4 Top Places to Picnic in Cape Town

If you visit the beautiful South African city of Cape Town in summer, one of the best ways to contemplate the region is by getting out there in the great outdoors. Cape Town has so much natural charm it would be a shame not to take full benefit of the weather and the landscape. So, as you set off each day armed with your map and your tourist guide, instead of interrupting your day to find somewhere for lunch, why not pack a basket filled with some local delicacies and a bottle of South African wine and contemplate some of Cape Town's best places to picnic.

Table Mountain

The sure place for an outdoor picnic on your visit to Cape Town is high above the city on Table Mountain where, no matter how good, the food will always be overshadowed by the spectacular views. Depending on your level of fitness and the amount of time you have in Cape Town, you may choose to take the hard way to the top of Table Mountain on foot. Whilst not a particularly hard walk, you will need to pack some water as well as wine in your back pack! If you're not quite feeling up to a hike up the side of the mountain, you can take the easy way up by cable car. Whichever recipe you take to arrive at the top of Cape Town's majestic Table Mountain, the journey will be well worth the rewards as you nibble on your lunch with maybe one of the best bistro views in the South Africa.

Chapman's Peak Drive

If you'd like some sea-breeze with your baguettes then take a slow drive along Chapman's Peak Drive. Preeminent as Cape Town's most scenic drive there are many places exquisite for a do-it-yourself lunch stop; but for a picnic with a difference, sunset is a magical time to throw down a blanket and decree in for the show. The drive is long adequate to ensure that you can find your very own piece of paradise unspoiled by crowds, and watching the sun sink into the horizon over Hout Bay is an unforgettable experience.

Smitswinkelbaai Beach

For a secret beach picnic in Cape Town with a loved one, you can't be more romantic than to pack a basket and head to Smitswinkelbaai Beach. Settled adjacent to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, the beach can only be accessed by foot. It is very secluded, but the exertion required to reach it is well worth it. Once you see the remarkable white sands and views overlooking False Bay you may never want to leave.

Constantia Wine Route

Closer to Cape Town than other favorite wine routes in the region, the Constantia Valley is a great idea for a half-day excursion followed by a picnic lunch. Only about 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, the Constantina Valley is home to one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa. Spend a few hours tasting some of the regions tasty varieties of wine and succeed it with a picnic (and some more wine) under the shade of antique oak trees on verdant lawns.