Cape Townians are spoiled for choice when it comes to outdoor activities. Beaches, forests, mountains, as well as lush green parks. And all of these are tucked away within the city borders! Meet friends for a picnic, go for a walk with your four-footed friend, or simply pause to enjoy nature.
We’ve searched high and low to hunt down the bests parks for you to enjoy.
#1 The Company’s Garden
Size: 8.5 hectares
Queen Victoria Street (top end of Adderley Street) | City Centre
Opening hours: daily: summer 07:00 – 19:00, winter 07:00 – 18:00
This beautiful park in the city centre is a heritage site. It dates back to the 1650’s, when the European settlers needed to grow fruit and vegetables to stock up the ships that passed through on their travels. It’s close to the South African parliament and within the grounds there are various museums to visit including the National Art Gallery and SA Museum. There are historical gems scattered throughout such as a fish pond, aviary, and rose garden.
#2 De Waal Park
Size: 11.7 hectares
Upper Orange Road| Gardens
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
Another beautiful park in the heart of the city, located in the City Bowl. It’s a popular spot for dog owners and great for kids with a fun playground. The stylish Victorian fountain adds an old-world feel to the park. In the summertime music concerts are hosted on Sundays.
#3 The Green Point Urban Park
Size: 10.5 hectares
Cape Town Stadium | Green Point
(can be accessed either from Beach Road (M6) or Bay Road, Mouille Point)
Opening hours: daily 07:00 – 19:00
This amazing space was created in 2011, just after the Soccer World Cup. There are pathways meandering around the expansive green lawns and little biodiversity nurseries filled with interesting plants. Follow the routes to complete a walking, running or cycling circuit. Spot the kilometre markers to keep track of your progress. Little outdoor training and gym circuits are the perfect way to combine fresh air and exercise. Pop in at the tea garden or pack your own picnic. You can either sit on the lovely green grass or at a picnic bench.
#4 Zandvlei Recreational Park
Size: 159 hectares
Promenade Road | Muizenberg
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
This wetland is bordered by the Muizenberg, Lakeside, and Marina da Gama residential areas. It’s a stunning estuary with a river system meandering through it, located on the False Bay coast. The park is a popular recreational activities spot ideal for windsurfing, fishing, canoeing, and sailing. There are also braai and picnic spots located on the grassy areas next to the shores.
#5 Arderne Gardens
Size: 4 hectares
Main Street | Claremont
Opening hours: daily 09:00 – 16:00
This park includes a Japanese garden. The shady glades and romantic nooks make it a popular spot for wedding photographs. The park has a rich collection of exotic trees and shrubs. In 2003 over three hundred trees were labelled as part of the Cape Horticultural Society’s Centenary Project.
#6 Rondebosch Park
Size: 1.9 hectares
Corner Campground Road & Sandown Roads | Rondebosch
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
The park has lovely big trees creating green canopies over the pathways. The expansive lawns are perfect for picnics as well as open air events including craft markets and carols by candle light. Benches scattered next to the pathways are perfect to sit and take in the wide variety of flora in the park.
#7 Durbanville Rose Garden
Size: 1.5 hectares
Durban Road | Durbanville
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
Another historical site in the city, with farm graves on the property. There are 500 different types of rose bushes to sniff and enjoy the beauty of. An outing to the park’s Tea Room on Sundays is a must during flowering season.
#8 Wynberg Park
Size: 22.5 hectares
Corner Klaassens & Trovato Link Roads | Wynberg
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
This park features the Krakeelwater river’s spring. It has a gorgeous conifer garden, a colourful delight in spring and summer. There is an impressive playground, as well as duck pond to amuse the kids for hours. The little pathways meandering through the park is perfect for a walk, jog or doggy outing. Picnic and braai areas are located throughout the park for a delightful outdoor lunch. In the summer the park hosts concerts and fun days.
Just around the corner: Maynardville Park
An alternative park in the area, with rolling green lawns and trees, plus a great eco-system of birds. Visit the Maynardville open-air theatre in the summertime for a fun cultural outing. The park also includes a playground and water feature for the kids.
Size: 11 hectares
Corner Church & Wolfe Street | Wynberg
Opening hours: daily 8am – 6pm
#9 Khayelitsha Wetlands Park
Size: 3.3 hectares
Makhaza (between Lansdowne & Hlanga Roads) | Khayelitsha
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
Perfect for a fun waterfilled outing. The eco-system is growing, with more and more birds calling it home. To create a more people-friendly area, the city has built a stunning playground for kids to enjoy, and creative African mosaic murals to entertain the adults.
#10 Westridge Park
Size: 15.8 hectares
Corner Morgenster & De Duin Avenue | Westridge | Mitchells Plain
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 18:00
Tucked away in the suburb, the park has a variety of flora to enjoy including the famous indigenous Cape fynbos. Pathways meander through the park with expansive lawns inviting you to pause for a picnic. It’s an ideal location for fabulous wedding photographs. A unique feature of the park is the skateboard ramp. Community concerts and festive events are hosted during the year.
Share the Park Love with Secret Cape Town
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The first South African National Parks Week was hosted in 2006. Originally the initiative wanted to link the South African national parks system with the bigger global national movement. It creates awareness of the wide range of national parks in South Africa.
This year South African National Parks (SANParks) celebrate its 13th annual South African National Parks Week, hosted from 10 to 14 September 2018. Total South Africa and FNB are official partners, helping SANParks achieve its vision to create a sustainable National Park System that connects society.
The SA National Parks Week
During the week, 21 national parks offer free access to the day visitors, encouraging specifically the local communities to visit the parks. The free access does exclude access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities. A few of the parks has decided to extend the free access to include the weekend. The following are the national parks with easy access from Cape Town, all with a two-hour drive from the city.
Agulhas National Park
Dates: 8 – 15 September 2019
This park is an open-access park, with no pay points.
Activities include interpretation walks. A walk from the lighthouse to the Southernmost Tip. It’s a circular walk including a new stretch along the ridge above the Southern Tip, plus the Southern Tip Icon. The Soetendalsvlei Western Shore walk also includes birding opportunities.
Click here for more information on the park.
Table Mountain National Park
Dates: 8 – 15 September 2019
Please note: the free entry does not apply to the Boulders Penguin Colony and Table Mountain Cableway. Read our post about the Table Mountain national park
Click here for more information on the park.
West Coast National Park
Dates: 8 – 15 September 2019
Click here for more information on the park.
Read our post about the West Coast National Park
South African National Parks week excludes Boulders Beach, The Table Mountain Cableway and The Namaqualand National Park in the Western Cape.
Photo by @cpt_wanderlust_
The park is located in the lovely leafy Southern suburbs of Cape Town. It stretches over 22 hectares and boasts with authentic Western Cape vegetation. Inside the park you can find the spring of the Krakeelwater River.
Other great features include a beautiful conifer garden and abundant hydrangeas, creating a beautiful colourful carpet in summer. Hunt down the elusive Silvertree, which once grew abundantly in the area, but now only one solitary tree remains.
Photo by anitab79
The park has stunning little pathways crisscrossing through it, with immaculate lawns, perfect for picnics. Or look out for the braai facilities for an authentically South African lunch. It is a kids’ paradise with a great playground, as well as a duck pond to entertain your kids for hours. Bring your dog and enjoy a leisurely stroll in the beautiful surroundings.
You can also bring your bicycle and explore all the paths through the lush green park.
Photo by anitab79
Wynberg Park occasionally hosts fun days as well as live concerts. Keep an eye on their social media pages to stay in the loop. The city’s Come and Play teams also host extreme sports demonstrations, and fun activities for kids. Contact the park for more information.
Location: cnr Klaassens and Trovato Link Roads, Wynberg
Opening hours:
Summer 7am – 7pm (daily)
Winter 7am – 6pm (daily)
Cost: Free
Tel: 021 444 8849 | 086 576 1243
Website: wynbergpark.co.za
Facebook: Wynberg Park
Twitter: @wynberg_park
See out top 10 parks in Cape Town post.
Photo Caption: Tag a friend who needs a hug! 🤗
Did you know that Penguins 🐧 mate for life?
Amazing photo by @emmett_sparling
Known as the penguin paradise of Cape Town, Boulders Beach is home to a colony of African penguins. Boulders is located in False Bay just outside of Simon’s Town, this sheltered beach is among the most visited beaches in Cape Town. However there are a few secrets to know to get the best experiences as well as the best photos for Instagram.
Did you know there are two sides to Boulders Beach, Cape Town?
Yes there are. One side ( The north side or Foxy Beach ) allows you to walk along three wheelchair-friendly boardwalks with informational boards and ends at one of two viewing platforms positioned above the main Boulders beach penguin colony. This is where you can find the largest concentration of penguins.
