Alistair's Cape Town Tours

26/06/2022

18/03/2021

Did you know that the little village of Nieuwoudtville on the Bokkeveld Escarpment in the Northern Cape and on the border with the Western Cape, is known as the Bulb Capital of the World and that when the weather gods cooperate with Mother Nature, about once every ten years and send the correct amount of rain at the right time, then Nieuwouldville has two flower seasons. The first one is now February, March and April and then again in August and September. If you recall last August and September the flowers were spectacular and now bulbs that haven't flowered for years are sending up their flowers by the thousands. Species such as Boophone haemanthoides (Gifbol), Brunsvigia bosmaniae (Maartbloom), Haemanthus barkerae (Bokkeveldkwas) are coming into their own. I have arranged a trip after Easter to see this spectacle but am looking at arranging a further trip from 12th. to 15th. April depending on the state of the flowers at that time so I will only be able to confirm the dates around the 2nd April. I intend to keep the group small, 8 is the maximum number. Accommodation is in a self catering guest house. I attach photographs of some of the flowers some of which have been taken over the past few days (the Gifbol and Bokkeveldkwas)and some (the Maartbloom) a few years ago and they were all taken by Hendrik van Zijl a long time resident of Nieuwoudtville and an absolute expert on the flora of the Knersvlakte and Bokkeveld. He will, I hope, give us a talk or talks on the flora of the region and Namaqualand.
Should you want to make a provisional booking for this once in a lifetime experience please send me an email on [email protected] or Whatsapp on 0834004451.

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08/02/2021

Another very happy Monday spent doing the shipwreck trail at Cape Point and then walking the street art on display in Salt River, all part of the International Public Arts Festival which starts on Wednesday. Artists are busy with their new creations. Want more info on the Arts Festival or the hikes I do please send me an email on [email protected]

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06/02/2021

Did another great walking tour through Cape Town CBD this morning in preparation for the International Public Arts Festival running from Wednesday 10th. February through to Sunday 14th. February. This Salt River street art festival is now in its 4th. year of existence and there are now about 100 art pieces scattered throughout Salt River done by South African artists and artists from all over the world. It is well worth a visit. If you do a self guided tour there is no charge and if you want a guided tour it is R200 per group, maximum 10 people per group. You can book by going to www.baz-art.co.za/what-we-do/street-art-tour. If you do book a guided tour and would like me to guide for you please mention that on your booking form. I will be doing guided tours from Thursday. I will also attach some photos.

01/02/2021

I have had another week of really great hikes and walks. On Saturday in preparation for the International Public Arts Festival I attended a guide educational walk through the streets of Cape Town's oldest suburb, Salt River, to see the street art of previous years. What an interesting walk it was, please see the photos. This years artists will be painting new works under the theme 'Sustainability' during the festival. Today we did a walk to Crystal Pools in the Koggelberg. It was fantastic. We managed to get up to the top pools, so beautiful. We did learn a lesson - never leave your back packs on the ground unattended as we had a lone baboon following us and as quick as a flash he grabbed an unattended bag moved off about 10 meters and proceeded to unzip the bag and take out the food, open the tupperware container and remove the biscuits. Once he had finished his biscuits he went off into the bush taking his water bottle with him. If you want to do any walks or hikes around Cape Town send me an email at [email protected]

06/12/2020

During this past week I have done two really great bumbles. The first one I did was up on Silver Mine with some fellow guides. It was a 7.5kms. walk from the car park to the Silver Mine Dam. Very pretty, great views and some great flowers. The second one was on Grootbos, near Gaansbai, with my daughter and her children and we went in search of the not so common Spider Orchids. We found three and some other beauties. I attach pictures of the walks. If you would like to join me on any of my walks please send me an email on [email protected] and I will forward details to you of walks that I do.

20/11/2020

Yesterday was the perfect day to do a hike at Cape Point with fellow guides. There was a bit of wind around but that didn't deter fellow guides to do the walk from Cape Point Lighthouse to Cape of Goodhope. As usual the walk didn't disappoint with magnificent views, some great flowers, two small snakes, and four beautiful Eland and very few people. The whole Reserve is looking magnificent at the moment with the Lessertia frutescens or Cancer Bush in full bloom and the Syncarpha vestita in full bloom and living up to its name of Cape Snow, see the photos I have posted.
I also took the opportunity to explore some of the side roads and came across some great looking hikes which I intend exploring, especially now while there are few visitors and the park is looking so magnificent. If you want to join me please contact me on [email protected] for further details.

11/11/2020

No need to travel outside of SA to see some amazing sights. Just look at some of the stops we have in our Bumble through the Karoo. From desert, to quirky towns, from ocean to caves. This tour offers it all. Contact Alistair in 0834004451 to book your personalized private tour (minimum of 6 people is required)

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06/11/2020

It's cool, wet and windy in Somerset West today so I thought I would post the photos I took yesterday whilst on my mountain, the Helderberg. So there is one photo of the view from the path and as I have said before the view changes every day depending on what the mountain wants you to see. The photos of the flowers are all the very small flowers, most of which are blue. The one pink one is small, pretty but deadly. It belongs to the insect eating Sundew family and is a Drosera pauciflora, I even found a small Angulated tortoise.

