BLOUBERGSTRAND
Table Mountain, Cape’s iconic rock face with its flat tabletop remains solid with almost every visitor that comes to Bloubergstrand! The silhouette of this spectacular mountain taken with a backdrop of cloud and sky and foreground of ocean and sand is one where famous photographers have stood to capture this iconic shaped mountain of Cape Town.
Exfoliate your feet as you dig your toes into the whitewashed sand of Bloubergstrand (Blue Mountain Beach). Look out across the sweeping blue Atlantic Ocean as cobalt currents carry your gaze toward Robben Island. Cast your line of sight across Table Bay to Table Mountain raising your hand to trace the amazing shape that symbolises all that is Cape Town.
This linear beach stretch has monumental views of the Mother City’s rock face and as a result, is not shielded by this mountain range from the wind which blows in kite-surfers and wind-surfers with gusts. Kids delight as their coloured kite sails take to flight on the end of strings.
Rockpools filled with ocean rock creature’s surface from frosty waves at the corners of the beach. For the less adventurous walk hand in hand with the horizon silhouetted by acrobatic displays of adrenalin surfers. Wind-free days may disappoint water sport enthusiasts but they create golden rows of tanners and a soft sandy arena for beach-bats and ballgames. Bring all your refreshments and beach accessories to make a play while the sun shines.
MILNERTON MARKET
Milnerton Market has a collection of junk and gems sold in an open-air bazaar forum on a dusty seaside patch of ground. Trading next to the ocean the smell of the sea carries across the stalls all within sight of Table Mountain.
Hunters and gathers made up of bargain hunters on a tight budget to décor and fashion stylists, search for finds and collector’s items. The practical and the pretty as well as the impractical and the ugly are sold from rows and rows of car boots, caravans, bakkies and tents. The occasional sound of a freight train on the parallel tracks adds to the unpolished charm.
A registered NPO the market has the ambience of a general dealer with room for bartering. Vintage and valuable are hidden amongst defunct and derelict which only adds a sense of accomplishment to a find of pride.
Goods include but are not limited to exercise equipment, DIY tools, furniture, clothes, mobile phones, cosmetics, toiletries, crystal, jewellery, car parts, IT equipment, biltong, CDs and DVDs. Wander around looking at the market and its characters while munching on a hot pancake and sipping ginger beer. This market is not touristy and has a local feel with a genuine flea-market quality attracting regular visitors that frequent the stalls every weekend. A bazaar full of the beautiful and the bizarre.
ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM
Any flying enthusiast should visit the South Africa Air Force Museum branch at the Ysterplaat Air Force Base.
Responsible for recording the history of aviation in South Africa, Air Force Museum has collected records and articles of historical significance and have preserved aircraft. These are all on display at Ysterplaat. The Africa Aerospace and Defence Show are held twice a year – a perfect time to see flying displays.
ABOUT EXPLORE THE RIETVLEI RESERVE
Not to be confused with the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Gauteng, Table View has its own Rietvlei Nature Reserve, located just off Pentz Drive.
Rietvlei boasts a wetland area that is home to a diverse range of birds including pelicans and flamingos. This is a bird watchers paradise! If you are a keen water sports enthusiast you will be pleased to know canoeing and waterskiing are also permissible on the lagoon.
ABOUT KOEBERG NATURE RESERVE
Located just off the R27, the Koeberg Nature Reserve in Melkbosstrand provides information on the Koeberg Power Station as well as guides for two walking trails in the reserve. Visitors are treated to a range of fauna and flora with two major types of veld present in the reserve; West Coast Strandveld and dune veld.
Animals to look out for are Grysbok, Steenbok, Bontebok and Springbok. Caracal, the African wild cat, grey mongoose and genet can also be spotted. For Twitchers, 153 species of birds have been recorded at Koeberg, including ostrich and the African Fish Eagle.
