Warm up for Winter in Cape Town!

Cape Town can get pretty chilly in winter, although our cold spell is similar to London’s summer, so we can’t complain too much! It rains, the wind howls and people disappear behind layers of thick jerseys, coats and scarves. However, there are many things to keep you occupied when its cold- don’t let a little bit of rain stop you from getting the most out of your visit to the Mother City! If you choose self-catering accommodation, you will have a lot of flexibility to explore every inch of the beautiful destination and you can find out where the locals hang out when the weather takes a turn for the worst. Winter is coming; here are the top tips for keeping busy in bad weather! 

1.       Retail Therapy

Cold weather is the perfect excuse to spend a lovely day shopping in one of Cape Town’s many malls, including the upmarket V&A Waterfront, where you can find all of your favourite designer labels, Cavendish and the famous Canal Walk, a colossal center full of shops and restaurants to keep you entertained for hours!

.       Let’s go to the theatre darling!

Cape Town has numerous theatres on offer, including the well-known Artscape and the Baxter. Put on you glad rags and go and watch one of the many top performances on offer and forget the rain as you lose yourself in the acting and the story. 

3.       Mad about museums

Cape Town has many exciting museums to explore, including the South African Museum, the Slave Lodge, the BoKaap Museum, the Gold of Africa Museum and the District Six Museum. Spend a day really getting to know this historic city, and learn all about its past, and if the rain clears you can wander through the city gardens by the South African Museum and feed the tame squirrels. 

4.       Look at the stars…

The Planetarium is a fantastic place to learn about our stars and universe- lie back on the chair and look up at the domed ceiling as it suddenly lights up with the night’s sky. You can also see fascinating meteor debris and learn about our planet. 

5.       Finding nemo

The Two Oceans Aquarium is the perfect place for a fun day out with the kids! Admire the beautiful displays of fish and marine life and watch the graceful seals effortlessly gliding through the water. You can come face to face with a fearsome great white, and the Aquarium even offers the opportunity to dive in the shark tank! After you have seen the Aquarium, why not visit the Scratch Patch across the road and let the children dig for precious stones, and then play a fun game of cave golf which is putt putt with a difference. 

.       It’s bowling baby!

Stadium on Main, by Cavendish shopping centre, has its own ten pin bowling alley, gaming centre, and a Laser Quest area as well. Show off your bowling skills, and enjoy a fun afternoon with friends!

.       Cook like a local

Why not try a Cape Malay cooking class, in the historic Bo Kaap area? Take a cultural tour of this significant district, and admire the beautiful, brightly coloured buildings, before settling down in Zainie’s kitchen, and learning to make rotis, curry and divine samosas the traditional way. It’s a delicious way to pass the day! You could also go to the majestic Hohenort in Constantia and admire the gorgeous hotel as you learn to cook a traditional Cape Malay three course dinner with Martha Williams.

Zainie Misbach: Tel: 074-130-8124 email: bokaapcookingtour@gmail.com

Hohenort Hotel: Tel: 021-794-2137 email: coordinator@cellarshohenort.co.za

8.       Ice is nice

Go ice skating at the ice skating rink at Grandwest Casino, or while away some time trying your luck in the casino, watch a movie or pop into one of the numerous restaurants. 

9.       Let it snow

Take a day trip, along with most of Cape Town’s residents, to the stunning, scenic region of Ceres, and admire the gorgeous snow- capped mountains glistening in the sun. Build a snowman, or have a snowball fight in the designated areas. 

10.   Feeling Arty?

Admire the beautiful collection and visiting displays of art at the South African National Gallery, which is situated next door to the South African Museum, in the company gardens. You can also pop into the Old Town House to see the stunning paintings that form the Michaelis Collection. You can visit the What if the World Gallery in Woodstock, and the Irma Stern Museum, dedicated to the life and art of this famous artist. 

So don’t despair next time it’s winter and you’re feeling blue! There are plenty of attractions in Cape Town to keep you busy and happy during the cold spell. Check the internet for winter warmer specials that various restaurants and wine farms will offer, and cosy up by the fire, enjoying scrumptious food and the company of good friends at the end of a day spent exploring.