The penguins and people are kept separate here allowing the penguins to socialise, pair up, mate and breed without being disturbed by visitors. It is a great spot to see the penguins going about their activities undisturbed and has the best access for those with disabilities or who struggle walking far on uneven terrain.
At the visitor centre you can find all the information you need about the penguins or you could enquire about a guide.
If you want to get up close and personal with the Penguins and grab some fantastic photos f you and the Penguins then head over to the south side f Boulders Beach where you can enjoy amazing swimming , sunbathing and penguins. This is the side where the best Instagram photos of builders beach comes from.
To get there exit Foxy Beach through the visitor centre and walk along the road and boardwalk behind the dunes and forest. This is shown by the green dotted line in the map.
There is another parking lot and entrance gate on this side of Boulders Beach. On the map it is indicated by Boulders Beach Standbad.
This beach has a number of facilities such as toilets and a double gate to keep the penguins safe and away from the road.
Finding the Best Spots on Boulders Beach
The first beach you will encounter is the largest beach area and where most people sunbath and swim and do not explore much further. It is a good spot set up your umbrella and lay down your towel.
Looking for some instagram inspiration? Check out our post on our favourite Boulders Beach Instagram photos.
There are usually a few penguins around but most of them are behind a small barrier on a rock to the East.
We suggest that you go exploring a bit further. If you walk around the beach to the left you will come to some large boulders which seems like it is the end of the road. However if you crutch down you will see a small tunnel between the rocks that you can duck/crawl through. On the other side you will need to scramble over a few rocks and maybe get your feet wet.
Once though these rocks you will find a more secluded beach with a lot more penguins and some beautiful rocks. This is the best place to get close to the penguins and take some great photographs.
Be careful not to get to close as the penguins can give a nasty bite.
If you keep exploring you will find some beautiful spots to relax as well as more penguins.
Eventually you will reach a sign that says no entry, which is on the far side of Foxy beach and the beginning of the penguins protected area. Don’t go further than this.
Note: There is no way round here, so you will have to head back the way you came to get back to your car or to Foxy beach.
Tip: If you go around high tide you will be able to stand in the shallow water between the rocks and have the penguins dart and dive all around you.
For Kids
Boulders Beach is the perfect place to spend time with kids as there is lots of fun to be had on the beach. The water is warmer than on the Atlantic seaboard side and it is usually calm between the rocks which makes it perfect for swimming.
African “Jackass” Penguins
Boulders Beach is famous for its resident African Penguins. These African Penguins are widely known as “jackass” penguins for their loud, donkey-like bray. They are believed to be one of the first penguin species to be discovered by humans. These animals have a distinct, sharply pointed beak and black feet. An array of black, white, and gray dense, waterproof feathers covers them and keeps them dry and warm. Another distinctive feature is the small pink gland above each eye, which helps them cope with high temperatures.
They can also hold their breaths for over 2 minutes and dive over 400 feet deep. The African penguins are monogamous and both the male and female penguins share parenting duties.
Over the years, their population has declined due to pollution, over-fishing, habitat destruction, and irresponsible tourism activities. There is, however, no shortage of these aquatic flightless birds on Boulders Beach. The safe and clean environment protects the cute waddling birds. It is only here where you can have a close encounter with these penguins. The special built boardwalks facilitate safe penguin viewing on the beach.
How to get to there:
By Car.
The easiest way to get to Boulders Beach, Cape Town is by car if you have one or are renting one. Head to Simon’s Town along the M3 towards Muizenberg and then continue on the M4 ( Main Road ) through Fish Hoek to Simon’s Town.
Just on the other side of Simon’s Town there will be signs to Boulders Beach. If you see the golf course on your left you will have gone to far.
By Train.
Take the Train from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. Boulders is about two kilometres from the Simons Town station. This is the last stop on the scenic Southern Line.
Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town Telephone Number
+27 (0)21 786 2329
Opening times:
December – January: 7am – 7.30pm
February – March: 8am – 6.30pm
April – September: 8am – 5pm
October – November: 8am – 6.30pm
Fees:
| 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019 | |
|---|---|
| South African Citizens and Residents (with ID): | R39 per adult per day R20 per child, per day |
| SADC Nationals (with passport): | R76 per adult per day R39 per child, per day |
| Standard Conservation Fee (Foreign Visitors): | R152 per adult per day R76 per child, per day |
GPS Co-ordinates:
S 34° 7′ 55″ E 18° 26′ 53″