(or click here for a downloadable pdf)
*Please note: In order to follow the links in the pdf document it is neccessary to download the file first*
Whale watching in Hermanus
Annually, between roughly June and November, Southern Right whales migrate from the North to the coastal waters of South Africa to calve and nurse their young. The months of September and October are of the best months for whale watching and Hermanus is recognised as one of the best whale watching locations in the world!
www.hermanuswhalewatchers.co.za
West Coast flower route
Between Langebaan (120km from Cape Town) and the Richtersveld (720km from Cape Town)
The West Coast wild flowers begin flowering in July; first in the North, then southwards around August/September. The West Coast National Park, Yzerfontein and Darling are the best places to view these beautiful flowers in September.
Recommended reserve for hiking and viewing the flowers: The Postberg Flower Reserve (situated in the West-Coast National Park, but only open in Spring).
Postberg Reserve bookings open in June.
Contact numbers: +27 (0)22 707-9902 or +27 (0)22 707-9903.
Events in September
Forth-annual Street Food Festival: 2 – 3 September
Franshoek Uncorked Festival: 24 -25 September
Montpellier, Tulbagh - Bach, Bubbles and Brunch: 9 September
riette@montpellier.co.za
Annual Darling Flower Show: 14 – 17 September (TBC)
Table Mountain Challenge: 3 September
A 43km or 22km trail-running challenge on Cape Town’s beautiful Table Mountain!
www.energyevents.co.za/event/table-mountain-challenge-2017/
Year-round recommendations
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: botanical gardens/picnics/restaurants
8am – 6pm / R55
Table Mountain ( & Cableway): hiking/view
Open daily
Rhodes Memorial: hiking/restaurant
9am-5pm – Free
Silvermine Nature Reserve: hiking/climbing/swimming/picnics
Sea Point Promenade: swimming/running/picnics/outdoor gym
Open daily – free
Green Point Park: indigenous garden/picnics/guided tours/playparks
7am -7pm – free
Lion’s Head and Signal Hill: hiking/view
Open daily – free
Cape Point Nature Reserve
Some of our beaches
Clifton, Cape Town
Boulders Beach, Simons Town
Muizenberg Beach
Camps Bay, Cape Town
Blougergstrand, Blouberg
Noordhoek Beach, Noordhoek
Boulders Beach, Simonstown
Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay
Diaz Beach, Cape Point nature reserve
Parks and reserves in the greater Western Cape
Agulhas National Park - 210km from Cape Town
Bontebok National Park - 240km from Cape Town
Garden Route National Park - 615km from Cape Town
West Coast National Park - 100km from Cape Town
Activities in the Western Cape
For a list of Cape Town related activities, click on the link below:
http://www.whatsonincapetown.com/post/recommended-activities-in-cape-town-quick-reference/
Activities include: hot air ballooning, abseiling, shark cage diving, whale watching, kayaking, kite surfing, surfing, paragliding, boat trips, guided city running tours, penguin viewing and hiking to name a few!
Further attractions in Cape Town and the Western Cape
- Robben Island: www.robben-island.org.za
- Victoria Alfred Waterfornt: www.waterfront.co.za
- Two Oceans Aquarium: www.aquariam.co.za
- Iziko South African Museum: www.iziko.org.za
- Bo-Kaap: www.bokaap-capetown.co.za
- Franschoek Wine Tram: www.winetram.co.za
- City Sightseeing (Hop-on Hop-off) www.citysightseeing.co.za
- Helicopter tours www.nachelicopterscapetown.com
Wildlife sanctuaries
SANCOB (SA Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds)
Drakenstein Lion Sanctuary and Chimp Haven
MonkeyLand
Eagle Encounters
http://www.spier.co.za/visit/eagle-encounters
Cheetah Outreach
Things to do in Stellenbosch
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
http://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/jonkershoek-nature-reserve/
Botanical Garden University of Stellenbosch
http://www.sun.ac.za/english/entities/botanical-garden
Stellenbrau Brewery Tour
http://activitybridge.com/book?activityid=4224
Stellenbosch Toy and Miniature Museum
http://www.stelmus.co.za/toy_miniature_museum.htm
Stellenbosch Village Museum
http://www.stelmus.co.za/village_museum.htm
Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
http://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/assegaaibosch-nature-reserve/
Coetzenburg Trail (running/hiking)
https://tracks4africa.co.za/listings/item/w199743/stellenboschberg-hiking-trail/
Stellenbosch Wine Route
The Stellenbosch Wine Route is one of the Western Cape’s top attractions!
Safety in South Africa
When exploring any new destination, please be mindful of the fact that opportunistic crime is an unfortunate reality.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy one of South Arica’s many hikes, it is best to do so with a guide. Be sure to take enough water with you as well as warm clothing – the higher you go, the more unreliable the weather becomes!
Police: 10111
Emergency services: 10177 (From a mobile: 112)
Travel doctor: 0861300911
Tourism Safety: 0861 874 911
Road and traffic reports: 084 3030 345
Tourism and travel information: 083 123 6789
Telephone directory: 1023