Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand
The breezy easy city of Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape Province offers eco-tourists a wealth of scenic destinations. Here we list 10 options for getting up close with nature when next you’re looking for something to do in Cape Town.
Table Mountain
Of course we’ll list this one first! Why? Because it just so happens to be world famous and was recently awarded the prestigious title of one of the seven New Wonders of Nature on 11th November 2011. Table Mountain has a lot to offer the eco-adventurer. You can hike to the summit along one of the many hiking trails or take the easy way up on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. From the top you can get spectacular views across the city and the ocean, including views of Robben Island where former South African president Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. A return ticket will set you back R175/adult and R85/child. For more information, visit www.tablemountain.net or call 021-424-8181. Table Mountain has a wealth of spectacular and unique plants as well as interesting reptiles, frogs, birds and mammals. A drive north from the city to Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand will give you picture-perfect views of Table Mountain from across the appropriately named Table Bay. This is where many photographers capture those postcard panoramic views of Table Mountain.African penguin colony at The Boulders
The African penguin (Spheniscusdemersus) is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list. The Boulders near Simons Town is a great place to see these penguins up close as they waddle along the beach and boulders, often walking right between sunbathing tourists. This colony is rather interesting, as it formed from two penguins which started breeding here around 1983 to 1985.
- African Penguins (Spheniscusdemersus)
Since then the population has increased steadily to become one of the largest concentrations on the mainland. January is a good time to see moulting juveniles. The penguin’s breeding season lasts from February to August and in September the adults spend much time out at sea feeding. This colony is managed by South African National Parks and a small entrance fee is charged to access the beach and penguin colony.
False Bay
The vast expanse of False Bay is a haven for marine life. It can be viewed from many elevated locations around the bay, including Cape Point Nature Reserve, Simons Town and Fish Hoek on the western side and Gordons Bay on the eastern side. A good set of binoculars will allow you to spot some of the whales that frequent the Bay, and if you’re lucky, a great white shark or two. Southern right whales can often be seen off Fish Hoek in winter and humpback whales also traverse these waters. Another frequent cetacean visitor to Fish Hoek is Brydes whale. Orcas or killer whales as well as sperm whales are another two species occasionally seen in False Bay. There are several tour operators which offer boating trips out into the Bay to view whales and sharks. For more information on whales and whale-watching, visit www.awhaleofatime.co.zaKirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Set against the slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is one of the world’s most scenic gardens. The garden covers 36 hectares in a 528 hectare estate on the eastern side of Table Mountain. It has over 7 000 cultivated plants including many rare and threatened species and it is a leading research centre for botany in Africa. Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote and conserve South Africa’s botanical richness.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
While the gardens will delight gardeners and botanists to the extreme, these gardens are also rich in birdlife and bird watchers will be kept entertained for hours on end as fynbos specialities mix with suburban birds. The gardens are open from 08h00-18h00 during winter. An entrance fee of R40 is charged for adults and R10 for children. For more information, call 021-799-8783 or visit www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch
Cape Point Nature Reserve
The southern point of Africa makes up Cape Point Nature Reserve which forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Cape Point can be accessed from either the western side travelling through Hout Bay and Kommetjie or on the eastern side going through Fish Hoek and Simons Town, but be warned, traffic can often be heavy along this stretch of road. Although the point is where the two oceans meet – the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, this is not the most southern point of Africa, which is actually Cape Agulhas – a straight line distance of 150km south-east of Cape Point. A drive south through the reserve will take you to a large parking lot where you will find the Two Oceans Restaurant, as well as a curio and snack shop. A trail leads up to the lighthouse and further beyond right to the tip.
Protea-eximia
Wildlife is abundant with baboons
watching over the tourists, alert red-winged starlings -ready to pounce
upon any dropped or abandoned food, black girdled lizards basking near
crevices in large boulders, and the occasional angulate tortoise
-ambling through the fynbos vegetation. Birdlife is abundant and this is
also a good place to see some of South Africa’s renowned proteas and
leucadendrons. For more info, visit www.capepoint.co.zaTwo Oceans Aquarium
The Two Oceans Aquarium is situated at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Over 88 species of marine life can be seen in the aquarium with themed displays including Oceans of Contrast – the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, I&J Predator Exhibit, Kelp Forest Exhibit, Sappi River Meander, as well as Frogs Beyond the Pond, where you can see some representatives of the frog world. The aquarium is open 365 days a year from 09h30-18h00. Adults pay R100, children 4-13 years R50 and children 14-17 years R78. For more info, visit www.aquarium.co.zaKogelberg Biosphere Reserve
This Biosphere Reserve covers over 100 000 hectares and is home to one-fifth of all fynbos species. It is situated in the Kleinmond area -about an hour out of Cape Town. 1 880 plant species have been recorded in the reserve of which 77 are endemic to this biosphere reserve and found nowhere else on earth. Over 200 bird species are known from the area. This region offers adventure sports enthusiasts and eco-tourists hiking trails, bird watching, sandboarding, paragliding, river-rafting, quad trails and scuba diving.Rondevlei Nature Reserve
Rondevlei is located in the False Bay area and it centres around a large wetland or vlei area. There are six bird hides in the reserve where birders can enjoy the sightings of greater flamingos, African spoonbills, white pelicans and Caspian terns together with an additional 230 different bird species. Mammals include grysbok, Cape clawless otter and Cape grey mongoose as well as a population of resident hippopotamus. There is also a reptile display, aquarium and captive porcupines. For more info, visit www.rondevlei.co.zaRietvlei Nature Reserve
Located in the Blaauwberg area to the north of Cape Town, the Rietvlei Nature Reserve includes a large coastal wetland system where numerous water birds and waders can be seen. Over 173 birds have been recorded from this reserve. There are several walking trails throughout the reserve and, as an added bonus, you can take in some beautiful views of Table Mountain in the distance!Chapman’s Peak Drive
Another drive with breath-taking scenery is Chapman’s Peak Drive. This road stretches from Hout Bay to Noordhoek but is sometimes closed during inclement weather. This is a 9km route with no less than 114 curves and spectacular drops down into the Atlantic Ocean. You are surrounded by nature on either side, with ocean vistas and mountain fynbos hugging each turn in the road. Note: This is a tolled road and at the time of writing, once-off toll fees for light vehicles were R31 and non-commercial minibuses R42. For more information on fees and access, visit www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za
Feature written by Warren Schmidt
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