West Coast Flowers  are on their way ……….

     To welcome us to the beginning of Spring !

Greetings from a Sunny day in Cape Town….

Well what an August month we had this year……… From cold wet weather, to snow to hot days all in one month. It has really been a very strange month. CTC Marketing did a Marketing trip to the Karoo and Garden Route after moving house and office to a new address the beginning of August and then setting off on our trip three days later. Travelling through amazing sunny warm weather,  we had our first stop at Worcester where we spent the evening at Fairy Glen Game Reserve, in a cosy cottage, after a warm welcome.  The next morning we set off for the Breede River Valley and on to Swellendam were we again had a lovely lunch with Hein & Marcel at African Shades, who also offer lovely accommodation, a must to visit when you are travelling through is Historical town.

See: www.africanshades.co.za 

The evening we spent in Oudtshoorn with family while we did our Marketing in that area. The next morning we set off in pouring rain to visit De Rust a very small village, just outside Oudtshoorn where we met some of our members and had a wonderful home baked cake and coffee at Die Groen Trommel, a very interesting coffee shop with the most amazing things to see. Do not miss this on your visit to De Rust which was crowned village of the year in 2011, and have your lunch at Jack Sprat’s where Candy will give a meal to remember. www.derust.co.za

After spending three days in the Oudtshoorn area visiting our members and also signing up new members, visiting the renowned Cango Caves to deliver brochures, we set off on the Route 62. Once again leaving in sunny but cold weather with snow on the surrounding mountains we stopped over in Calitzdorp known as the Port Capital of South Africa, which is situated on the longest wine route in the world, just 4 hours away from Cape Town and half way to Port Elizabeth and 50km from Oudtshoorn. This peaceful village surrounded by fertile valleys, majestic mountains, the highest peak in the Western Cape, breathtaking gorges with magnificent quartzite rock foldings,  and no less than 11 stunning mountain passes, including the famed Swartberg. This  village offers a choice of accommodation to suit your pocket and a selection of restaurants to match all tastes. Culture and history is ever present in the village – a definite stay over for at least 3 days. For more information see: www.calitzdorp.co.za

Our next stop was Barrydale where we stayed over at the Barrydale Karoo Hotel due to the fact that we could not go any further as Montagu our next stop was cut off from the rest of the world because of floods.  The Staff at the Barrydale Hotel gave us a wonderful welcome,  a cosy fireplace in their lounge, with the most amazing books I have ever seen in any Hotel. There I spent some time until bedtime to find a warm cosy comfortable bed awaiting.

The next morning we had a scrumptious breakfast and set off  back to Swellendam via the Tredoux Pass. We recommend a stopover at the Barrydale Karoo Hotel for that home to home feeling, who also offer entertainment during the month for their guests. See www.barrydalekaroohotel.co.za  and www.barrydaleonline.co.za

Just before leaving Swellendam we had a stopover at the Wildebraam Berry Estate, where visitors are made welcome in their friendly and relaxed tasting room for  the most amazing liqueurs, jams, delicious berry & chilli products. They also offer self catering farm cottages in this peaceful countryside  ambience with magnificent views, fireplaces and braai facilities. See: www.wildebraam.co.za

These are just a small snatch of all the lovely places on the Route 62. Do also pop in at Platform62 in Ashton, another lovely Tourism centre where you can purchase wines, dried fruit, lunch, teas, or various crafts from this small village know for all our Koo products, in South Africa.  Robertson was our next stop where we visited Birds Paradise where you see the most wonderful feathered friends, enjoy lovely teas, coffee and lunches while relaxing next to beautiful water features or tranquil pools with ducks swimming gracefully from one end to the other in the water.

Robertson also offers comfortable Guest Houses, in this Breede Valley town once again surrounded by the most beautiful wine lands and amazing mountains. We recommend a night or two over at De Oude Opstal Guest House, in one of the oldest homes in Robertson. Hilde and Dieter will be your hosts, where you will relax in their tranquil setting with a beautiful beach pool, so you will think you are on an island and not in Robertson. www.deoudeopstal.com

Due to my long trip, and another soon afterwards to Clanwillian in the Cederberg Valley the time was limited to do an August newsletter, so I decided to put the two months together.  I will continue with the rest of our travels in our October newsletter.

We would also like to remind our Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga members that we still have FREE listing on www.PlaceAndPrices.co.za  for you.

CTC Marketing is now also representing “Your Travel Guide” Booklet, so please contact us should you be interested to advertise your establishment in the 2013 Booklet there are only a few places still available.

We wish all our members a prosperous summer season right around the corner, and do keep the news coming which we can share with all our members.

Do keep warm on the odd cold days which we might still be getting, before our summer starts.

Interesting News from Leopard Mountain Lodge , which I want to share with you all:

                              NEWS FROM ALBERTINIA ON THE GARDEN ROUTE

NEWS FROM WHITE SHARK DIVING COMPANY – Kleinbaai, Western Cape

Tel: 023 230 0071 / Fax: 023 230 1411   Accommodation:   www.tulbaghhotel.co.za /

Horse About Trails in Tulbagh offers Magical Moonlight Horse- back rides.

Depending on your experience you can choose either the Vineyard or  longer Witzenberg Trail.

Experience the magic of riding across farmland with the rising moon to light our way and the majestic Witzenberg Mountains silhouetted above us. This is an ideal trip for romantics and families!

Heading out in the cool of the evening and sunset light we head up into the foothills of the darkening mountains. The trail leads up to the panoramic view point where you can watch the moon lighting the valley below. After enjoying some light refreshments we will head back down through the vineyards to the Hitching Post.

Departure times vary according to the season

For more information please have a look at http://www.horseabout.co.za/moonlight-trails.html

Rate per person, including light refreshments

Vineyard Ride R275, 00  allow 2 hours for the activity. Ideal for beginners and the not so fit, but enjoyed by all.

Witzenberg Ride R380, 00 – allow at least 3 hours for this activity. Participants need to be comfortable at a trot.

For more information contact: Jo Lister  email: info@horseabout.co.za   www.horseabout.co.za