Welcome to Cape Town

1. Take a ride in the Cable Car up Table Mountain

Possibly the first thing you notice as you touch down in Cape Town, the majestic Table Mountain is often one of the first places visitors go to. Recently voted in as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic landmark

2. Try a Township Tour

With such a diverse cultural background and a political history that captivated the world, a township tour is a must for any visitor looking to experience the full spectrum of Cape Town living. Many tourists are often misguided into thinking Cape Town is all about the beautiful beaches and picturesque scenery, but it is important to understand how the majority of the city’s population lives. A township tour gives you insight into how the divisive policies of the Apartheid regime have resulted in lasting socio-economic inequalities.

3. Take a ferry to Robben Island

South Africa’s very own Alcatraz, Robben Island once served as a detention facility where political prisoners were incarcerated during Apartheid. For 27 years this was also the home of ex President Nelson Mandela. The visit is an inspiring and often emotional experience, as as it serves as a powerful reminder of the price that was paid for today’s democracy.

4. Go Beach Hopping

Cape Town has some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world. It’s the only city in the world with a coastline that touches both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. With plenty of beaches on offer, there is one to suite just about any need, be it surfing, tanning, fishing, or just some good old fun in the sun. We recommend the majestic beaches at Clifton.

A view of the majestic Lions Head from Camps Bay beach

5.  Picnic at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Nestled along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the Botanical Gardens could best be described as a modern day eden for nature lovers. With over 7000 species of of fauna and flora, the garden covers a massive 36 hectares which encompasses a wide variety of indigenous and other southern African plants as well as birds and animals. Fondly known as the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Garden was also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which is a first for any botanical garden in the world. It has been a favorite picnic spot for locals for many years, and with all of its beauty on offer almost 365 days a year, its not hard to see why.

6. Visit the Two-Ocean’s Aquarium

Located next door to the V&A Waterfront, the Aquarium is a mecca for ocean lovers. It is one of Cape Town’s top tourist attractions and has over 3,000 living sea animals, including sharks, turtles and many other species of fish and mammals. Feeling brave? Why not jump into the Predator Exhibit for a scuba dive with sharks – no cage required!

7. Drive Chapman’s Peak

We recommend stopping for lunch at the Chapman’s Peak Hotel in Hout Bay before setting off on the world-famous 9 km Chapman’s Peak drive. The drive stretches from the picturesque village of Hout Bay to Nordhoek, and offers many areas along the route where you can stop and take photographs or have a picnic. Its world-famous views, with sheer cliff drops to the ocean below and majestic mountain scenery, make “Chappies” a must do activity. Driving in the slow lane will never feel so good.

8. Take a tour of the Castle of Good Hope

Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, the Castle was used as a replenishment station for passing ships on the “spice route”. Over 400 years old, The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest standing colonial building in South Africa. A highlight of the tour is paying a visit to a former slave room. Once the door has been closed, you are engulfed in complete darkness and can feel the absolute helplessness they must have felt hundreds of years ago.

9. Go wine tasting

The Cape Winelands, particularly Stellenbosch and Franschoek, are internationally renowned for award-winning wines and picturesque scenery. Spend a day traveling the scenic wine route while stopping off at wine farms of your choice for tastings fresh from the barrel to see what all the fuss is about. We recommend sampling the Cape Jazz Shiraz at Solms Delta, and visiting the real goat tower at Goats Do Roam!

10. Take a hike

And no we don’t mean get lost. Because of all the mountain ranges in and around Cape Town, this city is any outdoor lover’s dream destination. From beginner hikes that follow gradual contours to more advanced climbs and descents, all you have to do is pick a mountain and begin your journey to the summit of your choice.

11. Go for a sunset stroll along the Promenade

The Promenade is a stretch of land which runs along the beach in the trendy suburb of Sea Point. Take a stroll along the Promenade, particularly at sunset, and in addition to incredible views you will see plenty of locals running, skipping, and walking along the winding pathways. Besides all the eye candy on offer, the Promenade has also recently seen the inclusion of an outdoor gym that can be used by fitness gurus free of charge.

12. Check out Green Market Square

The ideal spot to pick up your African arts, crafts, fabrics and other local artifacts, the square was built in 1696 and and declared a national monument in 1961. With a strong heritage and surrounding architecture that has stood for hundreds of years, the beautiful cobbled square is a great place to bargain with traders for that perfect piece to take back home.

A group of children performing a traditional African dance in the middle of Green Market Square

13. Stroll through the Company Gardens

Established in 1952 by Dutch settlers, the Company Gardens, with its impressive flora, has been enjoyed for decades by Capetonians and tourists. In addition to beautiful plants and flowers, the Garden also houses monuments, Parliament, the Iziko Museum and Planetarium, the National Gallery, and the National Library. Take a lazy stroll between these attractions and be sure to grab a bag of peanuts nearby if you want to feed the squirrels.

