Willem Steenkamp was born in Cape Town and grew up in a
small wine and dried fruits farming town in Montagu.
He studied Marketing and
Tourism in Stellenbosch and works as a tour guide at Cape Town Free Walking Tours. The company is friends with Free Walking Tours Copenhagen: Meet traveller and tour guide Rikke from Denmark.
Willem loves meeting new people, and gets inspired by travelling and by learning about the
world. He is passionate about sports (find out about it in his answers), the great outdoors, adventure
activities, music, food and by living life to the max.
Here he was so lovely to find the time to tell us about the oh so very magnificent Cape Town ...
Here he was so lovely to find the time to tell us about the oh so very magnificent Cape Town ...
The Touristin: Three words that
characterize Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp:
1. Adventures. Wide variety of activities in Cape Town
for young and old.
2. Home. Around five to six million people living in the
Mother City. With her diversity and rich cultures and with the love for all and
her friendliness, that is our home Cape Town. We encourage travellers to come
to our beautiful Cape Town to enjoy the wonderful culture, nature, cuisine, history,
activities and to enjoy a unique African holiday with the friendly Capetonians.
3. Breath-taking Nature. Table Mountain one of the
World's seven Natural Wonders. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Lions Head and
Signal Hill, beautiful coastlines (beaches) from Cape Town to the West Coast
and up to the beautiful Garden Route up to Plettenberg Bay.
The Touristin: How do you get
around Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp: The transportation methods that I use
to get around Cape Town is by car, walking which is ideal, neither parking
problems, or paying the car-watch, nor stuck in traffic. My favourite method of
public transport is by the MyCiTi Bus transport services in and around Cape
Town.
The Touristin: What is your
favourite borough/suburb/area in Cape Town and why?
Willem Steenkamp: All along the Promenade, Sea Point as
far as Queens beach. The promenade is eight to nine kilometres of walking,
cycling or jogging all along the beach. You can also watch the people walking
along the road, relax and have a family picnic. All the while you get
entertained by the beautiful views of the ocean, Table Mountain, Signal Hill,
Lions Head, Green Point Stadium and the Light House, and not to forget Robben
Island.
The Touristin: The best place for
a coffee in Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp: Bean There for me produces some of the
best coffee in Cape Town. They source their beans ethically and travel around
to the communities and farms to search for the best beans. Baran's in Green
Market Square is an authentic Mediterranean cuisine restaurant where I spend a
lot of time before work enjoying their strong Kurdish coffee.
The Touristin: What is one
restaurant we must try out while in Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp: I love my meat, especially wild meat.
IYO Burger is a must for meat lovers. I enjoy Mama Africa with its African
cuisine and music that gives the true African feeling. Quay Four is a seafood
restaurant in the V&A Waterfront that specializes in seafood such as Cape
Lobster, Line Fish of the day or the seafood platter. It is one of the oldest
restaurants in the V&A Waterfront with wonderful view of the harbour and
the area.
The Touristin: Where would we
meet you on weekends?
Willem Steenkamp: I am a big sport fan especially when it
comes to rugby. Rugby is like my second religion. When I'm not working/ doing
tours on Saturdays, you would find me at Newlands rugby stadium watching the
Stormers team playing in the Super Rugby tournament. When I'm not a the stadium
you can find me in a bar in Long Street like The Dubliner (Irish Bar) or Van
Hunks in Kloof Street watching the rugby with friends. Sundays is my time at
the beach. I love to go to Bloubergstrand and Clifton.
The Touristin: Do you have a
favourite museum/gallery we all have to visit when in Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp: There is a wide variety of museums in
Cape Town. Here is a few that I would recommend: The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum is a must for rugby lovers, and a great place to understand why rugby is
so important and so close to our hearts. You learn all about the rugby history
in South Africa and the big role rugby and sport plays in SA.
The South African History Museum in the Company Gardens
has several exhibitions, which explain the history of Cape Town and South
Africa.
And then there is the District Six Museum, the Slave Lodge, Chavonnes Battery Museum, the South African National Gallery and more
...
The Touristin: What are some of
your favourite places to shop for A) groceries and B) clothes?
Willem Steenkamp: I'm not a big fan of shopping, but I
like to buy clothes and groceries at Canal Walk and the V&A Waterfront
shopping centre. The V&A Waterfront is the ideal place for me to shop, and
to see the new clothing styles. Woolworths and Food Lovers Market are the two
places where I by my fresh organic foods and vegetables.
The Touristin: What souvenir
shall we bring back from Cape Town?
Willem Steenkamp: On the shopping list for souvenirs from
South Africa is the Ostrich Egg, Springbok skin or leather, Crocodile skin or
leather and then the most important is the Vuvuzela which we used during our
2010 soccer world cup. The Western Cape is worldwide known for its top class
wines. Adding wine to the souvenir list is a must, and to add more treats from
South Africa and Cape Town, simply put Biltong and Droewors (dried sausage) on
the list.
The Touristin: Thank you so very much
for your time Willem. Have fun lots of fun with Cape Town Walking Tours.
Would you like to know what else to do in Cape Town? Read
10 fantastic things to do in Cape Town. If you would
like to meet more eyewitnesses please jump straight to the Eyewitness
Series on The Touristin.
From Berlin with love
From Berlin with love