Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Ashanti Green Point Photos


At long last, we finally had some professional pics taken of Ashanti Green Point and these have been put up on-line in as many places as we can find. But just in case, here is one and the rest can be found on www.ashanti.co.za

Friday, April 17, 2009

Ashanti Lodge Green Point is open!


Ashanti Lodge's new venture in Green Point, Cape Town opened on 1st April 2009. Our first guests were Damien and David and they were treated to a glass of champagne on arrival.
Ashanti Green Point is a great alternative to the Gardens establishment and is the height of luxury - it can hardly even be called a Backpackers. The neutral colours offer a serene experience and all dorm beds have fluffy white duvets, individual reading lights as well as individual digital safes.
The private rooms have plasma screen televisions, towels and awesome prints of Cape Town through the years.
Still with the renowned professionalism of Ashanti Gardens, Green Point offers a quieter alternative and is equipped with a self-catering kitchen, swimming pool, off-street parking, tv-room, internet facilities and a travel information desk.
COME CHECK IT OUT!!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Welcome to the Cape of Great Events!


Now we’ve said it before…but we’ll say it again! In beautiful Cape Town & Western Cape your event options are endless. And by this we mean…endless!!

Take this short weekend ahead of us: action packed cricket at Sahara Park Newlands where we are trying to conquer our friends from Down Under, then the ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race having its Prologue with Table Mountain as the dramatic backdrop, the Cape Town Festival kicking off - all of this is just in Cape Town! The Cape Winelands are ready to welcome visitors to the Wellington Wine Harvest Festival and at Muratie Wine Estate at Stellenbosch you can be part of the Port Stomping Festival!

What to do…where to go…how to best spend your time?!

We suggest that you start with the Cape Town Festival in the Company Gardens on Friday, 20 March 2009 as Coda kicks off this event’s 10th anniversary at 17h00. This diverse arts, culture and heritage event runs until Sunday, 22 March 2009 and the line-up includes Jonathan Rubain, Prime Circle, The Rockets, Moreira Project and so many more amazing artists. The added bonus is that all of these concerts are free to the public! Check out www.capetownfestival.co.za for more!


The Wellington Wine Harvest Festival starts on Saturday, 22 March 2009. Hop from cellar to cellar and meet the masters behind the award-winning wines (and brandies) from the Wellington region. The Perdeskoen area will have horse-rides through nature reserves and fresh food market with organic suppliers. Diemersfontein offers aspiring winemakers the opportunity to blend your own bottles from various quality cultivars – what fun! Another highlight of the weekend is a writing course and lunch with author Riana Scheepers in the Bovlei area and “Wellington’s golden boy”, Valiant Swart, will be present at Boule’s story-telling and cooking evening. This festival has it all at a mere R40 a ticket. Call Trudy Oosthuizen on 021 873 4604 and make your way there!

While in the area, don’t miss the Port Stomping Festival at Muratie Wine Estate or the Cape Winelands Film Festival in Stellenbosch. The plan is to arrive from 18h00, catch a movie at the Oude Libertas winery’s indoor theatre or participate in a food-sampling, followed by a cooking demonstration. Most nights there’s live entertainment as well! It’s all happening in the Cape Winelands. Call 083 792 4320 for more details.

Back in Cape Town, on this HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, the Prologue of the ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race starts and finishes at the United Herzlia School, Clairwoods Avenue, Oranjezicht, Cape Town. The Prologue is a two-man team time trial where the teams set off at 1 minute intervals in a race against the clock. They compete for the honour of putting on the first yellow jersey of the 2009 ABSA Cape Epic, which starts on Sunday, 22 March 2009. The best spot for you to catch the action is: Between the Vantage Points at DEER PARK or TAFELBERG ROAD. With the event hosted in Cape Town and the Western Cape, we are privileged to have world media attending and our thanks and appreciation go to the following accommodation establishments, who have offered complementary accommodation to key visiting media: The Grand Daddy Hotel in Long Street; Stonehurst Guest House and Ashmore House in Sea Point.

If you’re planning to watch the cricket live, then you should be at Sahara Park Newlands for the 3rd and final cricket Test Match between South Africa and Australia on Saturday, 21 March 2009. Why Saturday in particular? Because, the best dressed group of friends stand a chance to win fantastic prizes as part of the Castle Fanatical Competition! Go full out – paint your face, wave your flag, wear your hats, have a great time and enjoy supporting the Proteas!

Your Summer Sunset Concert at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on Sunday, 22 March 2009 features the melodic rock band, aKING. Be there!

With the great weather in store, we encourage you to make the most of our amazing locations for a perfect Summer Sundowner we wish you a fantastic weekend in the Cape of Great Events!


