From around May through till September, Cape Town celebrates its “secret” season. During these autumn and winter months, although there is some rain, there are also many beautiful, balmy, cloudless days, when the sun shines, the notorious south-easterly wind takes an annual break, and the locals come out to play.
This means perfect conditions for catching the cable car to the top of Table Mountain.
On top of the glorious weather, the off-peak season in the Mother City brings with it plenty of restaurant specials, and great offers specially for locals. Families can take advantage of the Kidz Season which runs until the end of September, 2019. Every grownup who buys a Kidz Season adult return ticket online or from the Lower Cable Station, gets to take two children under the age of 18 along for the ride – for free.
Photo: Table Mountain
At the summit, everyone gets to enjoy a day of magnificent scenic beauty. The young ones will get a map for a treasure hunt, and a voucher for something sweet at the Café or Shop At The Top, while teens can satisfy their social media appetites with selfies in abundance which they can post using the free wifi in the Lounge.
Photo: Table Mountain
For the forward planners, tickets can be bought online, which will be valid for seven days from the selected date. Spontaneous trippers can buy them from the ticket office. Another way of doing it is through City Sightseeing, whose open top hop-on hop-off City Tour bus includes a stop at the Lower Cable Station. Here too, visitors can enjoy off-season benefits with the annual 3-for-1 special whereby two under-18s hop on for free with every accompanying adult buying a one-day ticket. Spur of the moment? Get your normal cable car ticket on board the bus (not applicable to Kidz Season).
Available until October 1, 2019, and valid on weekends, school holidays and public holidays, the special also applies to City Sightseeing’s harbour and canal cruises in the V&A Waterfront – more perfection at this time of the year - as well as three more bus loops: the Blue Mini Peninsula tour, and the Purple Constantia Valley Wine tour.
Independently or used in conjunction with other activities or the mountain special, parents will find it easy to put together a fun and entertaining itinerary for everyone without breaking the bank. Tickets can be bought online at www.citysightseeing.co.za or from ticket offices at V&A Waterfront (outside Two Oceans Aquarium), in the CBD at 81 Long Street, or in Camps Bay opposite the Bay Hotel on Victoria Road. If you’re feeling energetic, add a free 90-minute guided walking tour to the day’s programme, either from Long Street around the city centre or Bo-Kaap, or from the aquarium to explore the Waterfront.
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The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and City Sightseeing 3-for-1 specials are available for South African residents only. They say if you aren’t happy with the weather in Cape Town, wait 10 minutes so keep up to date with the Cableway operation at www.tablemountain.net or on Twitter @TableMountainCa, and follow on Instagram for photographic inspiration.