14. Say hello to the penguins at Boulders beach

Popularized after a colony of African Penguins settled on the beach in 1982, the beautiful Boulders Beach in Simonstown now forms part of Table Mountain National Park. This site is one of the few places in the world where penguins wander freely at close range, and the colony has grown to more than 3,000 birds. Say hello to Africa’s very own tuxedo wearing, beach hopping birds of the sea.

15. Watch the sunset over the city from Signal Hill

Owing its name to the use of flags to to communicate weather warnings to visiting ships in the 1800s, Signal Hill has now the become the best spot for a romantic view of the sunset over the city. People often find themselves lingering around after the sun goes down as the view transforms into a stunning illumination of the city as all the lights come on. You won’t find better urban scenery than this.

16. Visit the World of Birds

Currently the largest bird park in Africa, the World of Birds is home to over 3,000 birds and small animals. Every year approximately 100,000 people visit this wildlife sanctuary, which makes it a must do for bird lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

17. Paint the town red on a night out in Long Street

Long Street is the entertainment hub of the city for night life lovers, owing to its large selection of bars, pubs, clubs, and eateries. Make a night of it and hop from venue to venue down the street. We recommend grabbing a burger at Royale and kicking off your shoes for a late night dance party at the Waiting Room.

18. Paraglide off Lion’s Head

Attention adrenaline junkies: paragliding off Lion’s Head is an excellent to take in the beauty of Cape Town while experiencing a rush of pure adrenaline! Excellent safety, affordable rates, and fabulous views could make this one of your fondest memories during your stay in the city. Land on Camps Bay beach and finish the day off with a cocktail at one of Camps Bay’s trendy restaurants.

19. Visit the Tygerberg Zoo

Situated on the city’s outskirts, Tygerberg Zoo covers 24 hectares of land  and is the only zoo in the Western Cape province. This zoo specializes in the breeding of rare, endangered and seldom seen wildlife. With over 150 enclosures, the collection has a whopping 284 species of animals, including monkeys, lions, antelope, snakes, ostrich, zebra, and more.

20. See a live show at the Baxter Theater

Since its opening in 1977, the Baxter Theater has played host to many of the best South African performing artists. The Theater provides cutting edge major works from South Africa and abroad with its live shows throughout the year. Be sure to check out the Theater’s quintessential 1970s style architecture.

Venue: Cape Town

Dates: 9-11 May 2012

Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-Glass wrote; “It is said that if you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there.”  For development organisations, one of the best routes to take towards reaching their destination is through the Results-based Management approach to project planning. For this reason, Creative Consulting & Development Works have conceptualised a three-day course using these tried and tested techniques to help you and your organisation reach your goals more effectively.

Is this course for you? Answer these questions to find out:

• Does your organisation have the confidence to conceptualise robust, sustainable development projects that will demonstrate to donors the effective use of their resources?
• Does your organisation need to learn new skills that will emphasise performance rather than process?
• Are you a programme manager in the development sector, ready to take your skill set to a higher level?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then this short course designed by Creative Consulting & Development Works is for you!

Using the Results-based Approach to Planning, this course will equip you and your organisation with the relevant skills for understanding and applying an internationally recognised planning methodology to your project management skills.

Benefits of the Results-based Approach to Project Planning Course:

• Provide you and your organisation with an indication of measurable performance and results in project planning management skills.
• Equip you and your organisation with the necessary skills to work towards change in the communities you work with.
• Assist you and your organisation with highlighting the path towards making the best strategic choices for ultimate success.

Facilitator: Caroline Wills, consultant, has a Master’s in Public Health. In 2008 and 2009, she was trained in the Results-based Approach by UNAIDS and the Technical Support Facility (Southern Africa). Since being trained, she has regularly integrated the Results-based Management methodology into strategic planning processes, with positive results.

Enquiries: To register or for any other query, please contact Seanne Less or Khayelihle Mdakane at 021.448.2058 or email seanne@developmentworks.co.za or khaye@developmentworks.co.za.

Please note that the course is limited to 10 participants only, to ensure the highest levels of individual attention.

Deadline for registration: 23 April 2012

Investment: R3000

AREPP: Theatre for Life stood out amid other candidates for their unique use of applied theatre, which aims at empowering young people on complex personal and social issues, challenging mindsets and encouraging peer facilitated discussion. Their performances travel across South Africa and cover extremely important issues that South African youth face such as peer-pressure, relationship issues, gender issues, sexuality and substance abuse.

A puppet show at one of the theaters school tours

“With AREPP:Theatre for Life, all the world and its issues are presented on a stage, and the children in the audience are not passive players,” says Samia Zoued, the Programme Officer for the Stars Foundation in Africa and the Middle East. “There is no doubt that their shows transcend a mere theatre experience to become a milestone life experience for the young audiences affected. External impact assessments clearly demonstrate that children leave AREPP’s theatre shows better equipped to walk the fragile path to adulthood.”

