Paul Barnes

Hi,

We're planning to visit the Western Cape Peninsula and wondered if anyone had an
opinion on where's the best place to stay to see the whole region (is Cape Town, Cape
of Good Hope and the coastlines).

I keep reading about the Chapmans Peak Drive being closed with differing stories
about when it is due to re-open (Feb 2001, May 2001 and Summer 2003 I've read up to
now). Can anyone confirm, and does it's closure have any great effect on getting
around on the Cape, or on where is the best place to base ourselves.

Thanks for any info or experiences.

Cheers

Paul

Peter

The hotel I prefer to use in Cape Town is the Ambassador. The web site is:

http://www.ambassador.co.za/

You MUST ask for sea-facing rooms .. the view is spectacular. Each room is R700
(about US$85) per night.

Other alternatives would be one of the hotels at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
(http://www.waterfront.co.za/home.shtml). The Victoria & Alfred Hotel
(http://www.v-and-a.co.za/) is first class, but is very expensive (about R2300 per
double room). Other alternatives at this site are The PortsWood
(http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/portswood/) (R1190 per double room), and The
Breakwater Lodge (http://www.fortesking-hotels.co.za/) (R500 per double room).

I prefer the Ambassador because of the spectacular sea views and the fact that it is
5km away from the City Centre. There are swimming beaches within walking distance
(very cold water). There is a pool at the hotel.

The V&A Waterfront is a very big, beautiful entertainment complex right next to the
Cape Town Dockyard. There are about fifty restuarants, hundreds of shops, tours,
pretty views (especially at night), movies, plenty of entertainment.

You can still get to parts of the Chapman's Peak drive by car, and you can walk to
the closed sections if you wish.

You should visit Cape Point, Simonstown, Table Mountain, the wineroute.

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David Cowie

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Chapman's Peak only affects the shortest route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. You
can still get to both via equally scenic drives (Boyes Drive, OukaapseWeg, Constantia
Nek and Suikerbossie).

It's likely to remain closed for some time due to no finance, but I'm sure your forex
will help ! You can probably still get to the Old Fort from the Hout Bay side and
maybe close to Monkey Valley on the Noordhoek side to appreciate the views.

Claygate, Surrey, England SA Cycling - http://sa-cycling.com Twickenham CC -
http://www.twickenhamcc.co.uk "Never stop being a tourist"

Graham R

I was in Cape Town this September just gone.
Chapmans Peak is still closed to vehicular traffic.
You can cycle it or walk it, it is had a lot of work done to it, but still need loads more.
I have heard that October 2003 could be open day, but there again.......

well it is still a very beautiful place, when you walk it it is so tranquil and peaceful, it is beyond words to describe it.

graham.

Retired

Graham R wrote in message ...
    >I was in Cape Town this September just gone.
    >Chapmans Peak is still closed to vehicular traffic.
    >You can cycle it or walk it, it is had a lot of work done to it, but
    >still need loads more.
    >I have heard that October 2003 could be open day, but there again.......
    >well it is still a very beautiful place, when you walk it it is so
    >tranquil and peaceful, it is beyond words to describe it.
    >graham.
    >................................................. ........................


The road up to the view point remains open until 15JAN2003,
BUT absolutely closed from there to Noordhoek.
As I knew that it was the very last time one could do it EVER
I walked that strech in May, (although forbidden one
could also cycle on it, BUT no more), The razor wire, etc.
now makes it now impossible and in any case the work will
start on the road from 15JAN and the road closed from
Hout Bay (where the new toll station will be situated!),
The through road will reopen in DEC 2003 (?), Cars to be allowed both way,
Coaches allowed one way only (in the Cape Point direction),
cyclists and pedestrians will be banned**.

paul e/uk

**except for the yearly Bicycle race and Marathon.

Graham R

Hi Paul,,

Thanks for the reply about Chapmans Peak.

When you explain that the road will be closed from the 15 January 2003, is that from sea level as the road rises, or from the current road barriers set up at the obsevation point?

I am pleased to hear it will not be an abandoned road, and that it will be restored. The toll, I am sure would not be complained about, after all, roads as beautiful as this should require constant maintenance.

best regards

Graham
Warrington
U.K.

Retired

Graham R wrote in message ...
    >Hi Paul,,
    >Thanks for the reply about Chapmans Peak.
    >When you explain that the road will be closed from the 15 January 2003,
    >is that from sea level as the road rises, or from the current road
    >barriers set up at the obsevation point?
    >--
It will be closed to traffic just about sea level;
FYI there is little work to be done on that stretch
of road except at a few points due to subsidance but
they want to able to build the Toll gate in peace!

Let me explain, to make it worthwhile for a private company
to undertake the work AND make money for the next
20 years they have (?) to charge from sea-level...
Most Locals like to drive up the road from Houtbaai to
the view point and picnic with their family at one of 3/4 specially
designated picnic areas... (it's also the only way the Houtbaiiers
can enjoy seeing the sunset!) and from 15th January they
won't be allowed up that stretch of road...
When the road reopens (the date I gave you is the Official
date, not the African date) the locals will once again be able
to picnic on the way to the view-point BUT they will be charged
for the privilege.
FYI the Toll plaza will be situated 50 metres past the East fort, where the
road widens and at the start of one of the path up the Constantiaberg.
On the Nordooek side, it will be just before the Beach view-point.

paul e/uk/Twickenham/