overfed ducks amuse children in the lagoon as they go ‘bottoms up' looking for tasty morsels. The lagoon offers a safe water playground for smaller children as dads tow them on inflatable boats and lilos or help construct impressive sandcastles.

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Hermanus Accommodation - Bed & Breakfast

Greyton and Hermanus

 Spending the weekend in

On the afternoon of Friday the 19th May it was cold and pouring with rain in Cape Town. Winter had made a particularly grand entrance that month, announced by three-day downpours separated by frosty blue-sky days. My breath steamed in the clear mornings and my footsteps splashed the puddles from yesterday's rain.

But that particular Friday afternoon was different: I climbed excitedly into my car and joined the rush of motorists fleeing the wet city of Cape Town. Like soaked rats debarking a floundering ship, we sped our way along the N2, heading for the hills of the Overberg.

I was going to Greyton, a very small town known for its leisurely charm, tree-canopied avenues, and lush mountain scenery. On Saturday I would depart Greyton for the significantly larger and more famous whale-route town of Hermanus. Somewhere along the way, I hoped, the opportunity would arise to attach myself to a paraglider and throw myself off a cliff.

Hermanus

Hermanus is about an hour's drive from Greyton, and it's a stunning drive. Perhaps it was just the weather - pockets of billowing cloud penetrated by shafts of bright sunshine that illuminated the rolling hills - but I was struck once again by the beauty of the region that lies beyond Sir Lowry's pass from the Mother City.

The weather wasn't much better in Hermanus than it had been in the Overberg almost all weekend; gloomy and cold with intermittent rain. But the directions to Pebble Beach that I'd downloaded were perfect, and I found it in no time. Mike and Kirsty-Lee welcomed me warmly and installed me in a luxurious and impressively decorated bedroom where I relaxed for all of half an hour before setting off into Hermanus.

Not much happens on cold and rainy Saturday afternoons in Hermanus, but if you're sufficiently stoic to brave the fresh coastal wind then a walk along the seafront is well worth doing - and in good weather it would be nothing short of wonderful. The interesting old harbour with its broad slipway is the centre of the coastal trail that extends for kilometres in both directions.

Dinner in Hermanus

Tragically, Saturday is the only night of the week that Kirsty-Lee, Pebble Beach's superb gourmet chef, doesn't cook dinner. But the silver lining to that cloud (for once a purely metaphorical one) was that I was directed to the truly superb Harbour Rock restaurant.

Luckily I'd made a booking, because it was chock-full of guests when I arrived at 8:30. And the meal was nothing short of spectacular. I honestly laughed out loud at how gorgeous it tasted (and the fact that my employer would reimburse me for the luxury of dining there). The service was superb, the scenery gorgeous, and the food delicious.

When I returned to Pebble Beach my room had been charmingly prepared, with a tiny wrapped present of chocolate and a golf ball waiting on my pillow. Eagerly accepted. I lay in bed reading Dune, listening to the thick silence that arose from the 16th hole of the Hermanus Golf Course on one side and the botanical gardens on the other, slowly falling asleep.

Sunday

I woke especially early on Sunday morning, waiting to receive a call from Ray, a paraglider from paragliding company Parapax, on whether I would be able to do a tandem trip that day. Immediately I noted that, as usual, it was raining. Maybe paragliders do it in the rain too, I thought, and hopped into the shower.

But they don't. I was called a little later to learn that the abominable weather in Hermanus precluded any possibility of paragliding there. All was not lost, though - the launch site at Sir Lowry's Pass was a possibility.

I waited what seemed like endless hours (aided marvellously by the indomitable Dune) for the next phone call. Finally it came - and we were on. The weather wasn't great, but it could still be done. So I was going to hurl myself off a cliff and hope that a plastic canopy would expand and make me fly. I was thrilled. I said goodbye to my wonderful hosts at Pebble Beach and set off for the pass.

Paragliding

Forty-five minutes later I stood at the top of Sir Lowry's Pass, looking out towards Cape Town over the massive expanse of Somerset West, watching and taking pictures of the swooping figures of paragliders in the cloudy sky. It looked wonderful, and all the more so for the fact that I was about to join them.

Despite its heroic status in the imaginations of the uninitiated, paragliding was a relatively simple procedure. Ray arrived and suited me up - I had to do remarkably little, in fact. Then we trotted over the edge of a cliff (ho hum) and we were airborne. I was surprised to note that I hadn't been scared at all. It's not a scary experience, just an amazing one -a smooth and impressively high-speed flight with a remarkable degree of control.

Gliding technology has come a long way in the past few years, Ray told me - but I think he was just being modest. An insurance broker by trade, which seemed appropriate, his paragliding alter-ego was a superb instructor and pilot, and after our very soft landing I was seriously considering the price (a minimum of about R16,000 - R6k for a license and R10k for the equipment) of getting started on my own.

It was an exhilarating end to a lovely and thoroughly indulgent weekend in two gorgeous wine-route towns.

Greyton

If traffic is minimal and the weather is fine, the drive from Cape Town to Greyton takes ninety minutes. The traffic was not minimal, and the road was lashed by sheets of rain every kilometre of the way, obscuring the scenery that I knew to be beautiful on the N2 freeway â€" rolling hills of orchards, lakes and forests. I arrived in Greyton in the drizzly dusk, my eyes peeled for the sign of Greyton Lodge in the gloom.