03/11/2020

A BUMBLE ON THE HELDERBERG: I believe that I am very blessed and privileged to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the Cape and most mornings will find me bumbling around the Helderberg. Every day is different - the route is different, the flowers and plants I find, the view changes everyday depending on the weather. The one thing though that really saddens me is the number of people that walk on the mountain put head down and do not take the time to enjoy the beauty that is around them. From this mornings bumble I found a number of flowers which I photgraphed and have put some of them at the end of this post. The Watsonias have been beautiful but are now coming to their end, the Aristias are still looking beautiful as are the very delicate Gladioli. Why not join me on a day tour of some of the gardens or Helderberg Bumbles just Whatsapp me on 0834004451 and let me know what it is you want to do and I will try and arrange something to suit you.

02/11/2020

With the easing of travel restrictions in early September I was asked by some clients to take them on a bumble through the wild flower territories of Namaqualand, Knersvlakte, and the West Coast. I was fortunate enough to get together 16 folk so did two trips to the flowers in two weeks, what a privilege.
Our bumble took us along the N7 Highway over the Piekenierskloof Pass past the town of Citrusdal (great pockets of naartjies and oranges to be bought at farm stalls on the side of the road) and into Clanwilliam where a very welcome comfort stop and a brunch was had at a delightful padstal (farm stall) on the outskirts of Clanwilliam. All rested and refreshed it was back on to the road and over the Pakhuis Pass and into the Cedarberg Wilderness Area. The road deteriorated rather rapidly from now on but the flowers more than made up for the corrugations. Miles of color of every description it was 'eye watering' beautiful. All too soon we were up and over the Botterkloof Pass and on our way to Nieuwouldville, the bulb capital of the world for the next two nights and what sights did we see. I will stop my ramblings on now but if you would like to make inquiries for next year, 2021, trips please send me a Whatsapp on 0834004451 or email [email protected]. Enjoy the photos

31/10/2020

A BUMBLE THROUGH THE KAROO
DAY 1: SOMERSET WEST TO KAROO NATIONAL PARK
Pick up in Somerset West and head north through Stellenbosch onto the N1. We will stop at a few of the small towns along the route with a lunch stop at the historical town of Matjiesfontein and learn of some of the interesting characters that have stayed in the world-famous Lord Milner Hotel.
Then onto the Karoo National Park which will be our home for the next two nights. The Park is the home of 60 species of mammals including Black Rhino, springbok, red hartebeest, plains zebra, mountain zebra etc.
DAY 3: KAROO NATIONAL PARK TO GRAAFF REINET
We leave early today and travel through the Karoo to the historical town and the fourth oldest town in South Africa. On the way we will do a detour to the quirky village of Nieu-Bethesda and The Owl House. Subject to availability our accommodation for the next two nights will be on a game farm some 60kms. outside of Graaff Reinet.
DAY 5: GRAAFF REINET TO STORMS RIVER
Today we continue our bumble going through small Karoo towns that you would normally miss out on travelling on the main highways. We should arrive at Tsitsikamma Rest Camp early afternoon to enjoy a bit of the beauty of this rugged and magnificent coastline.
DAY 6: STORMS RIVER TO OUDTSHOORN
We will spend the morning enjoying the beauty of the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve. And we will leave mid-morning for the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn to visit the Cango Caves and / or one of the world famous ostrich farms.
DAY 7: OUDTSHORN TO SOMERSET WEST
Today is spent travelling back to Somerset West down the longest wine route in the world Route 62. We will follow Route 62 as far as Barrydale before branching off to the Tradouw Pass to Swellendam and back to Somerset West.
WHATS INCLUDED:
Transport in an airconditioned Hyundai H1 or similar vehicle.
All accommodation in at least three star establishments and/or National Park Chalets or similar on a bed and breakfast basis.
Services of a registered Tourist Guide.
Entrance fees to all National Parks.
WHATS EXCLUDED:
All expenses of a personal nature.
All dinners and lunches.
All drinks.
Entrance fees to any activities and National Parks not mentioned in the itinerary.
COST: R12 500 per person with a minimum of 4 persons.

31/10/2020

THREE GARDEN TOURS
Love outdoor beauty, both natural and man made? Then why not join me on a day visit to three of the most beautiful gardens in the Helderberg and Stellenbosch regions.

09:00 - We will meet at a convenient parking area in Somerset West where your motor vehicle will be safe for the day. We will then head for our first garden – Old Nectar. This lovingly restored garden and Manor House has been in the van der Spuy family since 1941. It was the home of Una van der Spuy well known South African horticulturist and authoress of a number of gardening and landscaping books. The manor house and gardens have been lovingly restored by Una’s son Peter and are still under his loving care.
Our next garden is the fascinating Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden. Here we will have a guided tour of the garden with it’s beautiful bronze sculptures.

Our final garden or should I say gardens, will be found at Vergelegen were we will have a lunch at Stables Restaurant, for your own account, before having a guided tour around the gardens and beautifully restored manor house. We will also be able to see all the new additions being made to the gardens and the development of the massive new arboretum. Lots of stories swirl around Vergelegen,some of which will be told during our tour.

You will then be dropped off at our starting point at approximately 16:30.
WHATS INCLUDED:
Transport in an airconditioned Hyundai H100 or similar
Entrance to the gardens.
Services of a guide and qualified site guides.
WHATS EXCLUDED:
All expenditure of a personal nature.
All drinks.
Lunches or any other meals.
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary above.

Cost:
R800 per person (Minimum 4 persons Maximum 6 persons)

13/08/2016

Roberg Trail