In terms of measuring impact, AREPP: Theatre for Life visits approximately 350 schools annually and in 2001, educators in the organisation noted an 81% increase in their audiences’ knowledge, skills and ability to engage and deal with problems that were relevant to them. It was also reported that the percentage of physical and sexual abuse cases at schools that they visited dropped from 9% to a remarkable 1%. Other notable stats showed that 80% of audience members indicated a change in their feelings of self-worth, after participating in the theatre performances, as well as a drop in the suicide rate.

A group of learners enjoy a performance by AREPP: Theatre for Life

Director of AREPP: Theatre for Life, Brigid Schultz, was delighted with the announcement that they had won the award. “The Stars Impact Award recognises AREPP:Theatre for Life’s 25 year contribution to the promotion of Human Rights in South Africa and highlights the vital importance of assisting young people and children to understand, engage with, and contextualise the notions and practical applications of their rights,” she said.

The company plans on using the additional funding made available by the award to put together another 200 presentations, which can see it directly benefit about 30,000 additional learners. They will also receive mentoring and support from the Stars Foundation as they continue to carry out their exceptional work across the country.

CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS is urgently looking for freelance researchers who have the following key skills to work on upcoming projects:-

Social science researcher with statistics/quantitative expertise:

Experience in report writing/ writing up findings 
Available March / April

Email CV and cover letter motivating how you meet these criteria and indicating your availability to jobs@developmentworks.co.za by 7 March 2012.

Picture taken by Anthony Allen, The Aerial Perspective. www.aerialphoto.co.za

Protesters against the construction of a new toll gate plaza on Chapman’s Peak have revved up their efforts in delaying building on site with various demonstrations including handcuffing themselves to the scaffolding at construction points – and in an extreme case, saw a woman entering into a 15-day hunger strike.

The revamping of the toll to be built along the iconic route has sparked massive outrage amongst environmentalists who are livid about the damage the construction will cause to the natural environment. They also view it as a waste of valuable tax-payers money.

Transport and Public Works MEC, Robin Carlisle decided to make the official design plans for the new toll gate available to the public to allay the rumours from the media of luxury offices and apartments that were allegedly going to be built. “The building was designed to be as functional, efficient and as unobtrusive as possible, while providing dignified and secure working conditions for staff,” saidCarlisle. “It will replace the current unsafe and uncomfortable eyesore.”

An image of the new Toll Plaza to be constructed along Chapman's Peak Drive. Picture released via the Western Cape Government website. www.westerncape.gov.za

The R54-million project’s main opposition comes from the Hout Bay Residents Association whose lawyers have recently filed a triple broadside to stop construction from going ahead. People feel that something adequate could be built for far less money and that the bulk of the budget allocated for this project could be used on more pressing social issues such as education and poverty.

The latest twist in the toll saga came when lawyers of the Residents Association delivered a letter toCarlisle’s office, informing them that part of the land set aside for construction was under a title deed which had restrictions on it. This means that the land in question can only be used by SA National Parks for conservation as stated in the Protected Areas Act.

The 9km route also known as ‘Chappies’, winds its way from Noordhoek to Hout Bay and consists of 114 bends and majestic 180-degree views of the Atlantic seaboard. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike with plenty of motorists, cyclists, hikers and bikers visiting it annually.

A view of the winding stretch of road along the Atlantic coastline. Picture taken from the Chapman's Peak Drive website. www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za

The construction company tasked with building the toll gate commented that they were going to proceed with construction until further notice from the Provincial Government.

What do you think? Should a new toll gate be built on Chapman’s Peak? Check out the images of the toll on www.westerncape.gov.za and share your views on the topic with us.

Kingsley at a Voodoo market in Togo **Image courtesy of kingsleyholgate.net

His tightly knit team comprises of his wife Gill, his son Ross, daugher in-law Anna, his grandson Tristan as well as humanitarian volunteers and journalists. He believes that “a person is a person through other people” and it is this motto that has managed to see Kingsley and his team reach some of the most remote parts of Africa. Whether it’s an expedition to Somalia to distribute thousands of mosquito nets to pregnant mothers and children, or embarking on a 448 day journey around the outline of Africa covering 33 countries, their work knows no bounds.

Team Holgate at the Cape of Goodhope **Image courtesy of kingsleyholgate.net

We will be following the Holgates on their latest adventure and providing updates and interviews as they carry out their latest mission. Details to be released soon!

Kingsley with his Grandson Tristan who travels with the team on their adventures **Image courtesy of kingsleyholgate.net

In the mean time, visit the Kingsley Holgate website for more information on previous expeditions. Here’s a link to a video interview that was done on a mission called “Boundless Africa”.

