Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town, South Africa

Ashanti Green Point Photos

2009-05-13T11:06:00.007+02:00

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

Ashanti Lodge Green Point is open!

2009-04-17T08:22:00.002+02:00

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!!

2009-03-20T11:31:00.000+02:00

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

Ashanti Lodge happy guest

2009-02-09T11:26:00.000+02:00

-----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

--
Ashanti Travel Lodge Enquiry Posted

2008-12-15T15:57:00.003+02:00

No more Plan B - Blatter

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:43

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

Robben Island closes

2008-10-15T10:09:00.002+02:00

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.

Ashanti Hotspot!!!

2008-01-14T14:41:00.000+02:00

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!!

Ashanti goes north to Mozambique

2008-01-11T16:03:00.000+02:00

I have just returned from a two-week trip to Mozambique and it really is a perfect place to go for some serious R&R - and some serious partying too, if you like. I took the easy way out and flew directly into Inhembane and then transferred to Tofo. I whiled the day away in a hammock and ate loads of seafood. Days were spent deciding what to do the following day!! There are lots of diving opportunities for those licensed to do so, but I just snorkelled. It was phenomenal though - 1 metre away from a whale shark. That was a first!! One tends to forget that Mozambique is still quite rural as on the beach it is another world. But heading into the village or into town one is face to face with the local people and they are really friendly. A great part of the experience.
Any info required on Monzambique, contact us.

Last chance to visit Robben Island this year

2007-12-10T10:49:00.000+02:00

People planning on visiting Robben Island this festive season are in for a nasty surprise, withthe only available date being Wednesday. Otherwise holiday-makers will have to wait until January to see the World Heritage Site.
Robben Island has 1800 visitors a day during peak season, which started when schools broke up for the summer holidays last week.
The museum said last month it was confident it would manage the peak period without the delayed 300-seater ferry, which will be ready next year. The island's management said four ferries were running, with two on standby, but they are already at capacity and can only take bookings for December 12.
Visitors this festive season will be ferried by apartheid-era vessels used to take prisoners to the then-island jail. They are the Susan Kruger and the Dias, which can accommodate 134 passengers each.
Two other contracted ferries take 60 and 145 passengers respectively.
CAPE TIMES, TUESDAY 4DEC07

New Table Mountain prices

2007-11-01T11:46:00.000+02:00

Cape Town's iconic landmark, Table Mountain, has released their new prices for the next year. It will now cost R130 for a return trip and R65 one way, although if you have a student card these prices will reduce to R88 and R47 respectively.
However, we always recommend to our guests here at Ashanti Lodge to make the effort and hike up the mountain. Platteklip is a great route and depending on your fitness level shouldn't take more than an hour and a half. Once on top of the mountain (which is surprising level) you could spend hours walking around. And remember that if you have any postcards to send that if you send them from on top of the mountain, they will actually have a Table Mountain postmark.
Water, a hat and sunblock are obligatory and don't forget that it actually IS a mountain and can therefore be quite dangerous, so you should stick to the demarcated route and not go alone.
A great thing to do is walk up in the late afternoon (with a beer or a bottle of wine in your daypack) and watch the city lights come on as the sun sets. The last cable car down in the height of summer is at 10pm so there is plenty of time.
Have a look at their website and ENJOY!!!

Rugby World Cup 2007

2007-10-22T16:18:00.000+02:00

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!! And all of Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town and indeed South Africa celebrated in fine style on Saturday night and the feeling of euphoria is sure to stay on for some time.
The Kumasi Cafe here at Ashanti was packed with both England and South African supporters cheering their hearts out whilst watching the game on the big screen. There were people sitting on the bar (usually not allowed), the pool table (DEFINITELY not allowed) and by the time kick-off came, it was standing room only. The tunes of Sweet Chariot and Shoshaloza competed equally as did the painted faces of the English fans vs the Springbok horn hats!! What a night. The after party was like 10 New Year's Eve parties rolled into one and I am sure that there was many a sore head the next day. I just felt a little sorry for those European visitors from countries like Germany who don't even know what rugby is!!
So South Africa will remain champions for another 4 years and we will all walk around with great smiles on our faces for quite some time.
GO BOKS!!!

