As the song goes, ‘The best things in life are free.’ Well. Almost. We’ve rounded up a list of fun-tastic activities in Cape Town that are not only pretty unique but also won’t burn a hole in your pocket while you’re living and studying in this fair city.
*A quick note on the title of this post in case you were wondering why I was talking about footwear... 'on a shoestring' is often used to talk about travelling with a small or 'shoestring' budget. And now you know!
Activities under R300
Fast forward: e-bikes and scooters
There’s nothing quite like that wind-blowing-in-your-hair feeling, especially when it doesn’t involve breaking a sweat. Head on down to Sea Point promenade to rent an electric bike or scooter - it’ll set you back under R300 for two hours and you’ll have a whale of a time (although you should expect more seagulls feasting on ‘slap chips’ than whales). Whizzing along the promenade with the sea at your shoulder - and possibly some pooches at your feet, since this area is a dog-walker haven - this is a must-do activity in Cape Town.
Aim to go at sunset so you can really aim for that shmaltzy TV commercial feeling. Don’t forget to stop for a quick photo at the giant replica of sunglasses (sooo Insta-cool). If you make it to the lighthouse without grinning like a Labrador with his face stuck out a car window, then you can email me for a refund of your ticket at igotyou@justkidding.com
Flora fantastic: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
A day could easily be spent exploring this 528-hectare Eden located at the foot of Table Mountain, home to over 7000 plant species from throughout Southern Africa. There are plenty of things to do depending on how you're feeling on the 'Lazy-o-meter'. If you're at an energetic 1 or 2, you could set off on one of the many hiking trails. Those sitting between 8 and 10 could consider a picnic where the only effort required is thinking about what to pack in your picnic basket (tuna or chicken sandwiches... how to decide?!).
Those of you on a 5 or 6 on the couch potato scale could peruse the stone sculpture garden, or traverse The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, which has the most epic views. Snaking along above the trees, the bridge was nicknamed 'The Boomslang' after a venomous tree snake species found in sub-Saharan Africa. But don't worry, you're unlikely to encounter one on the bridge. If you're here over the summer, you should definitely come to a Kirstenbosch summer concert. Listening to good music with friends under the open sky... What's not to like?
The Boomslang Bridge
Activities under R200
Dark matters: The Iziko Planetarium
Walking down the tree-lined avenue at the Company Gardens, where it’s customary to buy a packet of nuts and feed what are possibly the world’s happiest (and laziest) squirrels, you’ll come upon the Iziko Museum and Planetarium. Tempting as it may be to continue feeding overfed rodents and admire the monuments in honour of fallen heroes (alas used rather indiscriminately as a lavatory by local pigeons), I do encourage you to take a peek inside.
Spaced out: The Iziko Planetarium thrills visitors with an immersive cinematic experience of the universe.
After buying a ticket for one of their show (they change throughout the year), climb the stairs and turn left at the giraffe. Yes the space is also home to some pretty interesting taxidermic wonders where it looks like the resident paleontologist had a field day. I particularly like the scene of the snarling hyenas frozen in a running pose. At the designated hour, you can enter the theatre, which is kind of what I imagine the inside of a stellar nursery would be like - rose-coloured and cosy, which I concur is an observation entirely ungrounded in scientific fact.
The reclining seats allow you to gaze up into the dome ceiling and if it weren’t for the fact that the 360-degree shows about the universe are so fascinating, I would most certainly drift off to sleep. Instead, the whole experience of learning about different facets of the universe leaves you feeling enthralled, inspired, and oddly like you’ve just had a 45-minute massage. What's also great is if you're feeling peckish, at least you have a packet of nuts on hand.
Activities under R100
A Hoot of a Time: The World of Birds, Hout Bay
"What you lookin' at?" Get up close and personal with inquisitive squirrel monkeys like this one at World of Birds.
At a mere R85 per adult, this is one experience you won’t want to miss. A walk through this expansive park will definitely fill up a morning or afternoon. Not only is this centre the largest bird park in Africa (400 different bird species and counting), but it's also home to an array of ‘New World monkeys’. What’s extra special is that you have the chance to interact with these little critters in the park’s monkey sanctuary. Just be sure to leave your personal items at the front because these curious guys love getting their little hands on anything shiny.
Unda da sea: Two Oceans Aquarium
From feathered creatures of the sky to critters of the ocean... Two Oceans Aquarium never gets old. (Well actually it's been open for a while but you get my drift). The marine life here is extremely diverse, from luminescent to microscopic, terrifying to just plain weird.
Let it shine: Two Oceans Aquarium is a treasure trove of marine life.
My personal favourite is the jellies exhibit, which is dark but for the magical neon jellyfish tanks, illuminating what is invisible to the naked eye. But there's so much more to do (if there were such a thing as a Two Oceans Aquarium fan badge, I would have one). You can watch African penguins being fed (amazingly, the staff can identify each of them from their markings and distinct personalities). For the adventurous, there's even an opportunity to dive with ragged tooth sharks in the shark tank (the faint of heart can watch and wave).
At every turn, there are fascinating exhibits turning science into fun for the whole family. And yes, of course, there's Nemo - or rather Nemos. There's also a sensory exhibit where you can feel all sorts of slimy, prickly, and squishy things from the ocean. I particularly love the exhibit where you can view coral munching on microscopic zooplankton and ponder how on earth whales could subsist on the same thing.
Not only is the aquarium a brilliant form of edutainment, but it also does amazing rehabilitation work with marine animals, such as turtles that have been injured by plastic pollution. I am sure it's no surprise that I would give this destination five gold stars!
Happy exploring!
