Travel guide: Three hidden Cape Town gems even locals overlook
Forget Table Mountain cable car queues and Camps Bay crowds; Travel News Blitz writer Jesse-Ann Baron has rounded up three Cape Town spots locals actually love.
South Africa’s Cape Town is a popular destination for tourists, but the only issue is that everyone goes to the same six spots:
Table Mountain, the Waterfront, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Bo-Kaap, Boulders Beach, repeat…
Meanwhile, the city’s actual best-kept secrets are a few kilometers away and completely ignored.
From hippos hiding in wetland reserves to a food hall that puts fancy restaurants to shame, here are three Cape Town spots that need to be appreciated.
Rondevlei Nature Reserve
There is a wetland reserve in Cape Town with actual hippos only 20 minutes from the CBD t.
Besides the majestic hippos, Rondevlei is home to over 230 bird species.
Surprisingly, many Capetonians have never even stepped foot there, let alone tourists stuck on the penguins at Boulders Beach.
There are two viewing towers for visitors that offer a high vantage point over the reserve and the sea.
Alongside the viewing towers are bird hides dotted around the vlei for people to watch the birds and take photographs.
But if you are hoping to spot a hippo, you should know they are predominantly nocturnal animals and highly territorial, so it is best to view them from the towers.
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If you are one of the lucky ones to spot one or two, you will likely find them on the far south feeding around the water.
You may even find their footprints in the mud by bird hides.
Imvubu Nature Tours is a local tourism company that can take you on boat tours, guided nature walks, overnight fishing services and you can even stay overnight at the reserve on an island bush camp.
The feathered friends range from flamingos to pelicans and you can expect to see mongoose, porcupine, caracals, Cape fox and more.
If you want to visit the only place in Cape Town where you can view a hippo population while staying for the birds, the views, a designated picnic spot and the variety of other mammals and reptiles at the reserve, you know where to go.
Find it: Perth Road & Fishermans Walk, Pelikan Park, Zeekoevlei.
Open: Daily, 7:30-5pm
Cost: Free entry
Eastern Food Bazaar
If you are bored of the Waterfront restaurants queues, the Eastern Food Bazaar tucked near the Grand Parade is where many Cape Town locals really eat.
This legendary bustling food hall is where small meal sizes go to die.
They are known for serving massive portions that are completely authentic Cape foods.
Everything is halal and quite straightforward - customers pay at a central desk then take a ticket to the counter you wish to dish from, like a canteen.
The no-frills food hall serves Cape Malay curries, biryani, Indian street food and so much more.
What makes it better is how affordable the prices are to locals with desserts at R40 and a whole chicken bunny chow filled to the brim at R80.
They have all types of food stations with Turkish shawarmas, Indo-Chinese fusions, Delhi pizzas and delicious ice cream.
This place operates on a first-come first-serve basis, so first comers watch out for peak times like weekday lunch rushes between 12 and 2 pm.
They have communal tables and a large, spacious upstairs that has a view of the whole food hall below.
Treat your taste buds and be kinder to your wallet by coming to the Eastern Food Bazaar.
Find it: 96 Longmarket Street, Cape Town City Centre
Open: 10am to 9pm everyday
Price per person: R1-R100
Little Stream Conference Centre and Tea Garden
The name does not give this gem the justice it truly deserves.
Hidden away in the Winelands of Klein Constantia is Little Stream, a place you stumble on rather than plan a trip around.
It is a quiet tea garden surrounded by greenery, a world away from tasting room crowds a few minutes up the road.
Every tourist has Constantia wine tours pencilled in, but they are missing out on the quiet, peaceful beauty of Little Stream.
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This tranquil outdoor cafe is a true hidden gem, nestled between two popular destinations - Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia wine estates.
You can find a magical, rustic forest garden on a large landscape of seven acres that has wonderful homely food offerings.
If you wish to go on a walk after having a cup of beautifully brewed tea with a chocolate croissant, venture further into Little Stream by going down their winding steps over a mini bridge that stretches over the stream to the garden.
There are many places to sit and read and paths to walk further into the forest garden and if you look closer you will find statues hidden in the garden.
A giant sculpture of hands poking out the soil with an actual tall tree growing from the palm,a sculpture of a dragon guarding the little stream and so much more.
Not only will you get vineyard views, lovely homely food and peace, but you will have found a gem so hidden not even all the locals know about it.
It is wheelchair accessible with free parking on site so if you are coming at peak times, which are Saturday and Sunday afternoon, it is wise to book a table.
If you want a big Sunday roast, do book as they have a lovely big offering that day.
Find it: Klein Constantia Road. At the end of the road, on the right of the cul-de-sac, Hope of Constantia, Cape Town, 7806
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 9am to 4:30pm
Price per person: R100-R200 at the restaurant
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