The School Holidays are here, we are marching towards Summer and the Cape Town Big 6 has a lot to offer locals and visitors to the Mother City. Here are the Top Events at the Cape Town Big 6 this October: Table Mountain Cableway, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Cape Point, and Groot Constantia.
Cape Point
The Flying Dutchman Funicular
Ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the viewing point below the old lighthouse.
Date: Daily | Time: 09:00 – 17:30 | Venue: Cape Point | Cost: R30 return Child ticket, R70 return Adult ticket
Two Oceans Restaurant
The Two Oceans Restaurant occupies an enviable position above False Bay at the southwestern tip of Africa. The restaurant is as famous for its seafood cuisine as it is for a superb wooden deck that looks out onto one of the most stunning ocean views in South Africa.
Date: Daily | Time: 09:00 – 17:00 | Venue: Cape Point | Cost: varies
Groot Constantia
Visitors Route Experience
Enjoy the new Visitor Route Experience where one ticket gives you entrance to the Manor House Museum, original Cloete Cellar, a cellar tour, wine tasting and Spiegelau Crystal wine glass.
Date: Daily | Time: 10:00 – 17:00 | Venue: Manor House | Cost: R105 per person or Visitors Route Experience Ticket + Chocolate & Wine Pairing: R155 per person.
Wine Tasting
Visit one of two tasting rooms to sample and purchase a selection of Groot Constantia’s award-winning wines
Date: Daily | Time: 09:00 – 18:00 | Venue: Tasting Hall | Cost: 5 wines for R80
4 delectable chocolates paired with 4 of their award-winning wines.
Date: Daily | Time: 09:00 – 18:00 | Venue: Tasting Hall | Cost: R125
Fine Dining
Groot Constantia offers fine dining at Jonkershuis & Simon’s Restaurant and gourmet picnics from Simon’s Deli. Pair great meals with their amazing wines while enjoying the spectacular views of the Constantia Valley.
Jonkershuis: Sunday – Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00, Fridays and Saturdays: 09:00 – 21:00 and Breakfast: Monday to Sunday: 09:00 – 11:30
Simon’s Restaurant: Open 7 days a week: 09:00 – 21:00 (except Wednesdays and Sundays – close at 17:00) and Breakfast – Monday to Sunday: 09:00 – 12:00
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Bird Walks
Kirstenbosch Bird Walks led by volunteer birders from the Cape Bird Club and the Tygerberg Bird Club. Meet at the information desk at Gate 1, the walks usually last around 2 hours and everyone is welcome.
Date: 9 October | Time: 08:00 | Venue: Information Desk Gate 1 | Cost: The walks are free, however there is an entrance fee for the Gardens, except on a Tuesday so long as you are a SA senior, then entrance to the gardens is free.
Wednesday Talks
Wednesday Talks take place at Richard Crowie Hall (gate 2) from 10:30 – 11:30. The Wednesday talks are free, but Garden entry fees apply.
3 October – James Fisk – California Dreaming: The garden and plants of California
17 October – TBA
31 October – Werner Voight – Succulents, Vol 2
Robben Island
Explore South Africa’s political past with an informative tour at the maximum security prison. But Robben Island isn’t just about the political past of our country, keep an eye out for the African penguins that are on the island.
The ferry ride to Robben Island is an adventure in itself, enjoy spectacular views of Table Mountain from the upper deck of the ferry if you are lucky, you may even spot some dolphins or seals frolicking in the waves.
Tour the Robben Island surrounds in a guided bus tour and view the Robben Island shipwrecks, 19th-century Lighthouse; the only lighthouse in South Africa to use a flashing light instead of a revolving light.
A former Robben Island inmate will guide you while on the island, and you’ll receive unparalleled insight into the significant role that each of the Robben Island’s inmates collectively played throughout apartheid. You will be guided to the maximum security prison, various Robben Island exhibition displays and a visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell.
You will also be able to visit the World War 2 canons and a limestone quarry where Madiba, and so many others, crushed limestone.
To conclude the day buy a souvenir at the Robben Island Curio shop.
The Robben Island Museum App was developed to offer users around the globe an opportunity to experience and explore the Island’s multi-layered history and sites. Download it from the Google Play Store here. Ferries depart 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm – weather permitting. You can buy tickets online or in-person at the Robben Island Museum.
Table Mountain Cableway
Seniors Special
South African senior citizens over the age of 60 years qualify for discounted rates on return tickets every Friday, upon producing a valid South African ID. They also have a meal special for pensioners at the Table Mountain Café on Fridays. Chat with a cashier about redeeming your meal special.
Date: Every Day | Time: 08:30 – 17:30 | Venue: Lower Cable Station Ticket Office | Cost: R100 return or R53 one way on Fridays only | Weather Permitting
Guided Walks
Thirty-minute guided tours happen on the hour from 09:00 to 15:00 daily, departing from the Twelve Apostles Terrace (below the Café). These are free, family-friendly walks conducted by our staff, who will share the story of Table Mountain and the Cableway, and provide any assistance you may require.
