If you are looking to escape the cold European Winter and head to South Africa for some sunshine and are wondering what there is to do in sunny South Africa- the answer is lots!
With its friendly people, warm weather, fabulous beaches and loads of culture and heritage there is something for everyone to see and do in South Africa.
Doing Cape TownThe jewel of South Africa is Cape Town. This vibrant seaside city lies on the west coast of South Africa and is brimming with fabulous things to do, see and experience! Cape Town is blessed with the famous Table Mountain that sits in the middle of the city, gorgeous beaches and sunny days!
If you travelling with children, Cape Town has plenty fabulously fun things to do and see for the little ones!
Where to stayThere are plenty of places to stay while visiting Cape Town but take advantage of the gorgeous beaches and stay in close proximity to them. The best bet is to choose one of the big hotels near the beachfront, which all have pools for the kids to enjoy and babysitting services.
The best areas to stay are either Mouille Point (that is close to the big football stadium) Seapoint, Bantry Bay, Clifton or Camps Bay. All these areas are connected to each other by the mountain they are built into and the ocean they share. For location, you can’t choose a better place than any of these areas. The beaches are wonderful and it’s bustling with shops and wonderful restaurants. If you don’t want to be too close to the beach, choose a hotel closer to town. A good option is a hotel near the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront- a large shopping and entertainment complex- it’s close enough to the beaches and also close enough to town!
Getting aroundCape Town is quite a condensed city, with great roads and sidewalks to it are easy to manoeuvre with a stroller. Public transport in South Africa isn’t like Europe so the best option is to hire a car as you will want to take day drips to the surrounding areas or make use of the many taxi services in the city. Driving in South Africa is easy, as they drive on the same side of the road as the U.K. Taxis are relatively cheap (especially on the pound/rand ratio) as is hiring a car. A great way to get acquainted with Cape Town is the hop on/hops off bus. Your little ones will love it! Remember to take hats and put on sunscreen as the African sun is strong!
Kiddies in Cape TownCape Town is brimming with much to do and see! The first thing to do without a doubt is take your little ones up Table Mountain. The mountain looks like a giant table with its flat top and often the clouds cover it so it looks like a tablecloth. Take a ride up in the cable car and take in the amazing views of Cape Town, its breathtaking! At the top of Table Mountain are cute little animals called ‘Dussies’, the little ones will love these cute creatures. There are fabulous restaurants at the top so treat the whole family to some delicious treats!
Cape Town is the meeting point for Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the fabulous Two Oceans Aquarium showcases this. With over 3000 different sea animals this is a must see attraction! Kids will enjoy meeting friendly fish Aquadot and all the fun activities! Mum and dad can try their hand at diving with the sharks!
A great day out is heading down to the wine lands in the Stellenbosch area. South Africa- and especially the Cape- is known for their fantastic wines. Visit Spier, a wonderful wine farm. This is a very special place for the whole family to enjoy as there is a wonderful playground and gardens where the little ones can enjoy the fresh air and play with the ducks. At Spier they have animal sanctuary where the little ones can pet animals, even baby cheetahs (they are tame!) as part of the Cheetah Outreach center. They also have Eagle Encounters were you are able to hold Eagles.
Spier also has a wonderful deli where you can go buy delicious food and relax on the big lawns and have a picnic. Spier is known for Moyo, their signature restaurant. This African themed eatery is an experience. Set like a traditional African village, you can even dine in a tree! The little ones will love having their faces painted in the traditional African way and enjoy the performance of the locals with traditional dancing and singing! Mum and dad will love the food and the wine! It’s a must!
Take a drive along the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to Noordhoek, Cape Town’s rural treasure! Take the little ones to this great spot. There is the Noordhoek Farm, where they offer free kids activities including craft days, magic shows, clowns, face painting and petting the farm animals! There are lots of wonderful restaurants here too!
For local fun, spend some time on the Seapoint Promenade. There is a playground, putt-putt, paddling pools, mini-trains for the kids to enjoy and a mini-maze for the little people! It’s also the best place to go for a long stroll and buy a delicious ice-cream from one of the deli’s along the way!
Where to eatSouth Africa is known for its delicious fresh local food and Cape Town is full of wonderful places to try out everything South African cuisine has to offer! For family friendly fare that kids will love, The Spur (all over South Africa) is a winner. This family friendly restaurant has a special kids menu and special play areas for the kids to enjoy! All along the Camps Bay Strip are family friendly restaurants and eateries. Try the Cape Town Fish Market, for incredible fresh fish or Blues Restaurant! In Camps Bay also treat the little ones to incredible ice-cream at Sinns- their flavours are to die for!
Take a scenic drive along the coastline to the fishing town of Hout Bay for the best fish and chips on the continent – it gives traditional British fish and chips a run for its money! Head to Snoekie’s at the Hout Bay Harbour for the freshest fish around!
Just before the The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront shopping complex is one of CapeTown’s most fabulous restaurants- and family friendly too. The Grand Beach Café is right on the beach, where you can eat with your feet in the sand, while the little one’s play to their hearts content. What could be better than eating with the ocean as your view?
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront shopping complex has lots of restaurant options for the whole family, most with wonderful views of the harbour! The kids will love seeing the seals playing in the water. Take them to the Old Clock Tower to the Pancake House for traditional South African ‘pannekoeke’. While here, take a stroll around the Nelson Mandela Museum or take a ferry to famous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27 years. The kids will love being out on the ocean, seeing all the seals and perhaps dolphins along the way and for mum and dad, this is a place of great historical importance.
Hints and tipsCrime is a problem in South Africa, so keep an eye on your belongings at all times
Be viligent when walking around in the evenings
It is customary to tip 20% in Cape Town
Happy travels...