Images from:
the V&A Waterfront
Iziko Museums
The Two Oceans Aquarium
Paul from Cape Town Daily Photo
What to do in Cape Town

Cape Town's Hidden Local Gems

If you're travelling to Cape Town, and you are looking for a place to stay, FZP self-catering rentals are beautiful, well maintained, centrally located apartments,which provide the perfect base from which to explore this remarkable city. Choosing the self-catering option means you will have a lot more flexibility to really explore and to live like a local. Cape Town has many well- known attractions, such as the famous landmark Table Mountain, the stunning golden beaches, shopping centres such as the V&A Waterfront and Century City, and the bustling streets of the city itself. However, there are many secret locations that even some of the locals don’t know about! Here are our top ten hidden gems in Cape Town, a city of secrets and surprises.

                                         Image by Pod pictures

1.      Explore the secret tunnels under Cape Town 
      Wander through the now abandoned canals located underneath the city, and marvel at their impressive architecture. Once used as underground channels to supply the Company Gardens and the passing ships with fresh water, today these waterways are used to convey the water from Table Mountain to the sea. This is an exciting activity for the adventurous and the fairly fit!
 

2.      The Power and the Glory

Located underneath the popular restaurant Rafiki’s in Kloof Street, this trendy hotspot offers delicious food and famous hot chocolate along with an enticing Indie atmosphere, live performances and a busy bar. 

3.      Silvermine Nature Reserve

Fancy a relaxing stroll? Silvermine is a stunning nature reserve, proffering spectacular panoramic views and beautiful indigenous flora and fauna. The trails range from easy to difficult, and in summer you can take a refreshing dip in the dam.

4.      Picnics on Chapman’s Peak

Here’s a sneaky tip, if you don’t want to pay to drive all the way along the Chapman’s Peak road, at the first toll booth tell them you are going on a picnic, and then stop at one of the designated look out spots, before the second toll, and you won’t have to pay a cent! The views are absolutely breath taking, and it’s the ideal location for a romantic date- bring some champagne and watch the sunset. 

5.      Jason Bakery

Located in Bree Street, with delicious deli style food, including amazing sandwiches and scrumptious vegetarian options, Jason Bakery is fast becoming a famous local haunt with incredible pastries and a relaxed atmosphere. Their breakfasts are a fantastic way to start your day, and their general manager is called Captain Bread.
 

6.      The Tokai Earth Fair Market

Found in a forest, offering fantastic local produce and delicious food, this market is rumoured to have the best chocolate brownies in town! It’s open on Saturday mornings and on Wednesday from 15h00 until 20h00.

7.      Olympia Café and Kalky’s

Kalk Bay has a number of wonderful little restaurants and shops on offer, and Olympia and Kalky’s are two of the best options! Olympia Café is known for its ‘chilled out’ atmosphere, and is always jam-packed, offering the tastiest pastries in town. Kalky’s is famous for its fantastic fish and chips, and for its cheeky resident seal that pesters all the local fishermen. 

                              image by Tripadvisor

8.      The Creamery

Ice cream fans, this is one for you. The creamery is based in Mowbray and has the most amazing ice-cream in town-once you start, in no time at all, you will be completely hooked! Some of their unique, wonderful flavours include coffee and praline almond, spiced pecan, barley malt, sweetcream cookie dough, prickly passion, jasmine blossom and chocolate peppermint leaf. 

                               Image by the Creamery

9.      Pub quiz at the Fireman’s Arms

Every Thursday at 20h00, people gather at the Fireman’s Arms to compete in the weekly pub quiz. Located in Buitengracht Street, this is one of the oldest and most well-known pubs in Cape Town, which has a fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, and lots of beers on tap. 

10.  Rondevlei Nature Reserve

Did you know Cape Town is home to a family of hippos? They live at Rondevlei, one of the city’s lesser known nature reserves, and can be spotted from the hide along with a number of beautiful bird species and other animals, such as the elusive porcupine. 

Come to Cape Town and explore everything that the vibrant city has to offer, including the lesser known, hidden gems!