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Photo credit: City Sightseeing South Africa via Facebook

City Sightseeing Cape Town’s bus- and harbour-tours provide a wonderful, comfortable and safe way to explore the city.

In this post, we share some fun City Sightseeing Tours that you can enjoy in the Mother City:

Sunset Bus Tour

Photo credit: City Sightseeing South Africa via Facebook

Cape Town is beautiful year-round, no matter the time of day but there’s no question that a sunset in the Mother City is pure magic.

What could be more fun than a late afternoon city bus tour and getting to watch the sunset with your loved ones from Signal Hill?

This ‘Golden Hour’ trip, which takes you along the Atlantic seaboard, through Sea Point and Camps Bay and up to the scenic Signal Hill, is one for the memory banks.

For this tour, don’t forget to pack in your camera/selfie stick and of course, a lovely homemade picnic to enjoy while you watch the sun go down.

Note: This tour is valid for the evening only and runs for approximately three hours. It is not a hop-on, hop-off trip and on busy evenings, there can be traffic delays, so factor this into your schedule.

This tour operates daily and departs from Stop 1, V&A Waterfront. Departure time depends on the time of year but may be as early as 16:45 pm.

For more information on pricing, tour details and times or to book, please see here: https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town/sunset-bus.

Cape Point and Penguin Explorer Tour

Photo credit: City Sightseeing South Africa

What better way to explore the magnificent Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope than with a special Cape Point and Peninsula Tour?

This tour allows you to see some of the city’s best attractions, including Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and the famous, penguin-inhabited Boulders Beach, with a friendly tour guide leading the way.

Note: This tour includes complimentary pickup from most local hotels; runs for approximately eight hours; and offers daily departures from either Stop 1, V&A Waterfront or Stop 5, CBD, 81 Long Street.

Afterwards, you get dropped back at the V&A’s Stop 1 around 17:45 pm. You can then use the Red- or Green-Route to get back to your pick-up location.

For more information on pricing, tour details and times or to book, please see here: https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town/cape-point-penguin-explorertour.

V&A Harbour and Seal Cruise

Photo credit: City Sightseeing South Africa via Facebook

If City Sightseeing’s beautiful, open-air red buses aren’t your vibe, then why not try a great harbour cruise by boat instead?
These V&A boat rides are a wonderful way to explore the city’s famous harbour, which is often home to the likes of Sunfish, Cape Fur seals and more.

You can also see visiting international ships, which dock at the harbour; and it’s an excellent way to learn more about the city’s famous, proud nautical history too!

Note: The tours are weather-dependent but otherwise run from 09:00 am - 17:00 pm (and later in summer).
The cruise lasts for about 25 minutes and departs every 30 minutes from the V&A Waterfront, at Bus Stop 1, below the Two Oceans Aquarium.

For more information on pricing, tour details and times or to book, please see here: https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town/city-sightseeing-harbour-cruise.

More Tours to Enjoy

These are just some of the tours you can enjoy with City Sightseeing Cape Town.

Other excellent tours include:

• Franschhoek Wine Tram Explorer Tour
• Classic Hop On-Hop Off Tour
• Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch Three Region Explorer Wine Tour
• Whale and Hermanus Tour
• and Full Cape Peninsula by Helicopter Tour

For more information on these and many other tour options, please visit their website directly: https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town.

Linger Longer in Cape Town with DK Villas

After all that fun exploring, you’re going to need a safe and calm accommodation haven to retire to for the night and DK Villas is the perfect option.

We’re based in beautiful Hout Bay and have a trio of wonderfully appointed, selfcatering apartments available to our guests.

Although we have three lovely options to choose from, for this post, our focus is on our idyllic, one-bedroom Riverview apartment, which sleeps a maximum of two guests, including children.

Our spacious apartment is fully renovated and includes a delightful open-plan kitchen and lounge, tranquil balcony and every necessary creature comfort, from a plasma flatscreen TV to complimentary WiFi, DStv, as well as a host of handy, state-of-the-art appliances (such as fridge-freezer, washing machine, coffee machine, dishwasher and much more).

This stylish apartment also comes with free, secure parking and the security complex it’s located within even offers a small, yet nice pool, ideal for summertime!

For more information or to book our Riverview apartment, please see here: https://book.nightsbridge.com/31422.

Photo credit: Free Walking Tours Cape Town

There are many marvellous ways to enjoy Cape Town: from the air, from the mountains, from the ocean and of course, from the land.

