South Africa’s Mother City is definitely not short on excellent picnic spots. Whether you wish to purchase foods for the picnic at a grocery store or enjoy a ready-packed option at one of Cape Town’s wine farms, there are numerous amazing places in and around the city where you can unwind and have an unforgettable Capetonian picnic experience. From places with beautiful views and picturesque gardens and parks to lovely wine estates, here is a list of my favorite picnic spots in Cape Town.
1 Boschendal Wine Estate
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Situated in a picturesque valley right between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, Boschendal Wine Estate is one of the oldest wine estates in the region. Well-known for its sweeping lawns, spectacular gardens, and Cape Dutch architecture, the estate is also a popular alfresco dining venue and offers a perfect setting for picnics. There are two picnic offerings to choose from here. There is the Rhone Picnic which offers a fully-serviced affair with pre-packed picnic baskets that you can enjoy under the estate’s beautiful oak trees. The second option is the Werf Garden Picnic which offers a more laid-back vibe and takes place on the Pavilion Lawn. Pre-packed picnic baskets include foods like delicate pates, coronation chicken, farm-style hummus, and freshly baked bread.
2 Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
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No list of picnic spots in Cape Town would be complete without mentioning the incredible Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and its vast green lawns. Bring your picnic and drinks to enjoy hectares of sprawling laws and discover the garden’s diverse flora and fauna. Guests will also have an opportunity to admire the dinosaur statues, go for strolls, and even attend an open-air live music performance on Sunday evenings during the summer season. Keep in mind that the entrance to the garden costs R60 per person.
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3 Tokai Forest
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In case you wish to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city center and have a relaxing picnic on the weekend, I suggest heading out to the lovely Tokai Forest. Here, you will find numerous shared picnic sites with concrete chairs and tables. In case you wish to prepare a bbq, there are also fire pits for braaiing available. Thanks to the size and tranquility of the Tokai forest, finding a fairly private and shady picnic spot has never been easier. The forest is also well-known for its biking and hiking trails and has a nice Arboretum and Tearoom worth visiting.
4 The Company’s Garden
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Located in the heart of Cape Town and surrounded by attractions like the Iziko South African Museum and South African National Gallery, the Company’s Garden is a large botanical public park that is also a popular picnic spot among many Capetonians. It features a lovely fish pond and a Japanese garden creating a perfect setting for weekend lunches and lazy picnics. Expect to see many people from the nearby office buildings having pre-packed lunches at Company’s Garden on weekdays.
5 Cape Point Vineyards
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One of my favorite picnic spots in Cape Town is definitely the famous Cape Point Vineyards. Located at the end of the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive and offering spectacular views of the Noordhoek Beach, Cape Point Vineyards is an ideal spot to escape from the busy streets of Cape Town on the weekends and enjoy the vineyard’s delicious pre-ordered picnic baskets on lush lawns. Besides these picnic baskets that include delicacies like fish pate, chocolate brownies, and curried chicken, Cape Point Vineyards offers an extensive list of tasty wines available to order.
6 Oak Vallery Wine Estate
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Searching for a perfect wine estate that offers delicious picnics just outside Cape Town? Look no further than the Oak Vallery Wine Estate in Elgin and its comfy loungers under shady oak trees. Famous for its tasty wines and mountain-bike trails, the estate has an incredible selection of pates, cured meats, and cheeses all wrapped up inside nicely-decorated picnic baskets. Picnics are available to order every day from November to April and cist R180 per person. It is advised to reserve your picnic basket at least 24 hours before your visit.
7 Silvermine Nature Reserve
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Situated within Table Mountain National Park, Silvermine Nature Reserve is home to dozens of scenic picnic spots and offers easy access to outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and bird watching. The reserve is located next to a large dam where you can go swimming in summer. Bring a picnic blanket and find a nice secluded spot where you can unwind with your friends and family. There is an entrance fee and costs R45 per adult.
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