Some Cape Town Highlights

8 January 2023 to 15 January 2023

Usually when we visit Cape Town and the ‘old hood’ it’s for a specific purpose and we stay for the shortest time possible. This time staying at a caravan park for eight nights gave us the opportunity to enjoy our visit and spend time catching up with friends and family. I am not going to write about every visit but I do want to highlight some of the lovely spots we visited while enjoying their company. Hopefully, this will tempt readers from afar to visit the most beautiful city in the world. Yes, of course, I’m biassed!

The sight of Table Mountain never fails to take my breath away. It is not surprise that it is now one of the new seven natural wonders of the world

This view of table mountain was taken in January 2022 from aboard a cruise ship, MSC Orchestra

If you visit Cape Town a ride to the top of Table Mountain in the cable car is a must.

And the view from the top is certainly worth it

Noordhoek is still quite rural with many people living on small holdings. Horse riding is quite big here.

A great place to visit and meet friends is Noordhoek Farm Village which has a few novel shops and eateries. The Food Barn is very popular and on Monday morning we were there just after opening time at 8 am and it was already quite busy. The Le Petit breakfast was more like a Le Grand breakfast. The menu declared that you would get one egg, any style, bacon, mushrooms and grilled tomato. Well, it must have been a very large chicken that laid that egg – or perhaps it was an ostrich! Three slices of bacon and six rosa tomatoes plus a portion of mushrooms – all totally delicious. I could not clean my plate!

A great place to chill and relax

Horses and bicycles welcome

The Food Barn Restaurant

An amazing breakfast

One evening we met relatives for dinner at another Farm Village restaurant, Cafe Roux. Remember, it was still the school holidays and it was busy! Most of the seating is outdoors. Inside a local music group was giving a concert but you had to book and pay for that. Parking was at a premium and we were very lucky to nab a spot as another vehicle left. We also got a table in a quiet spot. It was a lovely barmy evening and at this time of year, it only gets dark after 8 pm. Service was good and the food was excellent.

A very popular venue

Good food and good company

In 1679 Simon van der Stel was appointed, by the Dutch East India Company as governor of the Cape of Good Hope. In 1685 he was granted land situated behind Table Mountain. It was an excellent area for wine growing and the scenery was magnificent. Groot Constantia is still producing wine today and the homestead is now a museum. We had the pleasure of going to lunch with my brother and sister-in-law at the restaurant called, Simon’s which has shady seating under the oak trees. Here too, the food was delicious. The Earl and Michael had calamari and Moira and I each had a Duo of Lentil and Quinoa Salad. I asked the waitress to take a photo and it looked like she did but something must have gone wrong because the image is nowhere to be found!

Looking over the Constantia Valley from Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road)

Approaching Groot Constantia

Simon’s

I spied a chaffinch nearby and couldn’t resist taking its portrait

I grew up in Fish Hoek and didn’t live far from there for most of my adult life. The beach was my playground and it was a huge part of my children’s and grandchildren’s lives too. It holds many wonderful memories. So of course a visit to the beach was compulsory. Near the entrance is a chalkboard and my cousin writes inspirational memes on it almost every day. Take a look at Chalkboard on the Beach on Facebook

View of Fish Hoek Beach

I almost went for a swim but the sea was too cold

The Beach I grew up on

The evening before we left the children came for a farewell braai and enjoyed the facilities at Chapman’s Peak Caravan Park

Enjoying the pool

A giant tortoise and a curious dog

Mother Hen settling her chicks for the night

Inquisitive Egyptian Geese came to see what was up

The Braai Master

Handed over to the grandsons and they did an excellent job

Even though they just had to fool around!

Cape Town is a beautiful cosmopolitan city that has become a popular destination for tourists. Compared to other destinations it is also relatively inexpensive. Some of the main drawcards are the beaches, the wine route, and the surrounding nature. Here are few photos from my archives that might tempt you to visit our beautiful city.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is a great place to take the kids

Cape Point Nature Reserve is worth a visit – the funicular will take you to the top

Where the view below is spectacular

Don’t forget to take in Boulder’s Beach where you can visit a colony of African Penguins

And Spier Wine Farm has more than wine tasting to offer – The wild bird sanctuary where injured birds are rehabilitated is a treat. Our now-grown grandsons enjoyed many visits there

The rest of South Africa also has so much to offer – hiking, kayaking, surfing, paragliding, deepsea fishing, scuba diving, nature, wildlife, adventure and fun. If you have never been to this part of the world, do yourself a favour and put it right at the top of your bucket list. You won’t be disappointed.

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