Enjoy!


The Events Team
Cape Town Routes Unlimited





Cape Town Festival

The festival organiser has come up with a truly remarkable line-up of unifying events in the tenth year of Cape Town Festival. “It is hard to believe that ten years have flown by so fast", says Cape Town Festival Chairperson Ryland Fisher. He announced a glittering Cape Town Festival 2009 line-up that includes artists such as Robbie Jansen, Tucan Tucan, Coda, Celeste Williams and Nomfusi Gotyana. It is a fitting tribute for a decade of endeavouring to bring Capetonians closer together. Cape Town Festival 2009's Main Festival weekend takes place on Friday, 20 and Sunday, 22 March at what has become a perennially popular Cape Town Festival venue of the Company Gardens. Communities are encouraged to partake in a Unity Parade and Community Vibrations Day, both scheduled for Sunday, 22 March, at the Company Gardens where top performers from Muizenberg, Atlantis and Hanover Park will strut their stuff. The weekend celebrations form part of the Human Rights Day (21 March 2009) celebrations…More>>







Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race
The magical and untamed mountain bike race in Africa is upon us. On Saturday, 21 March 2009, the Absa Cape Epic kicks off with a time trial prologue (opening) on the iconic Table Mountain. Teams will have a pre-allocated time slot for their time trial and depart at 30-second intervals. The pro-riders competing for UCI points and prize money will start between 13h00 and 13h30 in one minute intervals. This is to allow amateur riders and the public to watch the podium candidates racing each other for the honour of wearing the yellow leader jersey at the start of the stage 1 in Gordon’s Bay the following day, Sunday, 22 March. Each team’s time in the prologue will add to their overall time and will be used to determine the seeding for the start of the first stage on Sunday morning. Well-known cyclists Hannes Genze and Jochen Käß from Germany will enter as Team Multivan Merida Biking in this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Both Genze and Käß have participated and won various marathons and championships. Genze was the German Marathon Champion in 2004 and 2006 and the European Marathon Champion in 2005. Käß finished first place in the Trans Schwarzwald in 2008. They finished 4th in last year’s Absa Cape Epic and they’ll be out for revenge. The race will finish at the exquisite Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West on Sunday, 28 March 2009…More>>

Wellington Wine Route Harvest Festival





Grab your family for a mega dose of harvest time fun in the Cape Winelands this weekend, 21 to 22 March 2009. Mention the town ‘Wellington’ and immediately you’ll conjure up enticing images of the noble fruit of the vine, old fashioned Cape Winelands hospitality and the down to earth, yet wholesome life and unpretentious atmosphere which pervades this valley. To celebrate and savour these and other Wellington treasures, this historic town will be rolling out the red carpet at the third Wellington Wine Route Harvest Festival. Bring along the entire family for a laid-back autumn day in the open air, or hop from cellar to cellar to meet the masters behind the award winning wines from the Wellington region. Linton Park in the Groenberg area is set to lure visitors to a crayfish braai, and while Mischa’s Moroccan tent with DJ and cocktails promises a deliciously colourful experience. You can simultaneously experience a close-up view of the rare Cape Quagga. Try your hand at Boule with live Jazz to spur you on, or rub shoulders with several illustrious personalities including Wellington’s golden boy, Valiant Swart, at a story-telling and cooking evening. Whether you’re in the mood for an exceptional gourmet experience or merely fancy sampling a selection of the wide variety of goodies on offer, the delicious smorgasbord laid on by this charming Boland town’s food fundis is bound to delight. Be it fine cuisine, culture or art that makes your soul sing, or be it simply tons of fun and pure pleasure that ignites your passion – this weekend all roads lead to Wellington! Although the fruit of the vine is to be the guest of honour, the festival remains a fabulous family affair…More>>






Hanepoot Festival
We heard it on the grapevine that you can eat as many Hanepoot grapes as you can for free at the Hanepoot Festival! Jason’s Hill Private Cellar in the Rawsonville wine region is once again hosting their annual Hanepoot Festival on Saturday, 21 March. You can also pick your own bunch to take home@ R30/5kg. Come make a noise in the countryside with live music and dancing, stalls and wine-tasting! Kids will be entertained to jumping castle, petting farm and much more. Be sure to grab the family and head to the Breede River Valley…More>>

