Picture Perfect Cape Town Issue 2

Makge ic Ma happen

SEPTEMBER 2020

UNDER R100

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PICTURE PERFECT CAPE TOWN

Email: dmyburgh32@gmail.com

2020 will certainly be remembered for a year of change.With COVID 19 making people reflect on how things get accomplished. The truth of the matter is that nature is telling us to maybe slow down and look at what it does offer humankind.

Cape Town in all its beauty and attraction is opening up to South Africa again and has a lot to offer for anybody with a few days to just walk on the beach or even go hiking. Lets celebrate nature by capturing the magic everyday .Thank you for your support and making this dream a reality . We would like you to enjoy this magazine and let us know if you have any ideas for our future publications.

Please keep safe and best wishes.

DEON MYBURGH Editor-In-Chief

EDITOR IN CHIEF/ PHOTOGRAPHER DEON MYBURGH

ASSISTANT EDITOR/COORDINATOR TERRY GABRIEL

PICTURE PERFECT CAPE TOWN

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MAY 2020

Table Mountain, listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, is one of the most dramatic and is an icon to Cape Town. This breathtaking backdrop to the city is one of the few mountains in the world to be surrounded by a city which also makes Cape Town one of the few cities in the world to have a mountain and nature reserve in the middle of it. There are lots of trails to hike and, for slightly braver visitors to the Cape, rock climbing and abseiling are sure to get the blood pumping. The views from the top are breathtakingly beautiful and worth the hike if you choose to go that route. For those that are less inclined to hike, there’s always the cable car.The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has been in operation for many decades and is now one of the most visited attractions in the city. The new Swiss designed cable car itself not only gets you from the base of the mountain to the very top and back, it also rotates as it rides up and down allowing passengers a full 360 degree view of the mountain, the city, the ocean and everything between.

Here are a few interesting facts about the mountain that you may not have known: 1. Along with Mount Everest (Nepal), the Matterhorn (Swiss Alps) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Table Mountain is one of the most globally recognised mountains.

2. Table Mountain is approximately 260-million years old.. Reduced by massive erosion, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head once connected the Peninsula to the Hottentots Holland Mountains, and are the last remaining remnants of a massive range that stood thousands of metres high 220-million to 280-million years ago.

3. The indigenous people of the Cape, the Khoikhoi, referred to Table Mountain as Hoerikwaggo, which translates to ‘Mountain of the Sea.’ 4. Table Mountain is the only mountain in the world to have a constellation of stars (“Mensa”) named after it. It is one of 12 constellations drawn up in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in honor of Table Mountain. After a visit to South Africa, he recalled how Table Mountain was often covered in clouds when a southeasterly stormy wind blew, which is why he made a ‘table’ in the sky under the clouds.

TABLE MOUNTAIN AERIAL CABLEWAY

The ride is an almost silent and gentle one.

The rotating state-of-the-art cable car of which there are only three "Rotair" cable cars in the world : one in switzerland

and

the other in the United States takes visitors from the lower station to the top in around 5 minutes. It operates seven days a week and trips occur within 10 to 15 minutes of each other. The time of the day’s last excursion varies

throughout

the

year.

Atop

the

mountain is a self-service buffet cafe but you can always pack a picnic and enjoy what still is part of a national park. 3,500ft above the city and here, in this unique location there is an abundance of wildlife where you will find rock hyrax, lizards, butterflies and the odd porcupine. There is also a wide array of birdlife from eagles to sunbirds flying above great patches of fynbos which is part of the Cape’s indigenous flora.

TABLE MOUNTAIN AERIAL CABLEWAY

This mountain hides many surprises that wait to be discovered.It is much more than a scenic photograph background or a place from where you can take a breathtaking photo of Cape Town.There are about 2,200 species of plants found on Table Mountain and 1470 floral species. Many of these plants and flowers are endemic to this mountain.The magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are found on the eastern foot of the mountain. Founded in 1913, the garden that spans an area of 1300 acres includes a unique conservatory with plants from different parts of the world.Besides the parks, the whole area has a biodiversity that is rare to find in other places on earth. Its many valleys and streams make it an idyllic getaway from Cape Town. The national park’s most unique feature is its fynbos vegetation that is displayed here better than anywhere in the world.The Cape Floral region of the national park is renouned as one of the richest floral regions in the world. Over 70% of the flowers are endemic to the Table Mountain. It is no wonder that the mountain was chosen as one of the new seven world wonders.Its fauna is no less thrilling either. Although animals such as the cape lion, mountain zebra or the leopard are no longer found here, the park is still home to caracals, rock hyraxes or chacma baboons.

