8 top winter activities in Cape Town

Someone who is right at the coalface and has great knowledge about what’s on the go is Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy, who’s given us his list of his top must-see winter sights and places to visit.

Gate69 Cabaret Theatre

Show-stopping make-up, jaw-dropping outfits, uncanny musical renditions and exquisite cabaret flair are just some of the things that will have you wanting to visitGate69 on Bree street a second time. The establishment’s first aviation-themed act Non-specific starring Cathay and The Trolly Dollies is on from Wednesday until Sunday with the economy, business and first-class tickets available for purchase.

The venue seats around 80 guests and the small restaurant serves tapas and mezze from 7pm  for a small bite before the show.  It’s a truly magical experienceand the perfect end to a long winter's day.

Kalk Bay Theatre

Situated on Kalk Bay’s main road makes this the perfect spot to end off an afternoon spent cruising the seaside strip’s bespoke mostly family-run second-hand, locally-made furniture, curio and clothing shops.

This August is running with a comedy theme featuring shows such as Classy Clown starring Alan Committee, Barry Hilton starring Barry Hilton and Man Band, a musical comedy four-man show.

Christmas in July at the Company Gardens

Don’t let the name fool you, there’s still plenty of time to get your hands on tickets to Christmas in July at Cape Town’s Company Gardens set to run from 23 August to 1 September 2019.

It’s a Cape Town first with the City’s Gardens set to be adorned and decorated with Christmas lights, statues with artificial snow and traditional music creating an enchanted Winter forest effect. It promises to be fun for families, couples or groups.

Greatest, littlest circus show

Running the entire year long, Zip-Zap circus primarily functions as a not-for-profit organisation with a mixture of local and international artists teaching youngsters from in and around the Western Cape the art of juggling, trapeze, uni-cycling and clowning, to name just a few.

This August their monthly performance runs at the Zip-Zap circus dome tent on Cape Town’s Foreshore.

Total Sports Women’s Race

August marks South Africa’s 25th National Women’s Month and there are a variety of new events planned for women across the country to take part in. The race is suitable for all fitness levels and participants can choose to walk five or 10 kilometres starting and ending at the Grand Parade in the Cape Town CBD.

Surf lessons

Winter makes for the best swells, with seas often in perfect condition for longer hours than the summer months which means it’s the perfect time to take up surfing. Lessons are taught by professional surfers and are also a great way to meet people, get a bit of exercise and maybe even experience nirvana in between the waves.

Held at Blouberg, Muizenberg and Big Bay beach on selected days with special rates for students and discounts for selected dates.

Table Mountain sleepover

Sure, the idea of hiking up Table Mountain is great, but what about spending the night there too? Hike and spend the night on Cape Town’s famous vista at Winter rates. The stone-walled old Overseer cottage sleeps up to 16 people. Expect breathtaking views, a central fireplace heating the entire property, a communal bathroom and kitchen and an outside braai and boma area.

Veld and sea indigenous workshops

Small and intimate indigenous knowledge workshops are held most weekends throughout winter by the talented Roushanna Gray. Her beautifully crafted and curated immersive fynbos foraging, medicinal herb and wild food cooking workshops could turn into the most exciting and innovative items on your winter activity list.

Book early as classes held in and around the base at the Cape Point indigenous plant nursery are small and intimate and fill up fast. Lunches are prepared with local and indigenous ingredients foraged in the wild surrounds.