Kirstenbosch Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts: aKING
Summertime seems endless while the Mother City enjoys stunning March weather... it's a time for easy living and chilling at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on Sunday, 22 March during the summer sunset concert featuring aKING. Melodic Pop-Rock band, aKING, will give music lovers a tremendous afternoon this Sunday. Formed when Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter from Fokofpolisiekar, teamed up with friends Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen, the joining of their combined creative forces is making music that expresses their shared experiences and influences. aKING is an audio diary of life and survival in the suburbs. Expect uncompromising, focused energy. Sing-along alternative country-inspired songs and Classic Rock anthems are the order of the day. The show starts at 17:30 and please note that tickets booked online must be redeemed at the Ticket office before the show. Ticket sales for the sunset concerts start from the Tuesday preceding the concert. For further information and ticket prices: call 021 799 8783/8620 or surf to www.sanbi.org. Enjoy the show…More>>















Now On and Forthcoming Attractions:
Biko Exhibition: 5 December 2008 - 31 March 2009

Beauty & The Beast: 8 - 29 March 2009

Killer Queen: 10 - 22 March 2009

Cape Town Festival: 20 - 22 March 2009

The Barleycorn Annual Festival: 21 March 2009

Hanepoot Festival: 21 March 2009

Neighbourhoods Market: 21 March 2009

Wellington Wine Harvest Festival: 21 - 22 March 2009

Absa Cape Epic: 21 - 28 March 2008

Home Improver's Show: 26 - 29 March 2009

West Coast Lagoon Festival: 27 - 29 March 2009

Cape Dutch Food and Wine Festival: 28 - 29 March 2009

Monday, February 9, 2009

Ashanti Lodge happy guest

-----Original Message-----
From: vernonmarkjames@gmail.com [mailto:vernonmarkjames@gmail.com]
Sent: 24 January 2009 07:28 PM
To: info@cyberzoo.co.za; info@ashanti.co.za
Subject: Ashanti Lodge Website Enquiry

Subject: Contact Us Form Posted

Name: Intrigue (Vernon James)

Email: vernonmarkjames@gmail.com

Message: I just wanted to say that Ashanti is proof that backpacking accommodation can be an amazing experience. I'm doing a fair bit of travelling at the mo and i will let if there is anywhere as good in the world, i doubt it!
Intrigue

human:

Submit: SEND YOUR MESSAGE

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Ashanti Travel Lodge Enquiry Posted

Monday, December 15, 2008


No more Plan B - Blatter

FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday insisted there was no way the 2010 World Cup would be moved from South Africa, saying any 'plan B' was now firmly dead and buried. Rumours have persisted that the tournament could be pulled from South Africa if it failed to meet organisational deadlines after Blatter admitted earlier this year that FIFA had contingency plans.

But he moved to reassure everyone involved that South Africa would host the event, which he described as 'my baby'. "There definitely is no plan B or C. The only plan is to make the South African event a success," he said at a press conference here alongside Danny Jordaan, the head of the 2010 organising committee. "If there are still doubters, let me say that the 2010 World Cup will be organised in South Africa," he added from Japan, where he is attending the Club World Cup.
South Africa will become the first African nation to host football's four-year showpiece event, with FIFA now confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time. There had been concern that the 10 World Cup stadiums -- five new, five upgraded -- would not be finished, while the country's crime rate, where 50 murders happen every day, was also a worry. But all the issues were being dealt with, he said, adding that it would fulfil a lifelong ambition of his to see the tournament held in Africa. "Football is the most popular game in the world and in 2010 Africa will show that it is able to host a World Cup," he said. "I'll be proud because it is my baby."

The Confederations Cup in June next year will be a key test of South Africa's World Cup preparedness.

Sapa

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Robben Island closes

THE Robben Island Museum will shut for two weeks beginning November 1, announced the heritage site’s council yesterday.

The tourism hot spot, just off the coast of Cape Town, will be temporarily closed to carry out maintenance and much-needed improvements. These projects include the repair and replacement of tour busses, the refurbishment of vessels and the management of the invasive rabbit population on the island.

Seelan Naidoo, interim ceo of the Robben Island Museum Council, said in a statement: “Following an intensive consultation process initiated by the Robben Island Museum that included the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, the State Vet and Cape Nature, immediate action will be taken to avert an ecological crisis on the Island as a result of rabbit overpopulation.”

The rabbit population has been troublesome and in particular, harmful to all natural vegetation on the island. This problem has led to the undernourishment of other animal species on the island.

A small population of the rabbits will be controlled with a sterilisation programme, while a number of the rabbits will be “humanely culled”.

“The decision to cull the animals was a very difficult one, however, there are no other alternatives available to restore ecological balance on Robben Island and to save important heritage sites from further degradation,” said Naidoo.

Robben Island has not offered any further information on the matter for the time being.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Ashanti Hotspot!!!

Ashanti's Wireless Hotspot is finally up and running!!! So now if you arrive with your own laptop you can access our network and check your emails next to the pool!!