Summer Activities for Families around Cape Town
Summer has finally hit the Western Cape. Over the passed week daily temperatures soared to nearly 40deg C. For some the 'holiday' week may have involved ferrying irritable kids in hot cars to overcrowded beaches with no parking.
Here are a couple of Cape Town's beach alternatives; outdoor, family activities where you can enjoy being active and close to nature without overheating.
Silvermine Nature Reserve
Part of the Table Mountain National Park, Silvermine is a great family option for all ages. Get there early, to take advantage of the shady picnic sites and take swimming costumes for a dip in the dam. The water is normally cool and refreshing, without needing to don an Atlantic Ocean wetsuit. Mum, Dad or the keen and fit can increase the activity level with a circuit run to the top of Noordhoekpiek which overlooks Houtbay. Come back and report your findings down below to the rest of the family who might well be studying the variety of flora and fauna around the dam.A gentle way to work off a big meal could be a late afternoon stroll down towards the entrance gate on the beautiful walkway which hops a little stream, crosses by a small waterfall and is mostly in shade. The shorter, wheelchair/pushchair friendly option is the boardwalk around the dam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvermine_Nature_Reserve
Kommetjie Lighthouse and boardwalk.
An energetic early morning option for those with a passion for spiral staircases and dizzy heights is Kommetjie Lighthouse and boardwalk. The keys for the lighthouse are obtainable from the Keeper's house and you may also have the opportunity to visit the display room adjoining if open. Your entrance to the lighthouse (and stairwell to fitness) is a mere R5 or thereabouts. The boardwalk is accessible to pushchairs and wheel chairs, although, for the able bodied, a more shady short walk with children on a scorching day is the pathway from the lighthouse up to the coastal road which weaves between fynbos and milk woods. The boardwalk is in shade very early in the morning. A dip in the ocean afterwards is a good way to finish the outing.Tokai and Cecilia Forest: Lovely for picnics and a ramble in the forest with picnic sites and facilities. There are also a number of hikes, some cool mountain biking trails and even some interesting bouldering in Cecilia Forest. The arboretum in Tokai is a shady place for botanical lovers, and many trees are named to help with idenitification. Cecilia and Tokai go into shade from the mountain in the late afternoons.
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/about/2007/tokai.php
Kirstenbosch: Always popular on hot days. The shady stream is a favourite for children of all 
ages, where pirates swing from palm trees, and mermaids catch tadpoles amongst pebbles. For the fit and adventurous, the walk up Skeleton Gorge starting from the top car park and entrance to Kistenbosch (Gate 2), is possibly one of the shadiest walks on the Peninsula. It is not suitable for little children or those who fear climbing ladders. Starting early is a must as the morning sun shines directly onto the thick tree canopy and the gorge can become very humid. The alternative route up Nursery Ravine can also be climbed entirely in shade with an early start as the final, steep section remains in shadow from the interlinking outcrop till mid morning in Summer.
ages, where pirates swing from palm trees, and mermaids catch tadpoles amongst pebbles. For the fit and adventurous, the walk up Skeleton Gorge starting from the top car park and entrance to Kistenbosch (Gate 2), is possibly one of the shadiest walks on the Peninsula. It is not suitable for little children or those who fear climbing ladders. Starting early is a must as the morning sun shines directly onto the thick tree canopy and the gorge can become very humid. The alternative route up Nursery Ravine can also be climbed entirely in shade with an early start as the final, steep section remains in shadow from the interlinking outcrop till mid morning in Summer. Peer's Cave: The walk to get to the cave from the Ou Kaapse Weg road is shortest, although your car may be a little at risk. The caves are always a shady place to hang out, with much exploring for adult and child alike, and great for those young archaeologists and anthropologists. If you fancy a bit of sport climbing, the rock routes here are short and less intimidating with moderate options for children and beginners. Bring a picnic and read up on the history of the area beforehand to make the most of the area. (In 1926/7 Victor Peers and his son, Bertram excavated the cave which later became known as Peers Cave. They found many stone tools and the paleolithic skeletons of nine people, one of whom became famous as Fish Hoek Man. The skull has the largest brain of any skull of its age found up until that time, and has been dated at 12,000 years old.)
As with all nature areas in the Cape, especially those with rocky outcrops, care should be taken, and the area checked for snakes. Bertram was eventually fatally struck by a puff adder, on one of his later explorations.
http://www.southafrica.com/western-cape/false-bay-coast/peers-cave/
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