Life is not a picnic, but it could be, with so many places to choose from, there is never an excuse to not have a picnic. So go on EAT.OUT.SIDE
12: Green Point Park
Green Point Park; a little piece of paradise in the middle of the Mother City. For a fun day out, school tours, family picnics, children’s birthday parties, outdoor exercise, romantic walks and healthy activities; this is beautiful natural place to get some fresh air and be social. This carefully curated garden is composed of a rich variety of flora indigenous to the Cape, and offers the only Biodiversity Showcase Garden of its kind, featuring 25 000 indigenous plants, trees, shrubs, bulbs and groundcovers, consisting of 300 different plant species.
I recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to a very special 3 year old’s birthday party at the green point park, and what a fun morning it was. Easy to get to, plenty of parking and a really great green space right on our doorsteps.
Entry: free
11: Big Bay Beach
Big Bay Beach and its contemporary, Little Bay, are the two beaches of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town.
Beach walks: There is a long promenade going from Dolphin Beach up to Bloubergstrand and after leading through a small rocky beach area further up to Big Bay. Along the promenade there is a metal and wooden climbing frame and swings for smaller kids with plenty of space for picnics close to the Visitor Center
There is also a well-kept lawn section that is a great place to have a beach picnic without the sand 😉
10: Dalebrook Tidal Pool
Dalebrook pool is easily missed. It lies just beyond Danger Beach, between St James and Kalk Bay, and opposite Dalebrook Place. A narrow, little subway takes one beneath the railway line that runs parallel to the sea the length of the False Bay coastline. This has to be one of the most beautiful pools along the coast.
Entry: free
“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” Winnie The Pooh
9: Company Gardens
The Company’s Garden is a park and heritage site located in central Cape Town. The garden was originally created in the 1650s by the region’s first European settlers and provided fertile ground to grow fresh produce to replenish ships rounding the Cape. It is watered from the Molteno Dam, which uses water from the springs on the lower slopes of Table Mountain.
They have a Fresh goods and craft market here every Sunday. Fun for young and old alike.
Entry: free
8: Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch can certainly be regarded as one of the world’s greatest botanical gardens, and most definitely one of the best Picnic Spots in Cape Town.
This proud garden was established in 1913 by Harold Pearson after Cecil John Rhodes gave this 528 hectares of farm land to the Government.
I have had many happy days in this magnificent garden, I have watched some of the most riveting movies here with Galileo open air movies. Over the years I have enjoyed some of my favorite local bands here with the Kirstenbosch summer concerts, one that particularly stands out was Parletones and the Zip Zap Circus compo. Kirstenbosch gardens is big and beautiful and if you have never been you should definitely add it to your bucket list.
Kirstenbosch gardens is operated by South African National Biodiversity Institute
7: Silvermine Nature Reserve
Silvermine Nature Reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. It covers the section of the Cape Peninsula mountain range from the Kalk Bay mountains through to Constantiaberg
The most popular place in the reserve for a picnic is the Silvermine reservoir. There are many beautiful and comfortable picnic spots along its banks.
Apart from having a picnic or a swim, you can also enjoy other activities such as mountain biking and rock climbing or choose one of the many beautiful hike routes stroll through this magical reserve.
Some of my best days have been spend here, be it rock climbing or hiking we always end up on one of the picnic spots on the banks of the reservoir, although you so close to the city you can feel a hundred miles away.
This place feeds my soul and I feel like I always leave the reserve somehow better than when I arrived.
Entrance is R50 for adults and R30 for children (ages 1 to 11).
6: Signal Hill
This 350m-high landmark hill, that has spectacular views of both the Atlantic Seaboard and Cape Town’s City Bowl and is another one of our favourites, it is a very popular spot for sunset picnics. So make sure to go early in summer to beat the traffic and to get the best spot.
Signal Hill got its name due to the fact that it once bore signal flags used to communicate with ships at sea.
Meeting friends here on a Friday after work is a great way to watch the sun set on the week and welcome in the weekend.
Entry: free
5: Bakoven Beach
Bakoven is a tiny suburb on the edge of Camps Bay. Bakoven Beach is a small strip of sand between giant granite boulders, some of which are reminiscent of Dutch ovens, hence the name Bakoven.
It is on these boulders that you will find beautiful often more sheltered picnic spots
This is also a great spot to cool down on those long, warm Cape Town summer days.
Entry: free, but finding parking can be an issue
4: Table Mountain
For a picnic with the best views of the Mother City there is no better place than the top, yes the top of Table Mountain.
Choose your way to the top:
Walking:
If you’re trying to decide what sort of mountain experience you’re in the mood for check out Table Mountain Classics, there’s a brief overview of the route to give you a sense. There are many routes to the top of Table Mountain.
http://samountain.co.za/3254-2/
Cable car: If you have not been up Table Mountain in the cable car it is definitely an adventure worth doing in fact you might like it so much that you might buy the year round cable card.
Rates vary according to the time of the day and the day of the year.
Bonus Tip: Every year on your birthday you can get a free return ride
Once you are on top your choice of picnic spots are endless.
3: Glen Beach
Glen Beach is a gorgeous snow-white sandy beach set in a tiny enclave flanked by massive granite boulders on the Atlantic Seaboard. … This intimate beach is nestled in the middle of the famous Camps Bay Beach and glamorous Clifton beaches yet is relatively un-crowded.
Great spot for beach birthday picnics, I have some very fond memories of beautiful evenings celebrating friends, friendships and spectacular sunsets.
Entry: free
2: Windmill Beach
Like its neighbour, Boulders Beach, it is surrounded by giant granite outcrops which act as a windbreak.
Located just south of Boulder’s Beach, this beach is fairly sheltered from the wind and its shallow waters make it perfect for families with little ones
This beach is also popular for diving and snorkeling.
I have enjoyed early morning and afternoon picnics here, we have swam, snorkeled and I have even once or twice spotted a penguin here.
Entry: free, but finding parking can be an issue
1: Oudekraal Beach
This beach is part of the Table Mountain National Park area. Tucked away in a cove, at the bottom of the 12 Apostles, this spot can be sheltered against the wind and therefore is perfect for a picnic or a braai. This is a very popular spot and so it can get really busy over weekends.
Open from 8am-6pm
Conservation fee: R30 per person, R15 per child