Tips And Articles/Blog Index

_ Cape Town Weather

Why it is so unpredictable, and how to mitigate it.

– Books new and old

Find a list of great bookshops selling books, both new and second-hand. The Colourdots posts for each Western Cape town include the number of the local library.

– Explore unique ways to travel in the Western Cape

From exhilarating helicopter rides to  the usual ways, including buses and taxis, to something more traditional, like a donkey cart

– Heritage Sites in the Western Cape

Explore local heritage sites and cultural treasures. Uncover the fascinating stories and stunning architecture that showcase the region’s diverse history.

– Holidays at home in the Western Cape

Suggestions for a budget holiday, or just some ways to get to know the magnificent place we call home.

– Places to cool off in the Western Cape

A list of beaches, tidal pools and local public swimming pools.

– Lighthouses on the Western Cape Coast

Western Cape lighthouses play a vital role in guiding ships safely along one of the world’s most dangerous coastlines,

– Western Cape Number Plates

A list of the 46 licence plate prefixes and the places they denote.

– South Africanisms / slang

A short “dictionary” of local lingo. The Western Cape has been a melting pot of languages since 1652, and local parlance includes words derived from many cultures.

– Whales and Dolphins of the Western Cape Coast

Find out some information about the various species of whales and dolphins that visit and inhabit the Western Cape coastline.

– Local Markets

Supporting farmers’ markets can help promote food stability in a community, and flea markets selling second-hand goods help with sustainable living, too. Markets support small businesses of every kind.

– Mazes and Labyrinths

There are many mazes and labyrinths in the Western Cape; this article lists them and describes the difference between Mazes and Labyrinths.

–The Dutch East India Company

The Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at the Cape in the 1600s, laying the foundations for European settlement in what is now the Western Cape.

–The story of the first peoples of the Western Cape

The story of the Western Cape begins with its first peoples, the Khoi and San, whose deep knowledge of the land and sea shaped the region long before colonial settlement.

– Mining and minerals in the Western Cape

Mining in the Western Cape sparked waves of hope for quick wealth over the years, but most ventures proved short-lived.

– Purchase of the Cape 1672

The document that sealed the fate of the Cape.

– Shipwrecks around the Western Cape coastline

A comprehensive list of shipping disasters in our waters since the 1400s

–Best Golf courses in the Western Cape

Links to all the well-known venues and to the local courses in smaller towns across the region._

15 Places to Pick Your Own Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers

Farms and gardens where the public can pick their own produce.

_Wine Farms that Children will Enjoy

Wine farms where there are facilities and playgrounds to entertain children while you are tasting the wine. Some of the venues serve tasting experiences especially for children.

– Stargazing in the Western Cape

Places in the Western Cape where the skies are clear and away from city lights, where the stars are spectacular.

-Caves in the Western Cape

Caves in the mountains and along the coastline, some of which were inhabited at various times in the past by indigenous people, escaped slaves and pioneer settlers.

-Driving the Western Cape

If you choose to drive yourself, you can travel at your own pace and stop at the many hidden gems along the way. 

– Healing traditions of the local Indigenous people

Traditions that are centuries old.

– South African Medicinal Plants

A list of some of the plants that have been used for centuries, where to find them and how to use them.

– Non-profit organisations in the Western Cape

What you need to know about founding a charity or NPO 

– Starting a small business in South Africa

Rules and regulations about small business compliance.

— Urban Backyard Farming in the Western Cape

Become self-sustaining or make a profit from gardening in your yard.

– Companion planting in your Western Cape garden

Plants that complement each other and some that keep pests away. 

– Laws about labelling foods in South Africa

If you run a small business cooking or baking, here is some advice and some rules about what needs to be added to your labels

– Advertise your small business locally.

Join the dots.

– Why list with Colourdots?

Good reasons to list your business.