A friendly patch of yellow light spilled out of an open door, across a small veranda, down three steps and over a patch of lawn, its warmth dissipating to zero in the chilly evening. Who would let heat escape on a night like this one? Then I realised - this was my accommodation, and the open door was a gesture of welcome to any bedraggled traveller that might darken the doors of Greyton Lodge.

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 Hermanus whale crier Pasika Noboba blew his kelp horn to signify the first southern rights sighted this season.

"Whales are coming earlier and earlier and leaving later and later," said Storm Kreusch, Hermanus Tourism manager.

"Scientists are not sure why this is, but it may be because the numbers of whales have increased by the maximum possible - about seven percent a year."

"We've only spotted four whales so far, but there may be more," Noboba said, who walks along the cliffs in Hermanus to alert tourists of sightings.

In the 1960s, whale populations, especially southern right whales, showed an increase around the coast and started returning in small numbers, said Nan Rice, the chief executive of the Dolphin Action and Protection Group. The organisation campaigned for whale rights for years, until finally gaining year-round protection for whales in 1984.

"There are approximately 7 000 southern right whales around the coast. (The population) was probably around 1 000 in 1980. From 1980 onwards, we ran a big educational programme and people became very aware and very protective," Rice said. "We're fortunate to have such a solicitous public and this is fantastic for the tourism industry."

Whale season lasts from the end of May to the end of November, said Marcia Holm, the chief operating officer of Mossel Bay Tourism. She said that, last year, whales were sighted as early as March.

"The reported sightings are a lot more," she said, comparing the sightings in Mossel Bay now with those 15 years ago.

The whales are calving now, so there should be babies by August or September, she said.

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Hermanus Bed & Breakfast

 Hermanus is the Western Cape's Top Town

Cape Town will always have great surf. It is in the unique position in having two coasts, east and west, providing very different waves. From the big waves of the Atlantic coast at places like Crayfish Factory, Sentinel and Misty Cliffs, to the small fun waves at Muizenberg on the opposite Indian coast. Whether you're a short board shredder or a serious soul longboarder, you will definitely find a wave to your liking.

The variety of beautiful, very surfable spots in this area is amazing. Take a place like Llandudno. With its sky blue crystal clear water and pristine beach. Make a day out of it, sit on the beach with the hundreds of stunning women that seem to tan for a living they're there so often, have a surf and then later go to La Med for sundowners.

Another amazing place to surf is Koe�l Bay. Situated on the Indian Ocean coast with its warm water, Koe�l Bay rates as one of the most popular spots on this side of the coast.

Guys like Glen Row of Explocean Surf Boards (021 - 4392944), and Dean Geraghty of Town and Country (021 5105495) have earned the right to shape for Capetonians, indulge yourself, instead of bringing your stick here and risk dinging it on the plane, have one custom made.

The Peninsula is also host to a number of board shapers, so if you are coming from abroad to surf our coast, it will be quite a good idea to check out some of our local shapers.

Cape Town does not have a shark problem. Some oversize Johnny Boys have been spotted from airplanes and helicopters, but as far as attacks go, Cape Town is probably the safest surfing destination in South Africa. The only price that you pay for this comfort is the fairly low water temperature. It's a fact; Lurkers do not like cold water.� What I mean by cold, is about 13 C or 57 F.So bring your suit along, on the odd occasion, you will however get a baggy surf at places like Muizenberg, Strand and Koe�l Bay on the Indian Coast, but these days are few and far between.

There are many surf reports in this area. Just phone up one of them and you will get a full update of what the waves are doing all around the coast. One of the most useful reports is one done by Tich Paul of Lifestyles Surf Shop which covers the entire peninsula. He updates his report every time the waves change enough to en - discourage you from going to a certain place. The number is 082- 2346340. We are also in the process of instituting a surf report on our web site, Southern Africa Places, which will enable you to find out what the surf is doing before you leave.

There are regular wind reports and swell reports supplied by the Weather Bureau for those of you who like to make your own deductions about the surfability of certain spots.

Picking up surf gear and clothing is not a problem. We have shops that stock all the well-known brand names, local and imported. There is a wetsuit factory in Town, which produces one of South Africa's foremost wetsuits. Shapers I have already mentioned.

Those of you who are not stand-ups need not feel left out. Many of the surf spots in and around Cape Town are actually more suited to bodyboarding than to surfing. A lot of the waves are really steep and fast, which makes the take-off for surfers extremely tricky. These spots are mostly surfed by bodyboarders as well as the odd really hot surfer that is willing to give the closeout sections a go.

Capetonians are not particularly hung up with the bickering between surfers and bodyboarders. On the odd occasion, you will find a jerk giving a bodyboarder some grief, but in general, we are pretty mature about that sort of crap. If you surf like a lemon and get in the way, you will be bitched no matter what your wave craft.

All in all, surfing in the Peninsula is good. No matter what your skill level or what you ride, you will find a wave that is ideally suited to you. Make a day out of it and sit on the beach or pop in for a quickie. No matter what your decision, Cape Town is a great place to play.

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Villa Grande