Events to take in during August in Cape Town
If you want to book flights to Cape Town during the cooler months, consider travelling in August, when a whole host of events have been scheduled. Summer in the UK means winter-springtime in South Africa, but with temperatures ranging from seven degrees C to 20, it'll often feel more like a summer's day.
A cosmopolitan coastal city, Cape Town is ideally located at the foot of Table Mountain and close to the lush valleys of the nation. The metropolis is a fine place to visit for entertainment, nightlife, culture and beaches, and there are always plenty of events being held if you want to fill every spare moment of each day you are here.
Once your Cape Town flights have touched down, head to your accommodation and settle in, after which you'll be free to explore at your leisure. If you want to hit the beach, make your way to Camps Bay, where you can soak up the sun, and afterwards you might want to explore the landscape by taking a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, where you can admire some simply breathtaking views.
Take a look at the flora on display at Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens or head to Boulders Bay to see the resident penguins if you want to make the most of the must-see attractions in Cape Town. It's worth checking out the monthly events programme too, however, so you can experience even more of what's on offer in the city.
During August, you can attend a range of events, including the Hermanus Wine and Food Fair, which sees 50 local wineries and many other cheese and olive farms present their produce for tasting. If you happen to like some of the 200 wines on display, you can pick up a couple of bottles or have them shipped to your home country.
The event, which will take place over three days from August 9th, also includes various other stalls selling speciality foods, as well as the NavChallenge - a sort of treasure hunt for mountain bikers and trail runners lasting about three hours.
Running at the same time as the wine and food fair is the Swellendam Canola Karnaval, where you can witness a range of sporting events such as a marathon, quad biking and a fun run, in addition to entertainment from local musicians. An old car show, arts and crafts markets and bus tours to the canola factory all take place to mark the occasion.
Activity fans might want to time their visit to Cape Town to coincide with the Gravity Adventure Festival, which is held between August 17th and 19th in Kleinmond in the amazing surroundings of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Watch as participants have a go at sprinting, river swimming, kayak racing and many more sports in this exhilarating event. There are food stands if you're feeling peckish and a climbing wall for adventurous types.
If you're something of a nature buff, you won't want to miss the Hopefield Fynbos Show, scheduled to take place for three days from August 23rd. The event sees more than 200 species of plant and flower from the renosterveld, rietveld, sandveld and wetland of Hopefield displayed at the show in replicas of their natural habitats. Follow the flower route, take a look round the fossil museum, browse the stalls and enjoy lunch or tea during your visit.
There are numerous events devoted to flora during August, including the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Show, which will take place between August 24th and 31st. Take in the beautiful plants of the Clanwilliam district and Ramskop Nature Reserve and have a fun time as you make the most of the musical performances, hiking trails and competitions organised as part of the show.
Alternatively, you could take in the Flower Power Festival at Shelley Point towards the end of the month at the Shelley Point Hotel, Spa and Country Club. There's a flower and craft market to browse, plenty of nature-themed children's activities, the chance to meet Rocky the Penguin, a flower art competition and opportunities to get active with horse riding on the beach, hiking or bike riding. Enjoy live music performances and fill up on food from the carvery before heading back to your accommodation.
