This semester at UCT has been particularly tough for me and it is not entirely because of the work load. Don’t get me wrong, studying Business Science Finance is very challenging and one shouldn’t take it lightly but studying it in Cape Town is a whole new challenge on its own. This number of distractions are unlimited!

I came home one day and it was still quite early in the day. Not being one of those people who sets about on their normal routine of writing out notes for that particular day’s lectures, I looked for more exciting prospects. While contemplating on what to do, I stumbled upon this list of 101 Things To Do In Cape Town. It has proven to be one of the best and one of the worst discoveries that I have ever made. Since then, I have made it my mission to accomplish everything on this list. I have only deliberately accomplished about a two dozen items of the list, each one being a unique experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed. 

If you have a love of adventure like me and have a lot of time on your hands, or not so much in my case, come and experience some of the best things Cape Town has to offer! 

Here’s the list:

1. Enjoy a traditional braai with your hosts at Afton Grove
2. Visit Cape Point, where 2 oceans meet
3. Enjoy a romantic picnic at nearby Cape Point Vineyards
4. Visit Noordhoek Farm Village
5. Dinner at the Cape Town Fish Market, Steenberg (fresh fish & sushi)
6. Walk to Chapman’s Peak from Silvermine nature reserve
7. Boat cruise from Hout Bay to see Cape Fur Seals
8. Eat with renowned chef Frank Dangeraux at the Food Barn , Noordhoek cooking demonstration on Wednesdays
9. Swimming at Fish Hoek Beach
10. Bird & Hippo watching at Rondevlei
11. Visit the Simon’s Town Waterfront
12. Surf at Long Beach, Noordhoek
13. Catch crayfish at Kommetjie (in season)
14. Watch the trek fisherman at Fish Hoek Beach
15. Seafood lunch at Chapman’s Peak Hotel
16. Deep sea fishing for tuna from Simonstown
17. Take a 7km beach walk on Noordhoek beach
18. Camel riding at Imhoff’s Gift
19. Walk in the arboretum at Tokai
20. Swim with African Penguins at Boulders Beach
21. Take a “Topless bus tour” of the Peninsula
22. Sunset beach ride on Noordhoek beach
23. Pick mussels from the rocks at low tide at Scarborough
24. Abseil from Chapman’s Peak
25. Open air summer concert at Kirstenbosch
26. Whale watching from False Bay coastline
27. Visit Groot Constantia historic wine estate & picnic under the oaks
28. Walk up Table Mountain (there are many routes)
29. Dine at La Colombe Restaurant, Constantia (top restaurant in South Africa – booking essential)
30. Sea birdwatching at Kommetjie
31. Fynbos walk at Cape Point Nature Reserve
32. Harbour House Restaurant – watch the waves crashing onto the floodlit rocks below, whilst enjoying seafood
33. Play 18 holes of golf at Clovelly Country Club
34. Take a yacht charter from the V&A waterfront
35. Visit the toy museum at Simon’s Town
36. Walk in the Bo-Kaap area above Cape Town
37. Shopping at the V&A Waterfront
38. Visit the gemstone factory and scratch patch near Simon’s Town
39. Scuba Diving in False Bay marine reserve
40. Visit the VOC Castle in Cape Town
41. Body surf at Muizenburg
42. Visit the “old-worlde” fishing harbour at Kalk Bay
43. Walk in nearby Tokai forest
44. Take a 3hr trip & tour to Robben Island (pre-booking essential
45. Visit Masiphumelele informal settlement
46. Walk to historic stone-age cave site – Peer’s Cave in Fish Hoek
47. Golf at Simon’s Town
48. Dinner at Mariner’s Wharf in SA’s original Waterfront, Hout Bay
49. Scenic coastal train ride from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town
50. Swim at St. James tidal pool
51. Tennis at Clovelly
52. Birdwatching at Cape Flats Wastewater Plant (Flamingos a highlight!)
53. Visit Windmill Beach, one of False Bays secret hideaways.
54. Lunch at River Cafe, Uitsig, Constantia
55. Cycle tour of Cape Point
56. Visit the Simon’s Town Maritime Museum
57. Thursday evening at Cafe Roux, Noordhoek – braai/potjie plus live music.
58. Visit Noordhoek artists by appointment
59. Go caving in the Kalk Bay Mountains
60. Walk up Elsie’s Peak, Fish Hoek
61. Snorkelling off Sunnycove, Fish Hoek
62. Visit Sandy Bay (nudist beach) via Llandudno
63. Spend the morning enjoying the sparkling pool at Afton Grove
64. Evening at the Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay
65. Visit the antique route at Kalk Bay
66. Walk in Kirstenbosch Gardens
67. Visit Hout Bay’s lively working harbour
68. Evening at the “Toad in the Village” pub and restaurant, Noordhoek
69. Fine dining at Catharina’s, Steenberg Wine Estate
70. Search for Knysna Warbler at Constantia Greenbelts.
71. Walk along the Jagger walk between Fish Hoek and Sunny Cove
72. Rock angling at Rooikrans, Cape of Good Hope
73. Visit the fascinating Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront
74. Shop till you drop at Cavendish Square, Claremont
75. Finest coffee & fresh baked cake at the Easy Dig Cafe
76. Visit Butterfly World
77. Enjoy tea under the oaks at Noordhoek Farm Village
78. Touch the cheetahs at Spier Wine Estate
79. Ballet at Artscape theater
80. World of Birds, Hout Bay
81. Visit the Reptile park at Kommetjie
82. Sea Kayak from Simon’s Town to Boulders Beach
83. Indoor Karting at Kenilworth race track
84. Moyo dining and cultural experience at Spier
85. Visit the Ostrich farm at Cape Point
86. Do the “four museum walk” through the heart of Cape Town
87. Stargaze at Cape Town’s Planetarium
88. Visit the crocodile farm near Paarl
89. Wine tasting along the nearby Constantia Wine Route
90. Walk up to Just Nuisance grave in Simon’s Town
91. Take a helicopter flip around the Peninsula
92. Shopping at Greenmarket Square – local arts and clothing
93. Great White Shark safari from Simon’s Town Harbour
94. Take a ride on a night train from Spier Wine Estate
95. Guided hike with Mike Wakeford on Table Mountain
96. Maynardville / Spier / Oude Libertas open-air concerts at night
97. A favourite – 6 course lunch at Boschendal, Franschoek (booking essential)
98. Horse ride on Noordhoek beach
99. Walk to the waterfall at Silvermine – take a cold shower
100. Sundowners on Cape Town’s Lions Head
101. Traditional Cape Malay dinner with your hosts at Afton Grove