If you’re in Cape Town this December (or any time, really) you might want to avoid the crowds at Table Mountain and the Waterfront, hire a car and take a leisurely drive down the coast. Find your way to the M3 south and keep going until you see signs for Muizenberg. Your journey is about to begin.

Muizenberg

This little townlet is said to be the birthplace of surfing in South Africa. Every day of the year, no matter what the weather, surfers gather in search of the perfect wave. The beach is immense (it stretches all the way round to Gordon’s Bay on the other side of False Bay) and there are plenty of activities on the promenade. Kids can play mini-golf, there are supertubes for all ages and restaurants, coffee shops and quirky little stores galore.

St James

Be warned that currently Main Road from Muizenberg to Kalk Bay is under construction, so you may have to be patient on your drive. But it’s worth it. You’ll probably recognise St James when you see it, even if you’ve never been there before. Its brightly coloured beach huts and tidal pool feature on thousands of postcards.

Kalk Bay

The Cape’s nod to boho life, Kalk Bay is an eclectic mix of new and used boutiques, antiques, art galleries, restaurants and ice-cream shops. The harbour is a must-see, even if you simply to stand on the wall and watch the ocean.

Fish Hoek

Fish Hoek is a gem of a place. People come from all over the Cape to sit on its beautiful soft, white beach and swim in its warm(ish) water. Pay attention to the shark flags, however, as it is a high shark activity area. Don’t worry if the red flag is up because there is still a lot to do. There are three restaurants on the beach, well, two restaurants and a takeaway, with the best soft serve ice-cream in the world. There is also a kids’ play area. Just down the road is a seafood restaurant and slightly further on is an amazing Asian restaurant with, you guessed it, the best food in the world.

Simon’s Town

The oldest naval town in South Africa, Simon’s Town is full of museums, historical tours, a submarine tour, chartered boat trips, shark cage diving, scuba diving, fishing and eating opportunities. Jubilee Square contains a range of curios while the waterfront boasts a number of live music performances and shows.

Cape Point

Not the famed meeting of two oceans as it often said, but a perfect vantage point to see all sides of the bay. There are walks around the nature reserve, where you might stumble across an ostrich or two, some buck and almost definitely some baboons. There are many beaches and inlets for quiet swimming and picnics and a restaurant at the top of the point that serves world-class food. Take the funicular to the lighthouse and enjoy the view.

Scarborough

You’ll have to go over the mountain to reach Scarborough, one of the better preserved natural environments in the peninsula. It is small quiet and beautiful.

Kommetjie

At Kommetjie you can hang out at the beach and surf, dive, explore shipwrecks, fish or visit the lighthouse. Or you can explore by area by bike, take one of the walking trails or travel inland a bit until you reach Imhoff Farm, where you can ride camels, gander at reptiles in the snake park, visit the cheese shop, buy wine and even play paintball.

Noordhoek

Noordhoek is famous for its enormous beach, which is very popular for horse riding and dog walking. Pop into Noordhoek Farm Village and buy organic clothes, fruit and veg, get all your horse riding equipment, curios and African art, and, of course, eat until you burst.

Wend your way back home via Chapman’s Peak and Hout Bay or take Ou Kaapse Weg back to the M3.

(Image by Hilton1949 at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons)