An African Villa - Boutique Hotel in Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, South Africa

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MORE TO DO IN CAPE TOWN

IN SUMMER These are a few of the fun things that we enjoy most doing on a sunny day in the Cape Summer. Of course this is only after you have done the TOP TEN tourist attactions listed on the previous page!!! At An African Villa we regard summer as beginning on the 1st September – (our official SPRING DAY) and ending on the 30th April each year. We can experience very high winds and so it is always best to plan your visit to the Cape Peninsula one day at a time. It’s not called ‘The Cape of Storms’ for nothing! We recommend a stay of NOT LESS THAT 3 DAYS to avoid disappointment!
The most obvious thing to do is to spend a DAY ON THE BEACH! Our temperatures range from 20°C (30°)F to 40°C (104°F) and the sun can be very fierce so bring along a high factor sun screen and a hat! Take a HIKE UP TABLE MOUNTAIN OR LION’S HEAD - always carry water with you and start early in the day because the heat can be very debilitating. Also stick to the clear paths and play it safe IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING (the mountain can be surprisingly unforgiving – we have at least one unfortunate death a year when tourists are disrespectful of Table Mountain’s rockfaces.
	Visit a local deli, like Melissa’s or the local Woolworths food store (excellent quality foods!) and have a PICNIC on the beach at Clifton (usually wind free), or Llandudno, or Sandy Bay (a naturist’s paradise), or at the top of Table Mountain or on the outlook before Chapman’s Peak drive or in the shadow of the lion statues at Rhodes Memorial above the University of Cape Town or order a picnic basket on one of the beautiful wine farms in Constantia or around Franschhoek.
Take a drive to Blaaubergstrand to take in the CLASSIC POSTCARD VIEW OF TABLE MOUNTAIN. You can walk for miles on this wonderful beach. It is also a haven for kite flyers and kiteskiers. You will meet many friendly dogs and can have a lovely lunch of curried seafood or some other delicious local offering at the Blaauberg Café or another of the restaurants that are dotted along this shore.
	Hop on a Topless Bus. There are two of these, a RED BUS (which allows you to hop on and off through the city – bear in mind that you can walk to these sights from An African Villa) or the BLUE BUS (which takes you around the mountain and is a lovely trip on a Sunday when you can take in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden – see the baobab tree and the thousand year old cycad forest; then on to Hout Bay for a lunch on the harbour at Snoekies Seafood restaurant. End up with sundowners at Camps Bay after an afternoon on the beach (SEE website).
etc etc… we have LOTS of ideas! The African Villa staff are keen to share their experience with our guests.
IN WINTER Some of the things locals get up to during the blustery days of Winter – that’s if they are not curled up in bed with a good book and a fire blazing! Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate which means that winters are often wet. Our Tourism Board euphemistically calls this “The Green Season” because the hills are a vibrant emerald colour – and for good reason!! This does not mean that you should become depressed about a holiday in the winter in the Cape! Far from it – there is a specialness about this season when people tend to cocoon and become more sociable. Temperatures range between 6°C (43°)F and 25°C (77°F).
You should plan on having as long as possible in the city at this time (WE RECOMMEND NO SHORTER THAN 4 DAYS AND PREFERABLY 5). Let’s start with the end of winter! The west coast deserts of our region (from Darling to Louriesfontain in Namaqualand burst into a mass of colour making for an UNFORGETTABLE experience! If you are planning a trip between mid-August and Mid-September you really MUST take a trip up the long and uninhabited road which leads to Paternoster and Hopefield (see website). This is the time to explore the sidewalks of the city. Long Street abounds with off-beat book stores and food emporia. Or pop up into the Bo-Kaap and after a visit to the Malay Museum, walk down Rose Street to explore the fun wares at Monkey Bizz or Street Wires. You can spend many hours exploring the Pan African Market at 76 Long Street
	The upmarket area of de Waterkant is a great place to visit in rainy weather. There are all sorts of boutiques and art galleries – one of my favourite is Private Collection where the three front gates of An African Villa were found. You will be intrigued by the massive doors and other imports from India which fill this enormous warehouse. Nose Wine Bar is a popular meeting place. Do not miss a visit to African Image in The Cape Quarter (see website) The Mount Nelson, affectionately called “The Pink Lady” by Capetonians offers a splendiferous High Tea. You may even see one or two international celebs!
The V&A Waterfront has already been mentioned but has SO much to do that it deserved further coverage! The Two Oceans Aquarium is a must – the sharks are fed on a Saturday. (Read about the Two Oceans Aquarium) ;
Taste traditional Cape Malay food at Rooti’s Restaurant on the Waterfront (see Website) Visit one of the art galleries about town: The National Gallery of course; but try these as interesting alternatives: The Cape Gallery; The Everard Read Gallery ; The William Fehr Collection); The Irma Stern Gallery
Visit one of our amazing museums. Join one of our excellent African guides on a journey of discovery through the Townships of Cape Town. This is an inspiration. (Staff at An African Villa will be happy to reserve a place for you on a half-day trip) Spend an afternoon at the Gym (The Villa offers special discounted coupons to guests)

Contact Us:

An African Villa
Address: 19 Carstens Street, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town.
Tel: +27 21 423 2162 – Mobile +27 82 9205508
Fax +27 21 423 2274 - villa@capetowncity.co.za
www.capetowncity.co.za