Western Cape Wonders

OPENING HOURS:  09:00 - 16:00
Tours depart every hour on the hour

Adults: R 75.00
Children: R 35.00
Duration:  60 min

Cango Caves is the only show cave in Africa which offers a choice of Standard (easy) or Adventure Tours. All tours are lead by experienced, knowledgeable and accredited Caves Guides. All tours are offered in English but Afrikaans, German, French and other language guide may be available (please check guide availability when making reservations).

• Common myth has it that the Caves were first explored by a local farmer named Jacobus van Zyl (after who the first chamber, van Zyl's Hall, was named) – although research fails to reveal anybody by that name in the Cango area in the 1770's.
• Where once we thought that they were only about one kilometre in length, we now know that they extend for well over 5 kilometres – and that they could be even bigger still.
 

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula 60 km south-west of Cape Town, lies Cape Point, a nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park; a declared Natural World Heritage Site.
Encompassing 7 750 hectares of rich and varied flora and fauna; abounding with buck, baboons and Cape Mountain Zebra as well as over 250 species of birds, Cape Point is a nature enthusiast paradise.
Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea and cutting deep into the ocean provide a spectacular background for the Parks’ rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. The natural vegetation of the area, fynbos, comprises the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms.

The scenic beauty of Cape Point is not its sole allure; it is also an international icon of great historical interest with many a visitor drawn to the area because of its rich maritime history. Named the ‘Cape of Storms’ by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488; the ‘Point’ was treated with respect by sailors for centuries. By day, it was a navigational landmark and by night, and in fog, it was a menace beset by violent storms and dangerous rocks that over the centuries littered shipwrecks around the coastline.
In 1859 the first lighthouse was completed; it still stands at 249 metres above sea-level on the highest section of the peak and is now used as the centralised monitoring point for all the lighthouses on the coast of South Africa.

Access to this historical building is by an exhilarating ride in the wheelchair accessible Flying Dutchman funicular that transfers visitors from the lower station at 127 metres above sea level, to the upper station at 286 metres above sea level.
 

The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) is a minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January, in Cape Town, South Africa. As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. The minstrels are grouped into klopse ("clubs" in Kaapse Afrikaans, but more accurately translated as troupes in English). Participants are typically from Afrikaans-speaking working class Cape coloured families who have preserved the custom since the mid-19th century.
Although it is called the Coon Carnival by Capetonians, local authorities have renamed the festival the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival as foreign tourists find the term "coon" derogatory.

One story goes that the carnival was inspired by a group of African-American minstrels who docked in Cape Town in the late 1800s and entertained the sailors with their spontaneous musical performances. A story goes that the travelling minstrels were actually white and painted their faces black – hence the painted faces seen today.

The festival begins on New Year's Day and continues into January. Festivities include street parades with singing and dancing, costume competitions and marches through the streets. While many troupes now are supported by corporate sponsors, many refuse and remain sticklers for tradition. The 2005 carnival was nearly cancelled due to an alleged lack of funding, while the 2006 carnival was officially called off for the same reason. However, the troupe organisations subsequently decided to go ahead with the parade despite continued unhappiness over funding, and the festivities were opened by Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool on 2 January 2006.

More than 30 attractions including 23 rides ranging from Kids Rides to Family Rides and Thrill Rides for the more intrepid adventurers. Boat Ride adds to the offer.
General Park Operating Times: 10am – 5pm

Location
Situated in Century City, Cape Town.
10 minutes from the Mother City along the N1 highway utilising the Sable Road turn off.

Park Entry Rates
Adventurer Rider Tickets: R162 * (over 1.3m)
Mini Adventurer Rider Tickets: R80 * (under 1.3m)
Fun Pass (Non Rider): includes entry into the park as well as travelling around the park by boat and access to all the exciting live entertainment: R55 *Prices exclude the Slingshot and any other separately ticketed attractions.
Slingshot – Ticketed separately at R55 per ride. Bookings essential at the ride on the day as numbers are limited.

Rides:
Nashua Mobile Thrill Ride,  The Slingshot, Crocodile Gorge, Monkey Falls, Congo Queen
Diamond Devil Run, Bushwacker, Stargazer, Bangers, Splatter Ball, Murphy’s Mini-Golf

Attractions:
SandPics, World of Birds Show, Animal Petting Zoo, The Simulator, Maggies Picnic Area

Costs: Adults R230 & Children under 18: R120

The three and a half hour tour includes a return trip across Table Bay, a visit to the Maximum Security Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary.
Ferries depart at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, weather permitting, from Nelson Mandela Gateway, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
The standard tour to Robben Island is 3.5 hours long, including the two half-hour ferry rides.

People lived on Robben Island many thousands of years ago, when the sea channel between the Island and the Cape mainland was not covered with water. Since the Dutch settled at the Cape in the mid-1600s, Robben Island has been used primarily as a prison.

Indigenous African leaders, Muslim leaders from the East Indies, Dutch and British soldiers and civilians, women, and anti-apartheid activists, including South Africa's first democratic President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and the founding leader of the Pan Africanist Congress, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, were all imprisoned on the Island. 

