Are you visiting Cape Town for the Easter holidays? Or are you a Capetonian and prefer to enjoy a staycation? Start preparing now with our comprehensive list of things to do at the Cape Town Big 6.
Table Mountain Cableway
- Kids can look forward to an activity book full of interesting facts including a treasure hunt; the final destination of the hunt will reward them with a treat from the Shop at the Top
- Post a postcard from the top of the mountain to family or friends from the red postbox
- Buy a chocolate in the shape of Table Mountain and other locally hand-made memorabilia from the Shop at the Top
- Take a walk to Mc Clears beacon, the highest point on table mountain. It’s just 20 minutes from the Table Mountain Café
- Join the free thirty-minute free guided tours that happen on the hour from 09:00 to 15:00, departing from the Twelve Apostles Terrace (below the Café). These are kids-friendly walks conducted by our staff, who will share the story of Table Mountain and the Cableway.
- Easter Sunday 27 March 2016 – Families are invited to join the popular mythical characters, the Easter Bunny and his magical fairy at the Lower and Upper Cable Stations for a thrilling Easter egg hunt, every hour, on the hour from 10:00 to 14:00. This amazing treat is absolutely free!
- Friday 25 March to Monday 28 March 2016 a special entertainment programme for kids with buskers, magic tricks and puppet shows will be there to entertain you while you wait in the line.
- Download the free Audio Tour Guide and learn about the fauna and flora at the summit while you marvel at the wondrous view below you or stop to take a photo of the sunset over the Atlantic ocean, all at your own pace.
- Take the free MyCiTi shuttle service from the Lower Tafelberg Road stop, just off Kloof Nek Road, to the Upper Tafelberg Road stop at the Lower Cable station!
Buy your Table Mountain Cableway ticket online and skip the queue at the ticket office at the Lower Cable Station.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
There are few places in the Mother City as tranquil as Kirstenbosch, with 36 hectares for the kids to explore…
- Walk among the treetops of the Boomslang Canopy Walkway “Boomslang”
- Guided walks with birders will take you to spot and identify some of the 125 bird species known to occur in the Garden. Bring walking shoes, a hat and water, as well as weather proof clothing. Binoculars will be very useful
- Enjoy the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts every Sunday Watch Karate Kid on 23 March under the stars with The Galileo Open Air Cinema
- The monthly Kirstenbosch Craft Market will take place on Easter Day, expects lots of crafts, food and kids entertainment.
- View and buy at the annual Oyama Bonsai Kai bonsai exhibition in the Lecture Hall over the Easter weekend. Entry to the exhibition is free, but Kirstenbosch garden entry fees apply.
- The Western Cape Woodturners Association will hold an exhibition and will demonstrate the art of woodturning which kids find very interesting. Old Mutual Conference Centre during the Easter weekend. Free entry
- Kirstenbosch Nature’s Treasure Box Art workshop on 31 March is the perfect way to keep your 6 – 9 year old kids busy; with activities in the Botanical Garden and decorating of a box. The cost is R60.00 and pre-booking is essential. Contact Zombuso on 021 799 8670 | z.mbatha@sanbi.org.za
Jump the queue and buy your entry tickets here.
V&A Waterfront
Shop, dine and be entertained in a spectacular working harbour
- Shop at over 450 stores including the renovated Watershed which features the best of African craft and design. Upstairs is where you’ll find Wellness for treatments ranging from massage, reiki and more for mom…
- There are over 60 kid friendly restaurants to choose from, if you cannot decide between those, visit the V&A Food Market for artisanal street food stands
- Be entertained at the amphitheatre and cinemas, or play at the three outdoor playgrounds and the giant chess Board
- Visit the Chavonnes Battery Museum or the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum
- The Two Oceans Aquarium is where you can watch the sharks being fed at 12:00 everyday.
- Get on board the Tommy The Tugboat or the Jolly Roger Pirate boat for a trip around the harbour.
- Hop on the Hamleys Train
- Collect gems at the Scratch Patch and play Cave Golf
- Book a Artjamming session
- Take a walk along the harbour and do seal spotting
- Lots of toy, hobby and craft shops
- Charter a helicopter for an unforgettable flight over the Cape Town
- Enjoy a ride on the Cape Wheel by day or night
- Do a free self-guided historical walking tour
- Take a sunset cruise
- Jog the signposted 2.5km or 5km running route
- Go green and pledge your support of the World Wildlife Foundation’s (WWF) international Earth Hour on 19 March at 18h00 – 21h30 at the Pierhead (in front of Hildebrand Restaurant). Free performances by Matthew Mole, Page Mac and Mike Camble Big Band, Food Trucks will also be available as well as kids entertainment with See-Saw-Do.
- Celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary – 21- 24 March from 17:00. The African Way with The Shakespeare Schools Festival SA (SSF SA)! Come dressed as your favourite Shakespearean Character for a walk to the Waterfront Amphitheatre. Stand a chance to win some prizes for best effort in costume design, or performances of a Shakespearian piece – a sonnet, monologue, dialogue or a fight scene – anything Shakespearian goes! For more info please contact info@educape.co.za
- Get creative with See Saw Do March School Workshops – 21- 23 March & 28-30 March 2016. These cardboard craft workshops is 3 hours and ideal for children and adults to engage with problem solving by co-creating and designing games, toys and scenarios for creative role play.
- The Art of Chocolate: Lindt comes to Victoria Wharf shopping centre: the Master Chocolatiers Lindt this Easter Season, with indulgent chocolate demonstrations taking place from Tuesday, 22 to Easter Sunday, 27 March in the Centre Court (area in front of H&M) in twice-daily demonstration sessions. Running from 11am to 12pm, and again from 2.30 to 3.30pm, visitors can follow in the Master Chocolatier’s creating decadent, Easter-inspired desserts, leaving the demonstration with a taster and recipe card in hand.
Click here to view the Events Calendar to plan your visit.
Groot Constantia
This is the South Africa’s oldest wine producing estate, established by Simon van der Stel in 1685, and it is a certified national monument. Groot Constantia is the perfect spot to bring the family, explore the vast estate on foot, dine at one of their two celebrated restaurants…
- Combine a visit to Groot Constantia with a trip on the hop-on, hop-off City Sightseeing busses
- Take one of the daily guided cellar tours and tastings, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the wine-making process
- Visit one of two tasting rooms to sample 5 of their top wines
- Explore the vast estate on foot – there are numerous walking paths
- Dine at one of two celebrated restaurants – Jonkershuis and Simon’s at Groot Constantia
- Pick up a picnic basket at Simon’s Deli and enjoy it while the kids play at their new playing area
- Wide open spaces for kids to run under old oak trees.
Buy your tickets online and skip the queues.
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. If you are lucky, you may even spot some dolphins or seals frolicking in the waves
- Enjoy spectacular views of Table Mountain from the upper deck of the ferry
- Go inspect World War 2 canons
- Visit to the limestone quarry where Madiba, and so many others, crushed limestone
- Buy a souvenir at the Robben Island Curio shop
- Scout to see Several shipwrecks
- Highlight of the day is visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell
Ferries depart 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm – weather permitting. You can buy tickets online or in-person at the Robben Island Museum.
Cape Point
Bring your family to the most southwestern tip of Africa, this is a must do for any bucket list! Cape of Good Hope
- Enjoy a light breakfast or lunch, or try their world-class sushi, prepared by 5th generation sushi chef, Sarawut Sukkowplang at the Two Oceans Restaurant
- Take the Flying Dutchman Funicular to the old lighthouse and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views
- Explore and learn about many facts about the Cape of Good Hope as well as the better known Cape of Storms for lost sailors guided by the Diaz Beacon at Cape Point
- Game, bird and whale watching (in season)
- Walk the shipwreck trail to view a few of the 26 recorded shipwrecks
- Pack a picnic to enjoy at the Bordjiesrif or Buffels Bay tidal pools
- Go fishing, surfing, and diving, in the surrounding waters
- Shop for curios and souvenirs at three different stores
- Hike along a wide variety of scenic and overnight trails through natural fynbos and along sandy beaches
- And finally book in at luxury accommodation
Get a My Green Card issued by SANPARKS for R125 and gives you 12 entries to Cape Point (this excludes the Funicular ride cost), Boulders and a few other Table Mountain national parks. View more information on the ticket prices here.
Share your Cape Town Big 6 experience
Let us know on our Cape Town Big 6 Facebook or Twitter page. Better yet, snap an Instagram shot of your favourite outdoor moment and tag @CapeTownBig6 #CTBig6 #CTHoliday
One Destination, 6 Unbelievable 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.