Date: Daily | Time: 09:00 – 15:00 | Venue: Twelve Apostles Terrace | Cost: Free
Audio Tour
Learn about the flora and fauna of the summit, at your own pace, with our free Audio Tour. Download the free application to your mobile device – using out free Wi-Fi – plug in your earphones and begin your self-guided tour at the Lower Cable Station. For a step-by-step guide on how to download the VoiceMap application to your mobile device, click here.
V&A Waterfront
Free Astronomy Outreach
Astronomy is not only about star gazing, one can also view the sun, with sunspots, if any, through special telescope filters and can discuss our nearest star with any of the Cape Centre members. One can also calculate the distance from the earth to the sun by measuring the length of certain shadows. The moon (First Quarter) is also visible in the afternoons of our outreach days and becomes increasingly spectacular through a telescope as the night becomes darker. Approximately four billion years of astronomical history are etched on its battered surface which raises the question of why the earth does not appear to be so pitted with craters and dark volcanic ‘seas’. Lastly, there is usually at least one planet visible in the night sky, the most exciting being Jupiter with its four Galilean moons and Saturn with its rings.
Date: 25 February – 15 December | Time: 15:00 – 21:30 | Venue: V&A Waterfront Pierhead, between wooden deck & chess board | Cost: Free
Little Optimist Free Movie Night
Bring the family to an inspirational evening with big-wave surfer, charity campaigner and multiple cardiac-surgery survivor Greg Bertish. He will be presenting a FREE screening of his World-renowned documentary, which inspires kids and adults alike.
Date: 4 October | Time: 19:00 – 20:00 | Venue: Amphitheatre | Cost: Free
Blessing of the Fleet
The Portuguese Cultural and Welfare Centre of Cape Town will hold its annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet Festival for 2018. The day begins with Holy Mass at 10:30 am followed by the blessing of the fleet at noon. Food stalls, a beer garden, and live entertainment will be on offer from 06 – 07 October from 13h00 – 20h00.
Date: 6 – 7 October | Time: 13:00 – 20:00 | Venue: Jetty 2 | Cost: R30 per person, children under 12 & seniors R20
Cape Town International Film Festival
The 2018 edition of the Cape Town International Film Market and Festival will take place from the 9th to the 19th October at venues across the iconic V & A Waterfront, welcoming diverse and exciting attendees from all over the world. Guided by the festival’s core vision of transforming the African film industry, through the three pillars of creation, collaboration, and celebration, the CTIFMF will incorporate a host of key initiatives and projects aimed at the local and Pan-African film industries as well as emerging and new audiences from Africa and beyond. See the full line-up here.
Date: 10 – 19 October | Time: various times | Venue: various cinemas within the V&A Waterfront| Tickets: http://filmfestival.capetown/features-2018/
Waterfront Canal Challenge
The inaugural Waterfront Canal Challenge takes place on 13 October 2018 in the newly constructed Battery Park. Don’t miss this opportunity to compete in a thrilling open water swim competition while helping to raise funds for local upliftment projects run by the Waterfront Rotary Club.
Choose from a 1-mile, half-mile or elite mile open water swim and compete for R15 000.00 in prizes! Entries open on 6 August 2018.
11:00 Start of 1-mile
11:30 Start of half-mile
12:00 Start of the elite mile
Date: 13 October | Time: 11:00 | Venue: Battery Park | Cost: Tickets www.bigbayevents.co.za
Schools Art from Trash Competition
ENTER the Waterfront Canal Challenge “Art from Plastic Trash”
competition and win one of the awesome prizes sponsored by the Two Oceans Aquarium.
This competition is open to junior and high schools and is aimed at raising awareness of the danger that single-use plastics pose to our oceans.
JUDGING at 11:00
PRIZE GIVING at 13:00
Date: 13 October | Time: 11:00 – 14:00 | Venue: V&A Waterfront | Download an entry form from www.waterfrontrotary.org
Cape Town International Boat Show
Now in its 18th year, the Cape Town International Boat Show is set to continue its legacy as the leading international boat show and luxury lifestyle event on the African continent showcasing products and services from premier industry suppliers brought to you by Messe Frankfurt.
The annual Cape Town International Boat show, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mother City, is South Africa’s premier boating and luxury lifestyle event. The show brings together a display of the world’s finest yachts, catamarans, and exotic boats; family fun and water sports activities. The show will take place from 19-21 October 2018 at the V&A Waterfront.
Date: 19 – 21 October | Time: 09:00 – 17:00 | Venue: Marina | Cost: R120 per person
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ONE DESTINATION, SIX UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
There is no one way to explore all of the Cape Town Big 6, and much of what makes each of them so special is the variety of things to see and do at each. So if possible, take your time to explore each of the city’s most visited tourist attractions in as much depth as possible – as any local will tell you, you can spend a lifetime at each of the Big 6 and still not tire of them. Find the 3 and 4 day itineraries and tips here.