08 Jan JanuWORRY Outdoor Activities in Cape Town
Even the most disciplined budgeters give themselves a little leeway during the festive season. When we’re with friends and family, it’s okay to get swept up in the excitement and spend a little more on a good bottle of wine, splurge on a special gift or spring on an upgrade for the hotel rooms. While we let the good times roll, during December, January and all its financial commitments waits patiently for us to get all the fun out of our system.
Some of us have returned to work, but the school year hasn’t started yet. If you’re looking for things to do so the little ones don’t get restless, here are a few free outdoor activities to keep you all entertained.
HIKE
The wonderful thing about enjoying the great outdoors is that it costs you nothing. Strap into your hiking shoes and get uninterrupted facetime with Mother Nature along any of the 10 main routes and trails within the city.
Lion’s Head and Table Mountain are arguably the most popular hikes, mainly because the views each summit offer are second to none. They are quite tricky to navigate if you have little ones with you. I’d suggest packing a picnic and exploring the Newlands Forest. If you’re willing to take a trip a little out of town, Kogelberg Biosphere is bursting with fragrant flora and enthusiastic fauna your kids will love frolicking in.
As always, pack enough water to keep yourselves hydrated and a few snacks to carry you through the leisurely cardio.
BEACH
Cape Town offers a brag of blue flag beaches for you and your family to enjoy. I’ll always recommend Clifton 4th because it is one of the smaller, less frequented locations that will offer you and your party some privacy. Camps Bay is equally beautiful and is always full of enough families that your kids will be able to make a few new friends if you want to catch up on some reading.
If you forget your beach umbrella at home, fret not, there are a whole manner of rentable beach gear at most of the beaches. Don’t forget your sunscreen. If you’re going to brave the Atlantic Ocean water, you’ll definitely be laying in the direct sun to warm yourself back up. Protect your skin against those harsh rays.
COMPANY GARDENS
I’ve heard tales of a mythical squirrel that wanders within the inner city public gardens. This elusive rodent doesn’t look like other rodents, if you want to solve the mystery of the squirrel, you’ll have to go and see for yourself.
Company Gardens is a great place to spend the afternoon playing frisbee or having fun with the other animals that call this slice of bliss home. You can get into some bird watching, marvel at the bouquet of flowers and trees that grow unbounded.
ART CRAWL
No one can accuse the Mother City of being boring because there’s a little bit for everyone within her walls. Surfers can drive out to Muizenburg to catch a few waves, shoppers have a number of malls and high streets to choose from, and those looking for a little culture can enjoy some of the best art galleries that all sit a few meters away from each other.
Loop Street and Bree Street are awash with charming galleries where you can appreciate art, buy a few pieces for yourself, or even commission original works from the artists themselves. You will have to purchase a ticket to see a show, if you’re partial to art of the theatrical kind. Between the Fugard Theatre, Artscape, District Theatre, Baxter Theatre, Alexander Bar and Theatre on The Bay – to name a few – you’ll have countless options to choose from.
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