But arguably one of the best ways to familiarise yourself with the Mother City is by walking its streets and exploring its sights from the ground up.

That’s why we have put together this post on some fun, free walking tours that you can enjoy in Cape Town:

Embark on a Historic City Tour with Free Walking Tours Cape Town

Photo credit: Free Walking Tours Cape Town

For years now, Free Walking Tours Cape Town has been providing visitors and locals alike with a fun, playful and informative way to discover all of Cape Town’s historic secrets and sights.

This Cape Town tour showcases both the heroes (and the villains) of colonialism, while also highlighting all the drama and unity that has shaped Cape Town over the centuries.

Highlights of the tour include the Company’s Garden, Parliament, Green Market Square, as well as the famous Castle of Good Hope and the Iziko Slave Lodge.

Their Historic City Tour departs twice daily from Motherland Coffee, near St Georges Mall, at 11:00 am and 16:20 pm sharp.

Tours take place 365 days a year, come rain or sun.

For more info, keep an eye out for the team’s green umbrellas, follow their social media pages for regular updates or visit their website: https://freewalkingtourscapetown.co.za/historic-citytour/.

Photo credit: Free Walking Tours Cape Town

Soak up the Colourful Beauty and Heritage of Bo-Kaap with Free Walking Tours Cape Town

Another awesome walking tour offered by Free Walking Tours Cape Town is their Best of BoKaap Walking Tour.

This tour takes you through the vibrant streets of Bo-Kaap. While the colourful homes in this neighbourhood are truly iconic, it’s the rich heritage and painful history that make Bo-Kaap so significant.

Walk the cobblestone streets, where the architecture is a mix of Islamic and Cape Dutch influences, and discover the history of Bo-Kaap and its peaceful residents.

This tour departs once a day at 09:30 am from Motherland Coffee, St Georges Mall. The tour runs for 60 mins.

There’s no need to book in advance, just arrive at Motherland Coffee and sign up. Tours depart daily, 365 days a year, come rain or sun.

For information on this and Free Walking Tours Cape Town’s other tours, visit their website: https://freewalkingtourscapetown.co.za/.

Photo credit: Free Walking Tours Cape Town

Choose from Two Free Tour Options with CitySightseeing Cape Town

Photo credit: CitySightseeing South Africa

Some other great, free walking tour options are those offered by CitySightseeing Cape Town. They have two walking tour options: a Bo-Kaap Walking Tour and a Historic Walking Tour.

Booking is not required; you simply need to be at the ticket office (at 81 Long Street) 5-10 minutes before the tour’s set departure time.

On the Historic tour, you’ll learn all about the city’s rich history and visit tour highlights, such as Greenmarket Square, City Hall, where late former President Nelson Mandela made his first speech after his release from prison.

• The Historic tour departs at 11:00 am, 13:00 pm or 15:00 pm and runs for about 90 minutes.

The Bo-Kaap tour, meanwhile, offers a glimpse into the colour and heritage of this special neighbourhood.

Tour highlights include South Africa’s first and oldest mosque, Auwal Masjid, the spicy, tasty delicacy of the Cape Malay cuisine and the Bo-Kaap Museum.

• The Bo-Kaap tour departs at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 14:00 pm and runs for about 90 minutes as well.

For more information on these tours, contact CitySightseeing directly or visit their website:
https://citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town/free-city-sightseeing-cape-town-walking-tours.

Enjoy a Spring Getaway at DK Villas

Celebrate spring in the Mother City with a relaxing, beautiful DK Villas accommodation stay. Our delightful trio of self-catering apartments offers our guests a soothing, yet sophisticated getaway in the vibrant, seaside suburb of Hout Bay.

Each of our apartments comes tastefully furnished in their own unique style and are equipped with all the luxury amenities, facilities and safe parking you could need. Choose from Harbour View, The Boardwalk or Riverview.

For more information on our three apartments or to book one of them directly, please head over to our website and select the appropriate dropdown option (under our ‘Accommodation’ tab).

Photo credit: PYT - Professional Yachtmaster Training via Facebook

Cape Town is a wonderful city for adventurers, travellers, digital nomads and everyone in between! The Mother City offers the perfect blend of sea-meets-land, incredible outdoor- and indoor-experiences, restaurants, wine farms and accommodation and of course, amazing, friendly people who make a visit to Cape Town truly unforgettable.