Robben Island has not only been used as a prison. It was a training and defence station in World War II (1939-1945) and a hospital for people with leprosy, and the mentally and chronically ill (1846-1931). In the 1840s, Robben Island was chosen for a hospital because it was regarded as both secure (isolating dangerous cases) and healthy (providing a good environment for cure). During this time, political and common-law prisoners were still kept on the Island. As there was no cure and little effective treatment available for leprosy, mental illness and other chronic illnesses in the 1800s, Robben Island was a kind of prison for the hospital patients too.

Since 1997 it has been a museum and a heritage site. The museum is a dynamic institution, which acts as a focal point of South African heritage. It runs educational programmes for schools, youths and adults, facilitates tourism development, conducts ongoing research related to the Island and fulfils an archiving function.
 

Sandy Bay Beach is known for its natural beauty. This is a popular Cape Town nude beach, however you do not have to go for that all over tan to enjoy this beach, the option is yours. The beach is located in a secluded bay just past Llandudno beach. Enclosed by sand dunes and the backdrop of mountains the beach is very well protected from most wind directions.
This tranquil and peaceful bay is less busy than most beaches and allows you to escape the crowds of other beaches. In order to get to Sandy Bay you will follow a level walking path from the parking lot. This walk will take you roughly 20 minutes. The beach is also reachable from the Hout Bay dunes. When sea swell is large there is a great beach break for surfing and body boarding.

A good walk from the nearest car park and not easy to reach, Sandy Bay is backed by steep dunes and bushy slopes,
and there are rocky outcrops jutting into the sea. Above and surrounding the beach are high mountains, which protect
the area from most wind directions. The beach can also be reached from the Hout Bay dunes.

Location: At Llandudno go straight over the first stop street and continue until you reach the Sandy Bay road sign pointing down towards the sea. Follow the path for 20 min to the beach.
 

Mooiberg Farm:
Strawberry picking is only available in season which begins in November - warm weather.
Situated in-between Stellenbosch and Somerset West on the R44.
When you arrive at the farm you collect your basket and are pointed in the direction of where you can start your picking. You may spend as much time as you like picking strawberries and you are charged per kilogram that you pick.
Polkadraai Strawberry Farm:
Old Polkadraai Road (M12: Stellenbosch arterial Road)
From N2, take Exit 33 (Baden Powell Drive R310) left toward Stellenbosch. Continue for +-6 km toward Stellenbosch. Turn left at Vlaeberg Rd and drive all the way to the end.
Also, go along Kuilsriver Main Rd until Traffic lights for Stellenbosch Arterial Rd (M12). Turn left at traffic lights and continue until you see our enormous strawberry.

Cape Town Fruit Picking:
Businesses that are situated in Cape Town, Western Cape that offer Fruit Picking are listed above with rates and details.
When you go Fruit Picking it is important to use the right company and with the correct equipment. There are a variety of different professional packages offering Fruit Picking in Cape Town. So whether it’s a solo, family or corporate team building activity you should find something that suits you. 

What to See
The five-minute ascent to the top of Table Mountain offers a 360° view of Cape Town, the ocean and the neighbouring peaks.
Once at the top visitors enjoy spectacular views and the peaceful feeling of being over one thousand metres above the city below. The area at the top of the mountain is surprisingly large so leave enough time to stroll along the paths, enjoy the viewing platforms and soak up the vistas. Populations of Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis), commonly known as dassies, are
plentiful on the mountain. You may also see
porcupines, mongooses, girdled lizards, agamas,
snakes and butterflies.

The Lower Cable Station is situated approximately fifteen-minutes drive from the city centre on Tafelberg Road.
If driving your own vehicle, you will see the routes clearly sign-posted on all the major roads into Cape Town. Look out for the brown information boards with directions and make use of the map below.
If you use public transport, buses and taxis are available to transport you from the city to the Cableway.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has something for everyone, which is why it’s attracted more than 20-million visitors since it was opened in 1929.

With more than 3000 marine creatures on view – including sharks, turtles and penguins – the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world.

Adults R118
Under 4 years Free
Children (4 to 13 years)R58
Children (14 to 17 years)R92
South African pensionersR92*

GPS Coordinates
33°54”28.42”S
18°25”03.56”E

The Aquarium presently contributes almost R5 (9%) of every adult ticket sold to education programmes. The Two Oceans Aquarium is committed to environmental education in South Africa and to promoting positive changes towards the management of our marine resources. Over the years it has steadily increased its input in environmental education and today the value of its education programmes is in the region R4-million per annum. 

Communication
Whales, like dolphins communicate by means of sonar. They make clicking, grunting and whistling sounds which also act as a means of echolocation. These can be heard for miles under water, and can also be heard from above water. Whales are also thought to communicate by slamming their tails against the surface of the ocean which produces a loud splashing sound, an action called lobtailing. When whales breach, they are also thought to be communicating with other whales.

Lifespan
The lifespan of the Southern Right whale is estimated to be 90 - 100 years.

Whale watching tips

*You can spot whales by looking for white patches in the ocean where the waves break on their bodies.
*Whales are along our coastline during the months of May to December, so make sure that you come to see them at the right time of year!
*Be patient – Seeing your first whale is an experience you will never forget.
*Whales can be seen from land, but there are also many boat-based tours available. If you get seasick, take medication or get a patch – it helps!

PRICES & BOOKING FORM
Trips last about two hours at a cost of:

Adults R 600
Students/Seniors & Groups +10 R 500
Children U/12 R 250
Children U/5 FREE