Another Road Tunnel For The Cape?

The 3.9km long Huguenot Tunnel extends the N1 through the DuToits Kloof mountains and provides a shorter and safer link between the towns of Paarl and Worcester. It was opened in March 1998 and for the past 20 years has served thousands of motorists and truckers.

Over the past number of years the ever-increasing traffic volumes have increased concerns about the safety of both the infrastructure and the air quality inside the tunnel. It is noticeable when driving through the tunnel during busy periods that the air quality is poor and I have often wondered how safe it is to be breathing in noxious exhaust fumes.

I was therefore pleased to read that plans are underway to develop a second tunnel to complement the existing one. Both tunnels would be one-way roads and the second would have a world-class air-conditioning system installed. The existing tunnel's air-conditioning system would be upgraded after the building of the second.

Construction is expected to commence in 2010 and will contribute R963 000 towards toll income. More importantly and extra 280 permanent jobs will be created upon its completion. Over 200 jobs will be created during the six months of construction.

The project is estimated to cost R1.2 billion. However I would expect this cost to increase by the time the project draws to completion.

I am excited about the ongoing road construction and infrastructure upgrades I see in Cape Town and surrounds. Much of this will be seen as part of the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup but I believe that, more than this, it is part of the ongoing development of Cape Town into a truly world-class city. The ongoing challenges of poverty alleviation and job creation are ever-present but it seems the city is on the right track.

Franschoek Lets Me Down...

It was a typical Sunday afternoon for our family - a few hours spent driving into the country to explore a new place and then coming home again to get kids ready for the week ahead.

This weekend we decided to visit Franschoek - especially significant as it is where my wife and I spent our first few days as a married couple. The intention was to walk around town and then pop into the coffee shop at the Hugenot Monument for a refreshing cuppa, allow the kids to play a bit and then head home over the Du Toits Kloof pass instead of travelling through the tunnel.

We drove into the parking area of the Hugenot Monument and parked among another 12 or so cars. We then proceeded towards the Hugenot Museum as the sign for the coffee shop pointed in that direction. With no obvious signage I popped into the museum to ask for directions whereupon I was told by a dear old lady that the coffee shop had closed as they were having a quiet day and the staff wanted to go home! This despite a sign in the carpark indicating that they would be open until 17h00.

I then suggested to the family that we take a stroll to the actual monument through the beautifully kept garden. On reaching the gate of the garden we were met with a sign informing us of a charge to enter. Deciding against this we piled into the car and headed off to find another venue for our afternoon refreshments.

This is simply not good enough for a town that is such a tourism landmark.

Johannesburg to Worcester - What A Pleasure!

It's been some time since I wrote on this blog and for my regular readers, I apologise! At the end of last year my family and I moved home from the bustling city of Johannesburg to the Boland town of Worcester so that I could take up the position of headmaster at a local primary school.

I cannot even begin to describe the difference we have experienced in lifestyle and peace of mind! Living on the school property allows me to walk to school across the fields and take in the surrounding beauty. As the sun creeps over the mountains and crawls its way across the the school buildings and fields I remind myself every day how fortunate we are to have been able to move. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed our time in what is probably South Africa's most diverse and Afro-centric city but there is most definitely something different and refreshing about living in the country (not to mention the fresh air).

Worcester is situated in the wine-producing area of the Boland region. This has resulted in our fridge being well-stocked with freshly picked grapes and our wine selection being greatly enhanced through the generous gifts of parents of our school. Being so centrally located (an hour from Cape Town, Hermanus, Montagu and Touwsriver and even less from Paarl, Tulbagh and Ceres) ensures that Worcester is a bustling hub of industry and commerce in the area. All that is required is right on our doorstep.

While the summer temperatures frequently reach over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) the weather is pleasant and in the winter months snow covers the peaks of the surrounding mountains.

There are pros and cons to living in the country but I have to say that there seem to be many more pros than cons!

Worcester Tourism Homepage

What A View - Great Accommodation In Simons Town, Cape Town

Regular readers of this blog will know by now that I love the city of Cape Town. One of the challenges when visiting this wonderful city is deciding where to stay. Personally I love the sea and enjoy being able to wake up in the morning and look out over an expanse of ocean.

