Spectacular aquarium and other Cape Town, South Africa Things to Do Tips

This is quite an experience sometimes they do concerts here as shown in the picture

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Phone: +27 (0)21 418 3823
Address: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront

The restuarant is a bit pricey. The view is amazing but not for those scared of heights.

This is a beautiful nature reserve as well as the opportunity to see a view like this of the Indian & Atlantic ocean mixing. There is a huge variety of fynbos vegetation here & obviously smoking can cause a fire risk. There is a guided tour available of Cape Point Ostrich farm situated 600m from the entrance to the National Park. Visitors can visit the original lighthouse & see the treacherous conditions that caused it to be built in the first place.

Although bear in mind this is not the most southern tip of Africa.

Gate entry cost is R45 for adults & R10 for children & pensioners
Open Oct- Mar 6am - 6pm, April to Sept 7am - 5pm

The funicular costs R32 return for adults & R10 for children so best to walk up & stop halfway like my friends

Watch out for the baboons they are not cute nor are they friendly.

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Phone: +2721 7809010
Website: http://www.capepoint.co.za/

We have all types of vegetation here aloes & cactus, a touch & feel for the blind & succulents. Lady Anne Barnards bath, a medicinal garden, a waterwise garden & our national flower the protea

The children can cuddle the various statues or paddle in the river & search for tadpoles like my niece did.

Entry is free for SA pensioners on Tuesday. The tearoom is lovely and very reasonable.

In summer they hold Appeltiser concerts in a natural amphitheatre.
The summer concerts are R35 bring a picnic & enjoy the music on the grassy banks

Entry is R25 for adults & children 6-18 yrs R5

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Phone: +27 (0)21 799 8899
Address: Rhodes Drive, Newlands
Website: http://www.nbi.ac.za/frames/kirstfram.htm

Good for a view over the southern suburbs.
There is a statue of Rhodes on his horse & brass lions adorn the steps.

Be careful the lions get very hot

You can feed the deer

Situated just above the University of Cape Town on the slopes of Devil's Peak and gazing towards the hinterland he conquered, this is the lasting tribute to the memory of Cecil John Rhodes. Enjoy the magnificent view, the coffee shop, the free-running fallow deer and mountain walks. Try the contour path South towards Kirstenbosch Gardens and even on to Constantia Neck

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Directions: Above the university

What you didn't know about penguins now you can!!

The jackass penguin is named after their donkey-like braying call
They can swin at an average speed of 7km/h & stay submerged for up to 2 minutes
Their black & white dj camouflage is white for underwater predators looking upwards & black for predators looking down onto the water
Penguins have very sharp beaks & can cause serious injury if they lunge & bite (bite first - ask questions later)

This beach is fairly sheltered & you can swim amongst the penguins, as mentioned they are not petting animals & could give you a nasty nip. They like to nest in holes & cracks in the rocks.

This is a beach which you pay to visit in 2005 Adults R20 & children R6
Watch out for high tide as it could trap you on the beach
In high season this beach is fairly packed with picnicing families

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Phone: +2721v786v2329
Address: Boulders, Simonstown
Website: www.tmnp.co.za
Other Contact: +2721 786 5786

This winery markets wine to the UK which has won may awards.

We used to visit this winery as their tastings were free & you could enjoy cheese as well.

Unfortunately the wine tasting is no longer free but they fill your glass up. The cheese is very nice & there is a good variety

There was a controversy with France as they were not allowed to call their wine Cotes du Rhone so instead they have name it Goats Do Roam.

There is a goat tower which you see on arrival and shown in my pic

Wine maker - Charles Back

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Address: Agter Paarl Road
Website: www.fairview.co.za

An alternative to stellenbosch wine route is paarl, known for their excellent red wine.
KWV is the main wine estate where they also make brandy, they do cellar tours as well as wine tasting.

In paarl the main attraction is the Taalmonument to the Afrikaans language. The cape dutch houses are very prominent in Paarl.

Zandwijk is another paarl winery which I rather like.
Find some excellent lunches at the various farms incl Simonsig.
Graham Beck wine farm is in paarl as well.

At Simonsig winery the tasting is R15 with a R10 deposit on the wine glass, you get 5 tastings. The staff are all very helpful & there is a shop selling various branded items, local crafts. A gift I like to give is wine charms with the big 5 or rather Big 6

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Website: http://www.paarlonline.com/wine_estates.html

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 upon establishing a maritime replanishment station art the Cape of Good Hope for the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Verenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie).

On 26 April 1679 the 5 bastions were named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of Orange. The Western bastions was named Leerdam ; followed in clockwise order by Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Orange.

The Cape of Good Hope houses the regional headquarters of the Army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artworks, the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for traditional Cape Regiments.

Entrance and Bell Tower
The main entrance to the Castle bears many reminders of the nearly 1.5 centuries of VOC presence at the Cape. This entrance is a unique example of 17thC Dutch classicism. The bell, cast in 1697 by Claude Fremy in Amsterdam, still hangs in the tower from its original wooden beams.

Fortification
The Castle of Good Hope was built in accordance with 17thC European principles of fortification comprising strong bastions from which the outside walls could be protected by cross-fire.

Het Bakhuys & Dolphin Pool
During restoration of the inner courtyard, the foundations of the early 18thC bakery and pool were discovered. The building, currently known as Het Bakhuys ('t Bakhuijs), has been reconstructed on these foundations.

Castle Military Museum
This museum depicts the military history of the Cape, the Castle and Cape Regiments.

William Fehr Collection
This collection consists of artworks reflecting many aspects of cultural life at the Cape from the early VOC days until the end of the 19thC. Exhibitions of a contemporary nature are occasionally presented.

Moat
Sections of the moat, once a part of the Castle's system of defence, were rebuilt restorations

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Phone: +27 21 4691060
Directions: Above parade

Off Constantia Road, past the village and towards Constantia Neck. This is the oldest homestead in the Cape. The Manor House, originally allocated to Governor Simon van der Stel, portrays life on the farm in the 1800's. On display you can see Cape furniture from the mid 1700's and period porcelain. See wine drinking and storage vessels in glass, silver, copper and stoneware from 500 BC tot he 19th Century. Enjoy the restaurants, tea gardens and curio shop. Wine tasting and sales too

See wonderful gabled cape dutch thatch style houses - which is why we kappies love Holland so much!!

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Directions: Off Constantia Road, past the village and towards Constantia Neck

The most beautiful stretch of beach in the Peninsula. It can be very windy, but it is great for taking the dogs for a walk or horse riding at sunset.

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