Cape Town in general
Cape Town is pretty much located at the southern point of the African continent, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. You will recognise the city for its most prominent geographical feature: Table Mountain. Summers are hot and Winters are definitely mild by British standards. Winter is considered between June and August and this brings me nicely onto describing 6 of the activities I enjoyed during my stay.
Exploring the V&A Waterfront in August
As pictured above, exploring the waterfront and the shops.
On our first morning in Cape Town we actually walked from our hostel on Kloof ( Once Cape Town ) the 4km, 50 minute walk, to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Like I’ve said there’s a large number of shops, cafes, eateries and markets just like any other cosmopolitan city. We also chose to embark on a (rather bumpy) catamaran cruise of the harbour to get an alternative view of the city.
Strolling around Bo-Kapp in August
If you have ever researched Cape Town, these little rainbow coloured streets are sure to have popped up. Again, not far from Kloof ( 22 mins walking) and at the bottom of Signal Hill, Bo-Kapp is a cultural home to Cape Town’s muslim community. Here you will be able to find local and traditional food and the Bo-Kaap museum. ( I’m not a huge fan of museums so I didn’t go in- but it might be a shout if its raining/ you like museums) Of course staying outside gives you the chance to get that “Insta typical photo”. Needless to say, the photos below did not make the cut.
Climbing Table Mountain in August
I like a hike to be honest. It’s really the only proper exercise that I do, and I rarely get to do that. However, in my opinion no hike is complete without a camera to capture the beauty. We chose a blue bird day, and even in the winter, hiking unshielded from the sun, you will get hot!
I wouldn’t say that the hike was easy, and certainly would be difficult for a first timer. In some parts of the trail the steps are about a foot high but as with most mountains, there are little plateaus to take breath.
We had planned to take the cable car down, but unfortunately it was closed for annual maintenance ( normal for August, so I would recommend checking before you travel if you don’t wish to walk up and down. In addition to this the gift shop, toilets and cafe were also closed). Walking down was probably worse than going up ( just a warning lol ).
Essentials you need to take with you: 1.5l of water, suncream, some layers ( the top is cold.)
Visiting The Cape Point in August
The Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, and not as often thought, the point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. ( That’s about 90 miles along the road.) The Cape has been a significant point on the continent for sailors and merchants alike for many years. Along the roads to the Cape, you will find plenty of ostrich as well as small mammals and monkeys and over 1000 species of plants. At Cape Point there are a number of different view points as well as a funicular aptly named The Flying Dutchman. There’s also a couple of restaurants accommodating a low to medium, to high budget.
Visiting Boulders Beach in August
Yes, the place with the penguins! Once at Boulders Beach there are two ways to see them! Firstly by walking along the boardwalks to get a lovely overview of the colony. For this there is a small entrance fee of £3.55 and the money goes directly to the Penguins’ conservation. Alternatively, you can make your way to Foxy beach to get a little more up close and personal.
Visiting Franschhoek Wine Region in August
I mean, to be honest, wine is good any time of year and what better way to drink it than be on a wine tram!
“The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour (www.winetram.co.za) is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley – picturesque vineyards, breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a 300-year history.”
The town itself is also a stunner and I wish I had taken more photos. If you google you will know what I mean. To compare to other parts of the world, it’s a little bit like Kitsilano in Vancouver BC , Canada on a much smaller scale and a small town in the Blue Mountains in NSW Australia.
When boarding the tram you have a few options and there’s several routes that you can take. You get given a timetable and a list of vineyards and the day is then pretty much all yours.
During my time in Cape Town we were incredibly lucky with the weather. I wouldn’t say it was particular warm, but all bar one day it was bright and sunny.
To follow a more visual story of my travels in Cape Town watch below 🙂
Want to connect on Instagram?
KATEVICTORIAPHOTOGRAPHY 