Festive family fun in the fairest Cape
Category Property News
The Festive Season is all about spending time with loved ones, but arranging a holiday that the whole family will enjoy can be a challenge. After a long year of hard work you might be looking for some peace and quiet, perhaps with a glass of wine and a good book, but your spouse is keen to get a few rounds of golf under the belt, your son wants to hit the beach and your daughter has something a little more adventurous in mind.
Well, whoever said you can't please all of the people all of the time hadn't visited South Africa's fairest Cape. Cape Town is Africa's worst-kept secret as a place of exquisite natural beauty; everyone's heard of the Mother City and her dramatic landscape culminating in one of the world's most famous plateaus, Table Mountain. What a lot of people don't realise is how many different things there are to do and see within a 2 hour drive of Cape Town International Airport, making it the perfect place to bring your family over the holiday break.
However, it seems the world is beginning to cotton on. Why Cape Town? Just this year, Travel and Leisure Magazine ranked Cape Town ninth in their World's Top 10 Cities survey in which it asked readers to rate destinations based on characteristics such as sights/landmarks, culture, restaurants, people and value. This adds to a rapidly growing list of international accolades, including being named 4th best city in the world in the 2014 Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards, top listing in the New York Times' article on the 52 Places to Go in 2014 and the winner of the The Telegraph Travel Awards' Favourite City for 2013.
Says the editor in chief of Conde Nast, Maria Shollenbarger, "Cape Town is the best city in the world for blending urban culture with the great outdoors: They're literally a five-minute drive from each other. There's an exploding food scene, with vegetables, wine, and cheese coming from the gorgeous Cape Winelands." The accessibility of Cape Town's treasures lies at the crux of its allure as a family holiday destination.
It's not often you have mountains and Blue Flag beaches within minutes of a CBD, bustling day and night with activity to delight tourists of all constitutions. Then there are the world renowned restaurants, the famous V&A Waterfront - even a golf course - which can all be found within the city limits, and that's not including the beautiful Constantia wine route a short car ride away.
Where to Stay? Cape Town has a host of 5 star hotels that will satisfy even the most discerning of global traveller. The stately Mount Nelson, the cutting-edge One&Only, the off-the-wall 15 on Orange and the breathtaking 12 Apostles all hold up seamlessly to international hospitality standards. However, for a more intimate way to spend a family holiday, a short term rental might be a better way to go.
Fully furnished self catering villas, sprawling countryside estates and quaint beach houses can all be your home away from home, and the value for money is truly out of this world. European currency goes a long way in South Africa, and for many foreign visitors, the choices are limited only by their imagination.
What to Do? Wildlife: While it's true that you'll need to travel north to see the Big Five in their natural habitat, there is some spectacular wildlife native to the Western Cape for you to enjoy. A trip to the picturesque seaside village of Simon's Town is worth the 45 minute scenic drive on its own, but on the way you will come across Boulders Beach, incidentally voted World's Best Family Beach by the UK Telegraph in 2007. Here you will find a colony of endangered Jackass penguins that have made a home among the giant boulders that adorn the beach.
First opened in 1983, the Boulders Penguin Colony has established itself as a veritable tourist attraction, drawing 60,000 visitors each year. Viewing the penguins is made easy by a network of boardwalks that crisscross the beach which more than justify the small conservation fee. Afterwards you can take the family to the beach for a stroll or a swim in the comparatively warm waters of False Bay, followed by lunch in one of the nearby restaurants.
Anyone who's watched National Geographic will have seen footage of the enormous Great White Sharks that patrol the waters of Gansbaai, approximately 2 hours outside Cape Town. Take advantage of the opportunity to get up close and personal with these graceful beasts from the safety of a steel cage. Most tour operators arrange full day packages that include transport and lunch on the boat.
Costs vary depending on time of year, but one can expect to pay in the region of €120, all inclusive. If you're a family of adventurers, you'd be remiss to pass up the opportunity to snorkel with seals in their natural habitat. Now I know what you're thinking, especially if you've just read the bit about shark cage diving, but this is totally safe. Take the plunge and swim in open water with hundreds of playful Cape Fur Seals with the team from Animal Ocean's Seal Snorkelling.
Departure for Duiker Island is from Hout Bay Harbour, only 20min from the city centre, and the cost is €40 per person. If the thought of jumping into the ocean doesn't float your boat, the boat ride alone is worth the fee. SEAL SNORKELING from Animal Ocean on Vimeo. Only an hour's drive away is the beautiful coastal town of Hermanus, recognised by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) as one of the 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world.
Although the best time of year for viewing these gentle giants of the sea is October/November, the chances are still high that a pod or two will make an appearance in December. Even if they don't, there are plenty of wonderful places to stop for lunch and soak in the view. Sport: Cape Town is a playground for the sports fanatic, so if you enjoy getting your heart rate up, you've come to the right place. There are enough world class golf courses within a couple of hours' drive to keep the avid golf fan busy for weeks, many of which are on the city's doorstep.
In fact, Green Point Golf Course is within the city limits, and although it might not qualify for world class status, it is a well-maintained, fun nine-hole track. If you have a little time on your hands and want to take on more formidable layouts, you could do a lot worse than the following: - Royal Cape: With a history dating back to 1885, Royal is the oldest course in South Africa. It has hosted the SA Open 10 times, with past winners including Gary Player and Ernie Els. - Atlantic Beach: Open for play since 2000, Atlantic Beach is a links-style course situated 30min up the west coast.
