The northern suburbs of Cape Town gets quite a lot of flak for not being as cool as its southern suburbs counterpart. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not always keen on venturing into the southern suburbs of Cape Town because traffic and parking is usually a nightmare. So in an effort to promote my side of the Mother City, I decided to compile a list of awesome things to do in the Cape Town northern suburbs where there’s double lanes and parking in abundance! Another bonus of this little list is that all of the activities are family friendly and within close proximity of each other – score!
Explore the Durbanville Wine Valley
People often forget that the Western Cape’s vineyards aren’t just limited to the Cape Winelands and surrounding towns. The Durbanville Wine Valley in the Cape Town northern suburbs’ Tygerberg Hills has 12 esteemed wine farms and is only a 20 minute drive from Cape Town! I love visiting the wine estates in this beautiful valley as the short drive is already a scenic treat in itself. The valley also hosts festivals throughout the year so there’s always something look forward to and keep everyone entertained.
Take a Hike in the Tygerberg Nature Reserve
The Tygerberg Hill is a prominent landmark in the Cape Town northern suburbs that is rich in history. Best of all is it’s open to the public for walks and hiking! The reserve has 8 trails which range from easy to moderate and the views are simply spectacular. There are also wheelchair friendly picnic sites. All this makes the reserve a fun destination for families of all ages. The reserve has two entrances – Totius street, Welgemoed and Meyboom avenue, Welgemoed. Flyers containing information about the trails and wildlife are available at the reserve’s office and a small conservation fee is payable to gain entry. The reserve is open 7 days a week – contact 021 913 5695 for more information.
Slide Downhill at Cool Runnings Family Toboggan Park
Cool Runnings Toboggan Park is the only one of its kind in Africa. It’s also the most fun you’ll have in a few hours! The sled is big enough to fit two people (if you’re a bit afraid to go on your own at first) and can reach speeds of up to 40km/h. The speed is fully controllable by use of the lever in front of the sled so no need to worry about sliding out of control. The park also has a food and drink kiosk and a large covered terrace overlooking the track where you can relax while taking a break in between the fun!
Indulge in Local Food at the Slow Market Willowbridge
I absolutely love local markets and can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning. The Slow Market at Willowbridge lifestyle centre sells foods and design of small local producers and is set up on the piazza every single Saturday no matter the weather. Think lengthy tables of good food and produce. The added benefit of this market is that you’re still within walking distance of commercial shops should you need to grab some other weekly essentials.
Try Your Hand at Putt Putt at the Golf Village Tygervalley
I’m very self conscious when it comes to things I’m not good at but a round of putt putt is one place where I’m willing to forego my insecurities! The putt putt course at the Golf Village in Tygervalley offers 27 holes of adventure golf varying in difficulty. Just by looking at it, the course promises to test your skills but also to be loads of fun at the same time! The course is open 7 days a week and there’s also a driving range for the Dads.
There you have it! My top picks of things to do in the Cape Town northern suburbs. So head out to our side of the city to see how much fun there is to have here too!
