The website was designed by Helmar Rudolph, Capetonian and regular Simonskloof visitor, using a content management system (CMS) written by himself. PHP and a MySQL database are used to get the information into the browser. The page uses cascading style sheets (CSS), which means that any new design can be implemented within less than 30 minutes. Some Javascript is used for the dynamic menu as well as the display of images, where the menu is turned off and the width of the content display widened. In short: it's neat. :)

The previous incarnation was also a CMS (Drupal), but it turned out to be too complex, too complicated and not flexible enough to do what Jurgen wanted to do. This version now has all the essential features of a successful website, while keeping it simple enough for Jurgen to maintain the content.

Visitors can comment on certain pages, and the more "in the know" can soon subscribe to the Simonskloof RSS newsfeed, which basically ensures that any news on Simonskloof will come to them. This is so much more convenient than a newsletter or having to visit the site at regular intervals to check for any news.

I hope you like what we've produced here. I believe it's currently (as of December 2004) the only such site in South Africa. Blogs and CMS exist elsewhere, but it's the first time an accommodation establishment uses this powerful and very maintenance-friendly approach. If you agree or not, why not leave a comment below? I'll answer any questions as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your visit!

Helmar