Amazing Picnic Spots In Cape Town
The festive season has come to an end and now that we have embraced the new year, it’s somewhat necessary to slow down and unwind. A relaxing day outdoors, sitting with your loved ones and delicious food is definitely what you need to ease your way through 2021.
We’ve got the perfect spots around Cape Town to host a little picnic or braai as you dig into your picnic baskets and bask in the sun.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
As someone who has made any excuse to visit Kirstenbosch, I can attest to its sheer greatness. As you enter you’re met with the beautiful mountains that surround the open picnic spaces and the sounds of birds chirping as you just feel far far away from the city.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a magnificent attraction in Newlands, Cape Town that is nothing short of breath taking. It has over 2500 plant species and is a popular spot for picnics, hikes, bird watching, outdoor movies, concerts and admiring the scenic views.
If you’re planning to catch the best views I’d suggest you catch the sunset from the Boomslang after your picnic. The Boomslang meaning tree snake is a long wooden bridge that’s located high amongst the treetops in Kirstenbosch.
From there you can watch as the sky turns shades of pink and orange as the sunsets accompanied by the scenic views. A friend of mine compared the view to a scene from the movie Avatar, because it definitely does look out of this world.
Entrance fee:R 75 for adults, R40 for students, R20 for scholars (6-17) and free for children under 6
Opening times: Everyday from 9am- 6pm
Green Point Park
This park is perfect for a day out with a few friends or family. It’s used by locals for everything from outdoor workouts, birthday celebrations, cycling and markets. In fact, the first time I visited this park I saw what looked like a kids playground, a soccer match in the distance, a wedding celebration and overheard the happy birthday song about 3 times.
The Green Point Park just has its own lively energy that will leave you having the most interesting picnic experience. The trees provide plenty of shade as you set up your blankets, snacks and meals for your picnic.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery in this park surrounded by some of most well known attractions in Cape Town . You can spot the Green Point Stadium, well known mountains as well as the flowers and birds residing in the park. Visit the biodiversity garden that tells you all about the fauna in the park and learn something new and interesting.
Entrance Fee: Absolutely Free
Opening time 7am-7pm
The Company’s Gardens
This picnic spot is somewhat hidden in sight as it’s surrounded by a student campus, a church that has an underground bar, a restaurant and a museum. Most don’t know of the picnic spots, benches and strolling spaces nestled between the buildings.
This quaint park is a great place to have a small picnic, feed squirrels, and roam around Company Gardens. You can explore the museum, look through the flower bushes, explore the art gallery nearby.
You also get to admire the tranquility and the happy people cycling through, sitting in the sun or swinging in the giant nest near the restaurant. On my first visit I spent hours with my friend, surprised that we had never stumbled upon this side of the Gardens before.
Entrance Fee: Free for all
Opening time: 8am-6pm
The Lawns at the Roundhouse
The Lawns at the Roundhouse definitely is the perfect location to take in the serene views of Cape Town. It’s nestled by The Table Mountain and gives you the perfect view of Camp Bay’s wonderful ocean. The Lawns is a breezy area in the mountains that invites you to enjoy their exclusive views of the city.
The location provides outdoor seating suitable for you, from bean bags to wooden tables with umbrellas or picnic mats. It’s one of the fancier picnic options as it is a restaurant that offers contemporary European cuisine with a South African twist.
We recommend sipping on some of their bubbly drinks at sundown while catching the sunset over the ocean. Picnics need to be booked online 24 hours in advance on their website.
Entrance Fee: Details on the website while booking
Opening time: Wednesday- Sunday 9am-7pm
Where: Roundhouse Road (Off Kloof Road), The Glen, Camps Bay