Sunset magic

Cape Town is renowned for its breathtaking sunsets and there are many beautiful spots with incredible sun set views across the city.

We love nothing more than a sundowner, a breathtaking view and an epic sunset and so we have made it our mission to find the best sunsets spots in Cape Town. It’s our guide on the best places to watch the sunset in Cape Town. So pull up a picnic blanket, a sundowner and enjoy the view from our 2 best sunset spots in Cape Town!

Lion’s Head Lion’s Head is an iconic Cape Town landmark boasting the spectacular Table Mountain views and is one of the most popular hikes in the city. It’s an awesome spot to enjoy a Cape Town sun downer with magnificent views of Table Mountain, Camp’s Bay and the ocean. As dusk falls the city lights sparkle in the distance and the descent offers some beautiful evening views over Cape Town .The sunset hike is extremely popular at the Full Moon when hikers can watch the sun set over the ocean and the full moon rising to illuminate the hike down.

Sunset magic

Bloubergstrand Bloubergstrand is a seaside area located 20 minutes north of Cape Town. The views back to the city are simply breathtaking. It is rugged and wild but the beautiful scene of the sun setting over the iconic Cape Town peaks of Table Mountain and Lions Head with the waves crashing against the rocks in the foreground is awe inspiring...

5 THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN Cecil John Rhodes is well-known world-wide and was a South African politician and mining magnate in Southern Africa in the late-1800s. At some point, he contributed to shaping both South Africa and Zimbabwe’s political landscapes.

Once his residence, you can visit the cottage in Muizenberg that is now a museum. Free, but a donation of R10 is encouraged

Witness the firing of the Noon Gun at Signal Hill. The cannon at the South African Navy’s Lion Battery on Signal Hill startles the notoriously short-memoried pigeons of the City Bowl every day. Two guns are loaded daily (in case of a misfire – although that’s rumoured to have only happened once in 200 years!) with 1.5kg of gunpowder. The cannoneer raises a flag, and tells the story of the gun and its history. Then, at precisely noon, the gun is fired. Arrive around 11:30 daily (except Sundays and public holidays) to witness the event. You can also purchase some ear plugs: the bang is louder than you think.

5 THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN This cruise gives you an amazing harbour cruise from the V&A Waterfront and around the harbour. It’s a fun adventure and it gives you the chance to admire mountain views from a unique angle.

There are some magnificent free hiking spots in and around Cape Town.

Lion’s Head is one of the more popular ones and although it can get slightly strenuous depending on which path you take, it rewards you with an amazing view at the top. You can also do this in the light of the full moon (a head torch is advisable). Platteklip Gorge takes you to the top of Table Mountain and you can either head left towards Kirstenbosch or right towards the Cable Station. Newlands Forest is leafy and most of the way is shaded by trees. This is a shorter hike and there’s a pretty stream along the way to enjoy if you want to cool down. Always follow the mountain safety rules.

5 THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN The Company’s Garden is situated right in the city centre of Cape Town. It was planted by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 to produce fresh fruit and vegetables for the ships that were sailing along the spice trade route between Europe and the East Indies, via Cape Town. Today it is home to the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, said to have been planted in 1652; a rose garden built in 1929; an aviary with a variety of birds and many other interesting landmarks. It’s also well-known for the resident and perpetually hungry squirrels, so take along some peanuts to feed to them.

What’s more the garden offers free wifi.

Following the confirmation that South African cinemas will be reopening sFriday, 28 August a consolidated industry campaign titled “It’s Time To Go BIG Again,” involving all key role-players, launched on TV, Digital Outdoor, Radio, Online, and through social media this past weekend. Cinemas in South Africa have been closed for the past 5 months due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations, resulting in a complete shutdown of all their business operations. Some of the major new movie releases lined up for cinemas over the next few months include Warner Bros’ TENET; Twentieth Century Studios’ NEW MUTANTS; Disney’s MULAN; Universal’s TROLLS: WORLD TOUR and the new James Bond film, NO TIME TO DIE; Marvel Studios’ BLACK WIDOW; Sony’s CONNECTED; independent studio titles such as AVA from Filmfinity and UNHINGED from Empire Entertainment; as well as locally produced films FLATLAND (Indigenous Film Distribution) and TOORBOS( Filmfinity).

Thank You SEE YOU IN THE NEXT EDITION