5 Winter Activities to Try in Cape Town
Summer in Cape Town is for swimming, sundowners by the sea, and soaking up the sun outdoors. But, that doesn’t mean Mother City dwellers, or visitors, have to go into hibernation in winter. With lush green surroundings, cosy cafés, restaurants with fireplaces, and plenty of indoor adventures, Cape Town can be at its most inviting during the cooler months. And, if it’s unusual and different you want this winter, then Cape Town’s sleepy South Peninsula is the place to look for unique activities in the Mother City. From Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek and Kommetjie, here are just 5 things to do in Cape Town’s False Bay area this winter.
Take advantage of the Cape Point Winter Special
Winter is the ultimate time to explore Cape Town on a budget. You’ll find specials everywhere from hotels and restaurants to tourist attractions and activities. Cape Point is especially breathtaking during the winter months and their annual winter special allows two kids (aged 6 -16) to ride for free on the Flying Dutchman Funicular when an adult return ticket is bought for R80. The only one of its kind in Africa, the funicular takes its name from the local legend of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship. Hop in for a ride all the way to the Cape Point top station, whilst enjoying the amazing Cape Point views along the way!
Visitors can also take advantage of the fabulous winter special at Cape Point’s Two Oceans Restaurant. Kids receive a FREE dessert with every sit-down kid’s main meal ordered for kids 12 years and younger. Simply ask your waiter for the kids winter special when ordering. Both specials are valid between the 1st of June 2019 and the 31st of July 2019.
For more information on the Cape Point winter special, click here.Â
Gear up for whale watching
Winter is also prime whale watching time in Cape Town! During the cooler months, Cape Town welcomes the majestic southern right whale into its waters, making the city an exciting destination for getting up close and personal with our aquatic wildlife. The best time for watching the southern right whale in the False Bay area is from June to November. The higher vantage points along the False Bay coastline, such as Cape Point, Boyes Drive between St James and Kalk Bay, and even the roads between Muizenberg, Simon’s Town, and Fish Hoek (one of the best whale-watching spots around), over the ideal conditions for spotting whales in the bay. Animal lovers can also get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures by boat with Simon’s Town Boat Company! Sheltered from the open ocean, surrounded by stunning views, False Bay is one of the finest boat-based whale watching sites in South Africa.
Get ready to feast
Cape Town has a wide range of incredible restaurants and cosy cafés and in winter many of them offer incredible promotions and special offers that are too good to ignore. Cape Town is home to hundreds of restaurants with fireplaces, breathtaking views, and menus packed with comfort food, just take your pick. If it’s a cosy cafés you’re after, then you can’t go wrong with Fish Hoek’s C’est la Vie. Hidden down a cobbled street lane, just off Main Road, Fish Hoek, this breakfast and lunch spot offers all the charm of a rustic European sidewalk café with a touch of local, South African flair. The quaint spot houses its own on-site bakery, churning out buttery croissants, morish brownies, deliciously delicious cheese sticks, and freshly baked bread, to entice your taste buds.
Wine tasting with a view
Winter is arguably the best time to go wine tasting and Cape Town’s South Peninsula is home to one of the most beautiful wine farms in Cape Town, Cape Point Vineyards. Boasting magnificent wines and breathtaking views, this unique winery in Noordhoek offers wine tasting as well as an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The farm’s restaurant is currently offering a 2-course winter special, with a glass of wine, for R195 per person. Before lunch pop into the Cape Point Vineyards Tasting Room and discover an evolution of Sauvignon as your senses travel with from the fruit-forward flavours of the lower vineyard to the extreme complexities of their yield higher up on the mountain.
Spend the night in Fish Hoek
The South Peninsula, False Bay area has so much to offer this winter that it’s well worth spending the night, or a weekend, in the area to fully appreciate this unique part of Cape Town. Rather than stay in an over-priced hotel in Cape Town’s city centre, you can live like a local at A Whale of a Time guest apartments in Fish Hoek. Each of the 5 luxury apartments at A Whale of a Time have oceans views and are beautifully decorated, offering everything you need to make the most of your stay in Cape Town.
With life’s little luxuries, such as satellite TV and WiFi, included in every suite, you’ll feel right at home at this cosy spot. What’s more, the unique holiday accommodation spot also caters for groups of all sizes. From couples looking for a cosy 2-sleeper, families of 4, there’s a suite to suit your needs at A Whale of a Time.
Also, you can tick off two birds with one stone by catching some whale-action right from the balcony of A Whale of a Time – and this isn’t just marketing shpiel – it’s true:
For more information and to book your stay now visit the A Whale of a Time website. Keep up to date with news and special offers on the A Whale of a Time Facebook page and Instagram.