WHAT IS A WHALE OF A HERITAGE ROUTE?

It is a business, tourism and educational initiative to package and market as a niche destination and Route approximately 500 historical attractions, associated events and businesses with Southern Right whale watching an additional yet key feature in season.

Businesses and organisations that subscribe to the Route initiative are promoted preferentially.

The whale watching/sightings log, whale sightings map and events are used as a lever to generate visibility, interest, excitement and knowledge. The whale watching/sightings log feeds SA Tourism’s Whale Desk and thus keeps the destination on the International Whale Watching/Spotting Radar. According to SA Tourism this recording and reporting system is the most sophisticated of the various destinations that report to them.

Click here to read about us in Cape Town Tourism’s Visitor Guide 2008

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

The historical section of the Route, arranged into ambles, rambles and trails now starts in Tokai and ends at the Cape Point lighthouse.

The Muizenberg section of the Route offers a guided walking tour of historical Muizenberg ie the old Village. A second walk incorporates Main Road with emphasis on The Historical Mile. A third option is the Old Hotel Trail. A slow trip from Kalk Bay to Muizenberg on a traditional fishing boat offers a unique offshore platform to view attractions.

In Muizenberg you will have the opportunity to experience quaint and in some cases unique heritage dating from the stone - age through to 1673 and the 1930s. The Muizenberg walks are about 3 hours each and start near Surfer's Corner where according to legend, surfing started in South Africa during World War 1.

Guided walks are also available in Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek Valley, Glencairn and Simon's Town.

Also available is the Old Cape Farmstead Trail, a Muslim Trail, a Stone Age & Quena Trail, the Old Hotel Trail, and a Gables and Chimneys Trail. Factored into the latter are select fireplaces.

Historical Adventure-Races are another option (for team building purposes as an example). This entails providing teams with clues of an historical nature in a race against time to identify as many as possible within the allotted time.

The whale watching/spotting section of the Route starts at offshore Strandfontein and extends to Cape Point. The

proximity of False Bay West shore to the Cape Town’s city centre makes whale and dolphin watching a very attractive

“Green” option for either boat or land-based watching.  Thanks to the geography of this area, there are many elevated

positions from which to watch whales and dolphins at play, the train and restaurants included.

The Route offers Junior Whale Spotter Workshops for children age 7 – 14 and their parents. These are held with

accredited educators (marine biologists) and encourage families to report what they see. The Route boasts its

own whale watch leaflet and an educational poster on whales.

The Scale Of A Whale Is Impressive and this slogan is used to promote Mathematics viz: a Southern Right Whale

is the equivalent in weight and length to ten African elephants.

A second innovation is a Junior Historian Workshop at which the same age group is taught to appreciate

the architectural aspects of buildings.

UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS

Some of the unique attractions that you will not see anywhere else include:

** An ochre grind - stone (Muizenberg).

** Two pre-fabricated whalermen's houses in Muizenberg (1898).

** Beach villas in Muizenberg (1930s).

** A perennial spring/horse drinking trough set in a boundary wall of an old property on Main Road, Muizenberg (1914).

A great setting for a family photo.

** Gurgling perennial springs either side of the latter.

** An original milestone (pre 1820) in St James (difficult to spot if you don't know what you are looking for!).

** A Victorian posting box in Kalk Bay (also difficult to spot if you don't know what you are looking for!).

** The smallest Mosque in South Africa in Kalk Bay (c 1898).

** A beautiful stained-glass window at the back of a shop in Kalk Bay (by appointment only).

** In Fish Hoek, a humungous rock that according to legend, collapsed on top of and killed seven men who now lie  buried beneath it. Appropriately called Sewemanseklip!!

** In Glencairn, the remains of a Flour Mill (1820).

** In Simon's Town, the spot where Just Nuisance took his afternoon nap!!

** A wide selection of gables and chimneys.

** Some beautiful fireplaces.

ROUTE EVENTS

There are two annual events viz: the Annual Whale Spotter’s Breakfast at which spotters are thanked for their efforts and a Brekvis Oppie Stoepie. The latter celebrates the existence of Fish Hoek Farm which existed from 1818 til 1918,

The Annual Whale Spotter’s Breakfast also serves as the Route’s year – end function.

MISSION OF THE ROUTE

Is to encourage, on a year round basis, appropriate market segments to celebrate the natural, cultural and historical attractions that the Route has to offer.

VISION FOR THE ROUTE

To be a world class heritage Route and preferred whale spotting destination.