As the stress of exams approaches and we all gather together in the UCT 24-hour library or the SNAPE building over the weekends, it is important to look forward to something when you can finally enjoy the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin without sweating on the Jammie steps and running to another lecture you haven’t attended since the first week of the semester.
I have kindly put together a list of Top 10 activities to do in and around Cape Town during the summer season of 2018.
1. Festivals. Festivals. Festivals.
This is the perfect excuse to spend all day dancing and drinking with your best friends and flirting with the cutest people! The first festival to start off this summer season is We Love Summer’s 6th Birthday with Headliners Kyle Watson and Huxley UK.
When: 10 November 2018
Where: Blue Rock Cable Waterski, Restaurant, Paintball, Zipline
Time: 12pm – midnight
Price: Early Bird tickets are already sold out. The next phase is R290 and the price goes up after each phase is sold out.
There are shuttles that drive party goers to and from the event for an easy R150, so you can take one and arrive alive. The first shuttle leaves Sea Point Library at 10am and the last shuttle leaves at 1pm so book a spot and don’t miss out.
2. Kirstenbosch Sunset Concerts
This is the best way to spend a Sunday evening with family and friends. Take a picnic and all your own drinks and spend a Sunday listening to good music with good people.
When: Starting 18 November 2018 – 31 March 2019
Where: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
Price: Tickets range from R150-R190 per person
Gates open: 4pm – but the concert generally starts at 5pm or 6pm
Some of the artists to expect this summer are: Mi Casa (9 December), Majozi (18 November), Mango Groove (25 December) and Bam Bam Brown/ Short Straw (24 March).
3. Beaches
What is summer without paying a little visit to the beach? Here are some suggestions to try out:
Clifton 4th Beach – Just do yourselves a favour and go around sunset time.
Camps Bay – I mean it’s Camps Bay, there’s nothing more I can say
Muizenberg – Try hitting the waves or the different restaurants on the beachfront.
Boulders Beach – Have you ever swam with a penguin? If you haven’t, here’s your chance! It is R10 for children and R35 for Adults.
4. Markets
Food, live music and an endless flow of drinks? What more could someone ask for?
My favourite places are:
The Range in Tokai on Friday nights only from 4pm till 10pm.
Mojo Market in Sea Point from Mondays to Sundays. It is open from 10am till 10pm every day!
Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market in Muizenberg. It’s open on a Friday and a Sunday. Fridays from 4pm-10pm and Sundays from 11am till 4pm.
Route 44 Market in Stellenbosch, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am till 4pm.
5. Hikes
I know, I know, who really likes to hike? But there are a few people out there who actually enjoy it and we have to include them. Also, here are the three most popular spots around Cape Town that will ensure you get some good selfie lighting while you work out.
Lions Head – there are 2 routes that you can take going up. It takes about 3 or 4 hours for the average person and it relatively difficult.
Constantia Nek – there are also 2 routes one can take to get to the infamous dam. One is a gravel and cement path and the other is stairs. It takes about 3 or 4 hours including stops along the way.
Elephant’s Eye – starting at Silvermine Nature Reserve parking area. This hike takes anywhere between 2 to 5 hours depending on your fitness level. It is roughly 8km and is relatively easy apart from the steep incline when reaching the cave so comfy shoes are a must.
6. The Cable Car
This could be perfect on a summers day or sunset with your favourite people or on a first date.
One piece of advice: check the weather before deciding to go. This will keep you from being disappointed when you arrive at the Cable Car.
Times: The first car goes up at 8:30am and the last car goes up at 6pm. The last car down is at 7pm.
Tickets: In the morning tickets range from R100 (Senior Citizens) to R300 (Adults) and in the afternoons from R145 (children under 17) and R290 (Adults).
There are also ticket prices if you are just going one-way which you can check out on their website.
Students get a discount on Friday evenings ONLY for R150! But bring your student card as proof of registration (you would think the dark circles under our eyes, the lack of energy when wewalk andd the alternative clothes would be proof itself but its not).
7. The Red Busses
Can you think of a better way to tour the Mother City than being able to hop on and off whenever and wherever you want?
There are different packages that the company provides.
The Classic: 1-day
- Access to hop on and off with a free walking tour.
- Price: R200 (Adult) and R110 (Children).
The Deluxe package: 3 days
- Free hop on and off, walking tour, harbour tour and sunset tour.
- Price: R400 (Adult) and R320 (Child).
Sunset package:1 day
- Not hop on and off.
- 3 hours – leaving at 5:30pm at the V&A Waterfront.
- Bring a picnic because there is time to stop and chill at Signal Hill.
- Price: R120 (Adult) and R70 (Child)
8. Galileo Open Air Cinema
An outdoor movie experience which makes a great birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift! They have movies like Mamma Mia!, Coyote Ugly, Top Gun and so much more…
Tickets: Range from R89 which is just for entry, all the way till R320 which is a couple package for entry; a reserved area, 2 blankets, 2 pillows and chocolate. You can buy tickets at the door, but to avoid disappointment book online through Webticket.
Times: Doors open at 6pm on Wednesday to Friday, 5pm on Saturdays and 4pm on Sundays. However, the movie will only start after the sun sets so roughly 7:30pm or 8:30pm
9. Winelands
Wine not? See what I did there?
There are different routes one can take to get wine girl wasted. So, I’m offering up the best routes in Constantia, Stellenbosch and Durbanville. There are wine tastings at each and every wine farm ranging from R50 – R90 per tasting and depending on the farm you could get 4-6 glasses per tasting. However, if you just want to buy a bottle and share it with your loved ones that’s a great idea too!
Constantia Route:
- Buitenverwachting
- Beau Constantia
- Constantia Glen
- Klein Constantia
Stellenbosch:
- Spier Wine Farm
- Jordan Wine Estate
- Warwick Wine Estate
- Simonsig
Durbanville:
- D’Aria Winery
- Diemersdal Wine Estate
- Meerendal Wine Estate
- Durbanville Hills Winery
10. Sundowners
Or as I like to call it Moon Uppers. This is one of the best and most popular ways of ending off a long and hot summers day of doing absolutely nothing. Most places have a happy hour special and most of them last for about two hours during the week and offer live music on the weekends. Here is a list of a few places that will be perfect for meeting up with friends for a drink or 10 (wink wink):
- Cape To Cuba
- Brass Bell
- Tigers Milk
- Café Caprice
- The Bungalow
- Tjing Tjing
Remember: if there is anything more you would like to know, just Google, kids! Most of the places I have mentioned have websites so check it out. Enjoy the summer because you earned it (well, most of you – the others know who they are).