Not for the faint hearted (or the wind-averse), it hosted an international qualifying tournament for the 2004 British Open. Bring lots of balls! - Arabella: Recently voted 5th best golf course in South Africa, Arabella is as beautiful as it is challenging, surrounded by the scenic Kogelberg Mountains. It is well worth the hour's drive. - Erinvale: Situated on the slopes of Somerset West, this undulating course hosted the 1996 World Cup of Golf, won by the local pair of Ernie Els and Wayne Westner. - Pearl Valley: Officially opened in 2003 by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Pearl Valley was named 'best new golf course of the year' by Golf Digest magazine in 2005 and ranked as the best conditioned golf course in the Western Cape by Golf Digest for 2010/2011/2012/2013/2014. - De Zalze: Almost every hole on this immaculate, well thought out course by award-winning designer Peter Matkovich is an occasion. - Steenberg: Nestled in the leafy Constantia winelands, the Steenberg Private Estate is a delight to play. While it might not have the competition pedigree as the courses mentioned above, its exclusivity means that it's always in pristine condition.
There is arguably no more scenic cricket ground in the world than Newlands Stadium. Every year (with the odd exception) a New Year Test Match is played in Cape Town beginning the 2nd of January, and it is the perfect family outing. Just make sure you secure tickets early because they sell out fast. Cape Town has some of the most beautiful mountain biking trails for riders of all skill levels.
AWOL Tours offers a variety of options, ranging from technical mountain rides to informative township bike tours and even a guided winelands meander. It's a great way to get a bit of exercise while enjoying the Cape's summer sun. If you're a family of water babies, why not all head to Cape Town's Muizenberg Beach for surf lessons? Voted by National Geographic as one of the top 20 places to learn to surf, the shallow water and steady supply of swells are excellent conditions to have you riding the waves in no time. If you're in the mood for something less conventional, kite surfing or SUP (stand up paddle boarding) might be more up your street.
Alternatively, you could enjoy a leisurely kayaking session off Sea Point. History: Before the Suez Canal was built, Cape Town's strategic importance as a halfway point between Europe and Asia gave it unsurpassed relevance in recorded South African history. Interest from the Dutch East Indies Company led to the building of the Castle of Good Hope between 1666 and 1679, a fort that stands to this day as the oldest surviving colonial structure in South Africa.
Cannons, dungeons and a museum full of military artefacts all make for an outing sure to thrill the whole family. The Company Garden, originally set up by the Dutch East Indies Company in 1652 for the purpose of provisioning their ships, still exists today in the form of a manicured public recreation area. Its historical significance makes it worth a visit, as is the nearby Slave Lodge which housed those who were forced to work the garden.
A short ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront will take you to Robben Island where you can visit the very prison cell in which Nelson Mandela spent many of his 27 years in incarceration. If you are lucky, you might even be guided by an ex-prisoner. Food and Wine: Aside from these and other fascinating points of historical interest, Cape Town's suburb of Constantia lays claim to the country's oldest wine farm. Fending off claims from other estates such as Boschendal and Blaauwklippen, Groot Constantia has secured the mantle of oldest wine producing farm in South Africa.
South Africa has recently begun to take its rightful place among the pantheon of respected New World wine producers, and most of it is made in the Western Cape. Constantia, Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Robertson and Wellington are the best known of the Cape wine routes. Of course, all of the established estates have tasting facilities and restaurants. Although children are obviously unable to sample the wine, many of the farms provide for a wonderful family lunch.
One such eatery is Jordan Restaurant, located on the Jordan Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, although it should be noted that children under 12 are not permitted for dinner. Another is the restaurant at Rust en Vrede wine estate (also in Stellenbosch) which ranked 85th in last year's Laurent Perrier's Top 100 Restaurants in the World. Also in the winelands are Terroir (Klein Zalze Wine Estate, Stellenbosch), Overture (Hidden Valley Wine Estate, Stellenbosch) and The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek), all of which ranked among South Africa's top 10 restaurants.
However Africa's top eatery, listed at number 28 in The World's Best Restaurants, can be found in Cape Town's suburb of Woodstock. The Test Kitchen is the brainchild of celebrated British-born chef, Luke Dale-Roberts, and is all about the "serious fun" of exploring the boundaries of culinary enjoyment. Described by Heston Blumenthal as "a truly fantastic chef", you simply cannot go wrong with a family meal at Luke's Test Kitchen. Just get your booking in months in advance. The Cape Town Lifestyle: The Cape Town way of life is different to the rest of the country.
There is an almost Mediterranean-like joie de vivre that permeates the way locals appreciate their city and everything it has to offer. There is more to this part of the world than could ever be covered in one article. Mountains, beaches, botanical gardens, quality dining, nature reserves, adventure sports; Cape Town has everything you and your family could wish for in a summer break. To visit Cape Town is to love it, especially over the Festive Season when the sun is shining well into the late evening. Next time you're in search of some family fun time, come and see what all the fuss is about.
Author: Dogon Group Properties