Cost: R30 for the hop-on, hop-off ticket
The Southern Line Rail Route stretches between Cape Town and Simon's Town. Besides it being a great way of getting from A to B, it's also a relaxing way of seeing Cape Town's varied scenes. The part of the journey between Muizenberg and Simon's Town winds along the edge of the ocean and the views are brilliant. Buy the hop-on, hop-off ticket and stop at Muizenberg for a surf; Kalky's in Kalk Bay for some mouth-watering fish and chips; and Simonstown for a trip to Boulders Beach for a visit with the penguins.
GO HIPPO SPOTTING AND BIRD WATCHING IN RONDEVLEI NATURE RESERVE
Cost: R12 entry for adults and R5 for kids
Rondevlei is an unexpected treasure situated within the Cape Town suburb of Grassy Park, about 20 min drive from the city centre. Home to some 256 species of indigenous plants, it spans 290 hectares and has a museum, a network of footpaths, viewing towers, and several bird hides. It is also home to – wait for it – Hippopotami as well as 20 other mammal species, including the Cape Grysbok Porcupine, Cape Clawless Otter and Large-Spotted Genet. It makes for a really great family outing. Don't forget to pack your picnic.
GO ON A GUIDED TOUR OF THE SLANGKOPPUNT LIGHTHOUSE
Cost: R16 for a guided tour
The bright white Slangkoppunt (Snake Head Point) Lighthouse, situated on the coast in the South Peninsula, is the tallest cast iron lighthouse in South Africa. The internal spiral staircase you will climb during the guided tour takes you up 100 feet from the bottom to the balcony. If the idea of climbing up all those steps gets you a bit nervous, rest assured that the views from the top are entirely worth it. The tour will leave you with all sorts of interesting facts including the reason for South Africa being one of the few remaining places to retain actual Light House Keepers.
EXPLORE THE V&A WATERFRONT ON A SELF-GUIDED HISTORICAL WALK
Cost: Free – just grab a map and go!
The V&A Waterfront, situated at the heart of Cape Town's WORKING harbor, has a rich and varied history that can be traced back as far as 1654. A great way to discover the stories of this iconic site's past and its' 22 landmarks is to do a self-guided historic walk. Simply grab a map at the Information Centre and off you go. And if you get hungry or thirsty along the way, there are plenty of food and drink places to choose from. A stop at The Creamery at the V&A Food Market for a scoop of their handmade peanut butter ice-cream is a must!
VISIT THE SCRATCH PATCH
Cost: From R17 per bag
Did you know that almost half of the world's gemstones can be found in South Africa? Did you know that you could scratch for these gems yourself right here in Cape Town? The Scratch Patch and Mineral World at both the V&A Waterfront and in Simonstown is a cool way to dig for your own beautiful gems. You get to emerge yourself in all the stones that quite literally cover the floor, then visit the gem exhibitions and shops afterwards.