Boat Based Whale Watching

2007-09-12T12:43:00.000+02:00

If you would like to experience the thrill of boat based whale watching excursions. I can strongly recommend joining one of the two and a half to three hour trips which takes place in the very under rated False Bay. Were else can you take pictures of whales with Table Mountain in the back round? The rate is R650-00 p/person and trips run daily. 9.30am and 12.30pm from Kalk Bay. Weather permitting.
I would encourage visitors to use our public transport system metro rail and the gem that is the Southern train Line.
Return tickets are R18 or you can purchase the tourist ticket hop-on hop-off at R25. The hop on hop off ticket can only be used outside of pick hours. Better yet you could over night in Simon's Town or one of the other many accommodation establishments in the area.

A day trip could also combine a visit to the penguin colony at boulders, the Simon's Town museums and naval base, the antique shops of Kalk bay with a stop for lunch. Rhodes cottage in Muizenberg, the open air museum for the battle of Muizenberg, plus many other attractions to choose from.There are regular train departures but to tie it into the boat based whale watching launch times. Either catch the 07:16 arriving in Kalk Bay at 08:09 or the 07:32 arriving Kalk Bay at 08:25
For the afternoon trip the train departs at 11:20 and arrives in Kalk Bay at 12:13.

You can find the full time table at http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_timetables/timetable_index.htm

If you would like to make an advance reservation contact us at the Ashanti Travel Centre
www.ashanti.co.za

Whale Season

2007-08-24T10:02:00.000+02:00

It's that time of year again when you will find the Southern Right & Humpback whales frolicking about shores of the western cape . Season is July to November and you can expect better sightings from mid September through to early November. You would offen see whales whilst on a Cape Point & Peninsula tour, but the best experience is to arrange a day trip to Hermanus. This is the western capes best sight for land based whale watching. The town of Hermanus also hosts our annual whale festival which usually takes place during the last week of September. The dates for 2007 are from Friday September 21st through to Saturday September 29th
Visit www.whalefestival.co.za for further info.
To arrange a day trip to Hermanus visit http://www.ashanti.co.za/travelcentre/dynamic.php?whale_watching_(sept-nov)_page.html

Drugs for Malaria

2007-08-24T09:47:00.000+02:00

There are a lot of countries and areas in Southern Africa where Malaria is prevalent but this disease is easily preventable if you take the correct drugs. However, this is a warning to anyone taking medicine to carefully check the side effects.

http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/advice/diseases/malaria.htm

We recently had a guest at Ashanti Lodge who was prescribed Mefloquine by a pharmacy in Wynberg. The pharmacist never ask her if she has any medical conditions. On this travel site, it clearly states "Avoid in epilepsy, if there is a close family history of epilepsy (e.g. parents or siblings) or if there is a history of psychiatric illness".

And what did she suffer from? Mild epilepsy. She experienced strange dreams, hallucinations and actually had to leave her tour from Kruger Park to Vic Falls to come back to Ashanti.

It could have been a lot worse, so please check!

Enigma of Can Openers

2007-08-22T10:03:00.000+02:00

Why is that many Ashanti guests think it's OK to nick the can openers from the communal self-catering kitchen? I cannot tell you how many we have had to buy over the years as replacements. If you are going travelling or camping - BUY ONE! It's not that big a deal but just an irritation for the next one who wants to use it!
We even went to the lengths of installing an industrial table-mounted can opener, but that didn't work either.
So the moral of the story is that we cannot guarantee that there will be a can opener in the kitchen when you arrive!

Springboks vs Namibia at Newlands

2007-08-17T04:09:00.000+02:00

The Springboks played Namibia at Newlands on Wednesday night. As much as we all knew it was almost a training situation for the Bokke it was still a great oppprtunity for everyone to see the South African team in action.
And they didn't disapoint! We all hoped for a score of over 100 and it was achieved in the dying minutes and everyone that went to the game was well entertained.
A lot of guests from Ashanti were there and they all said that the world-renowned atmosphere at Newlands is definitely worth experiencing.
Come and check it out for your self some time!

Ashanti Lodge and Travel Centre

2007-08-13T14:33:00.000+02:00

Welcome to Ashanti's blog!!

Ashanti Lodge and Travel Centre is based in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa and has been host to literally thousands of travellers over the past 13 years. We have helped people enjoy the best of what Southern Africa has to offer by organising their travel plans.

Here we will try to keep you updated on the goings on of Ashanti, Cape Town, South Africa and all our guests.

Have a look at www.ashanti.co.za for more info.

Thanks
Lisa