It is for this reason that I am pleased to present Glenmarine Lodge to you. These self-catering apartments are situated high on the slopes overlooking False Bay and historic Simons Town. Visitors enjoy panoramic views of False Bay -



These superb views and stunning sunrises can be enjoyed over breakfast from the comfort of your apartment or the spacious timber deck.

With so many wonderful tourist attractions in the vicinity, this will become your home from home. Take a look at the home page for further information. This could be a great place to spend Christmas with the family.

50% To The People

On this, the 50th post for OnlineTrek, it is fitting that we feature an organisation which is making a significant difference in the lives of many in this country and beyond.

The organisation's name is "50% For The People" and offers folks the opportunity to work in South Africa in a volunteer capacity with a number of NGO's and other non-profits. The big difference with this organisation is that 50% of the monies paid are ploughed straight back into the NGO benefitting from the volunteer work.

The company promotes responsible volunteerism -

* minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts;

* generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;

* involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances;

* makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity;

* provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;

* is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Aimed at people living outside South Africa, this opportunity opens doors for future tourism and investment. Impacting the lives of those whom they serve, the volunteers are exposed to experiences they may not have had otherwise and so they too grow from the experience.

Each trip generates over R75 000 for the NGO with whom the volunteers serve.

I believe totally in what this organisation is doing but I do have two questions :

1) Is any follow-up done with the NGO's which receive monies to ensure the income is put to good use?
2) Which NGO's are chosen and what process was used to determine their worthiness?

Notwithstanding these questions, I think that 50%FTP is a model which could be replicated the world over and I am delighted to think that the people of South Africa are benefitting from this initiative.

The latest OutSurance advertisements showing members of their staff giving their time and expertise to the community has also made an impact (watch some of the ads here). The act of doing something tangible rather than throwing money at a project is of far better value to the recipient and the giver.

My prayer is that more organisations and people would move from the comfort of their living rooms and the safety of their cheque books and get into communities that need assistance - not to give hand-outs, but to empower. The future success of South Africa does not rest in the hands of the powerful but in the hearts and hands of ordinary people.

Let's Drink Some Wine In Soweto

13 years into a democratic South Africa there are still many white South Africans who have not ventured into a township. They don't know what they are missing! There is a vibe, a truly South African essence, that is not found in the suburbs. Many tourists have found this to be so and have found much joy at being able to interact with township residents.

Living in Johannesburg for the past 10 years has given me opportunity to visit Soweto on several occassions. Interestingly Soweto is the largest township in South Africa with a population of 1.5 million mainly black residents - 40% of Gauteng's population. It is a vibrant metropolitan area and is known for setting trends in fashion, politics, language, dance and music. Like every other urban area it has its problem areas and yet, from a safety perspective, I often feel safer in Soweto than in Sandton! It is far removed from the images of the 1980's that we saw on the SABC as the residents protested the apartheid regime - it is truly a great place to visit!

Various initiatives have been in place for several years now to entice more South Africans to come into Soweto. One of these is the Soweto Wine Festival which began in 2005. This year the festival has Standard Bank has its headline sponsor and will showcase over 800 wines from 125 wineries.

The festival will be held at the Main Hall, Soweto Campus at the University of Johannesburg on Old Potch Rd, Soweto on 7 & 8 September and is being hailed as the most exciting Soweto-based initiative in years.

To assist those not wishing to travel into Soweto in their own vehicles on the two evenings Jo’burg Tourism is providing branded buses from the Cape Wine Academy offices, Conference Centre, 114 Grayston Drive, Sandown, Sandton

Transport Times:
Friday 7th September – 3:30pm & 6pm & 7pm
Saturday 8th September – 4:30pm & 6pm & 7pm

These busses will be available to return from the festival as well. There will be a special combi that will take back those that need to leave the festival earlier.

This is a great initiative that is helping to make Soweto a preferred destination for Johannesburg tourists and locals alike. I do hope that if you are in the Joburg/Pretoria region you will consider coming along for two wonderful evenings.