South African funny man Trevor Noah made his debut appearance on America’s favourite late night talk show “The Tonight Show” with host Jay Leno last week. Trevor is currently one of SA’s leading comics and his brief stand-up stint during the show was well recieved by the American studio audience. We wish Trevor all the best for his future endovours in the US and have every faith that he will do SA proud.

Incase you missed it, check out this video…

Trevor Noah on The Tonight Show

This development is further emphasized by goals of doubling the number of scientists, quadrupling the number of doctoral graduates as well as increasing the number of doctoral staff at universities from the current 34% to 75%. The interesting point to note here is the length of time that this plan has been given to take place when compared to the success and progress of a country like Brazil who have put similar measures in place to spark technological advancement in their country rather than just continuing to lose its intellectual capital to first world nations.

With South Africa being the most junior member of the Brics collective, its clear that we will be needing to punch way above our weight if we plan on becoming a giant amongst the developing nations of the world. Brazil and China’s economic growth is proof that education is instrumental to development and that there is no reason why it should take a country with a much older and established range of quality tertiary institutions so long to obtain the targets they have set out.

Below is a link to the full article on the M&G website:

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-12-09-where-the-2030-vision-blurs

“I have been in South Africa for exactly two months now, but I feel like it’s been ages. Let’s say about eight months; I feel like I am already part of the country; I feel like I shouldn’t even be exited about it. Why do I feel this way?

 My colleagues at work at Heart radio, at Creative Consulting and Development Works (if I could…), friends I stayed with at the back packers lodge and not to forget even those I met on the streets while going about my business in the city, all played a huge and magnificent and tremendous role in the time I’ve spent in the country thus far.

 I have opened my eyes and heart to various things I found here in South Africa -the culture, the people, the unpredictable weather that caught me unprepared when I arrived (oh my!), name it and the good news is, it’s not going to stop here. I will certainly take such type of discipline wherever I go.

 My experience here has been wonderful and I have to take time to get this message out of so people can actually come here and know what I’m talking about. I feel so good right now. I am proud of myself that I have accomplished a great task and I am ready to face whatever may come my way not just because of my internship and the way it has shaped me, but also because of the people I met here.

 My supervisor, Melani Jones jokingly told me that I have changed (with an angry face, by the way!). Now, to her she was kidding, but to me I never took it as a joke, because in deed I feel I have changed, for the better. I am not the quiet and boring Rachael who came into the office the first day, but I am now the Rachael whose personality has been better shaped for the real, hectic and vibrant world. I learnt this from Mel and the rest of the breakfast team at the radio station. I’m not too sure if I would have learnt this elsewhere, but every experience I’ve had here has got something different to learn from!

 I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate Lindy, Jessica, Michelle and the entire team at Creative Consulting and Development Works (if I could…) for this wonderful and brilliant opportunity, you are absolutely, without doubt impacting this world greatly!

 Melani Jones, Phat Joe, Julian Naidoo, Francois, Nick Feinberg , Gavin,Vernon and the entire Heart radio for not only this great opportunity, but also shaping me to be a competitive and outstanding person.

 My entire family for making this happen!

Thank you!

To you all, whatever success I will hold will not only be mine but yours as well!”

 With love,

Rachael

Working with Heart radio has changed my thoughts and behavior towards life, but let me not go there yet.

I work with the “Phat Joe morning breakfast show” so ultimately I start my day very early than I normally do when I am back in school; I walk some distances to catch up with a cab which at such a time is the only available and closest means of transport and then head to Heart radio where as soon as I check into the production room where I operate from, phone callers from different callers, awaits me. One call after the other, one call after the other, until the breakfast show is done for the day- this can be overwhelming, but the experience is certainly rewarding! This is just part one, by the way!

Looking for content that Phat Joe can read on air and deciding which promos should be used is another task altogether. It’s not just getting any content, but the content I get has to be able to match our target audience’s interest, be interesting and produce responsiveness from our listeners. This is what I normally accomplish as a production intern, together with my fellow teammates, Melanie and Francois. It’s come to my attention that production is about creativity and the energy in you. Unfortunately, it can’t take on a subtle personality.

I am sent out to the streets to interview different people and extract their opinions on the daily breakfast show and also find out what they think about the characters of the breakfast team which includes Phat Joe, Nick and Julian. My first trial was petrifying, but the second trial was terrific and has completely shaped my personality and skills into something substantial and distinctive.

Last Friday 18th, I was assigned and as well given the opportunity to interview a new music artists like “Claudia  Mohr”- who launched her album-“GO IT ALONE”,  at The Fugard theatre here in Cape Town where I  managed to interview not only Claudia Mohr, but her entire family and invited guests. It was such an amazing experience especially  for my first interview. I was nervous, but I did it!

I am waiting and looking forward for more tasks that can challenge me and eventually unchallenged me!