For this post, we want to focus on one of the city’s unique experiences and businesses: Professional Yachtmaster Training (PYT), a sailing- and yachtmaster company that focuses on training aspiring sailors and yachtmasters in this noble, daring profession.

Sailing- and Yachtmaster-Training

PYT started out in September 2000 in Durban with pretty humble beginnings but it’s come a long way since then!

Today, this incredible business and professional academy boasts some of the highest qualifications in both seafaring and tertiary studies and has branches in both Durban and Hout Bay, Cape Town that allow you to train as a yachtmaster and embark on a new, thrilling career journey, which can open doors for you across the world.

However, for the purposes of this post, we’d like to share more information on their Hout Bay branch specifically.

PYT’s Cape Town Branch is Situated in Beautiful Hout Bay

What better place to run a yachtmaster training company and business from than Cape Town’s idyllic Hout Bay, a tranquil seaside village known for its rich history, maritime ties and of course, its active commercial fishing industry?

Based in Mainstream Village, Hout Bay, PYT’s Cape Town office include excellent lecture- and classroom-facilities and friendly, expert staff, who are there to help you learn all you need to know, while also going the extra mile to make your experience with them memorable and fun!

From here, they are able to offer most courses, including basic Deck Hand to MCA, Officer of the Watch and even Master modules.

Best of all, with such charming surroundings, you’ll almost feel as if you’re on holiday, as you study in one of South Africa’s most beautiful places, famed for its harbour, great tourist attractions and scenic experiences, like Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Benefits of Yachtmaster Training for Students and Professionals Alike

Photo credit: PYT - Professional Yachtmaster Training via Facebook

If you’re wondering whether the training or a career as a yachtmaster is hard work, then the answer is yes!
However, it’s a passionate career choice that allows candidates to work in a respected industry; earn well; travel the world and meet interesting people; undergo personal growth and develop better people skills; and above all, build character!

If you’re unsure where to begin, a basic crew course with PYT is a great place to start. Otherwise, for a full breakdown of PYT’s course options, dates (which include 2025 dates) and rates, please see here:
http://www.pyt.co.za/cmscategorydetail.asp?Category=COURSE+DATES+%26+RATE S%20&CHS=0&ID=212/.

Contact Details

Their Cape Town training centre and branch can be found at: Shop 6, Mainstream
Village, Main and Princess Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

For more information on PYT and their course offerings, please contact them directly on: +27 (0)21 791 1079 or info.cpt@pyt.co.za or visit their website http://www.pyt.co.za/index.asp.

Stay with DK Villas During Your Yachtmaster Training

While you’re studying with PYT, you are going to need great, secure accommodation in Hout Bay to call home. Happily, with DK Villas’ trio of beautiful apartments, we have you sorted!

What’s more, our local knowledge of Hout Bay and the Mother City means we are here to ensure you enjoy an incredible stay with us from start to finish!

Our three self-catering units each offer luxury and everyday amenities alike, excellent furnishings and the latest, modern appliances. In addition to this, each apartment has its own decor and style, sure to suit a range of tastes.

All our apartments also come equipped with secure parking and, for longer stays, cleaning services can be arranged for our guests.

For more information on DK Villa’s Hout Bay apartments or to book one of them directly, please visit our website and select the appropriate dropdown option (found under our ‘Accommodation’ tab).

Lead image: Willowbridge Shopping Centre via Facebook

The September holidays are the best time of year for families with kids to enjoy beautiful, balmy weather, great kids’ holiday programmes and of course, some quality bonding time before the stressful last (fourth) term begins.

In this post, we share what to do with kids for the September holidays 2024:

Visit the Cape Town Science Centre

Image credit: Cape Town Science Centre via Facebook

The Cape Town Science Centre, situated in Observatory, is wonderful for young and old to experience year-round but they have an exciting September programme on the go and you’re going to want to check it out!

Their awe-inspiring Celestial Holiday Programme, which runs from 20 - 30 September 2024, is going to take a deeper look into astronomy, with the help of some hands-on, fun workshops and thrilling demonstrations for all ages.

This programme will also include their Light Room and Camera Obscura tours, as well as some Edutaining Science Shows. Additionally, there will be awesome Planetarium shows for all ages.

Opening hours are Monday - Saturday, 9am - 4pm and the entry fees are as follows:

• Youth (3-18): R80
• Adult: R80
• Pensioner: R40
• For workshop fees, please see the full programme: https://www.ctsc.org.za/celestialholiday-programme/.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.ctsc.org.za.

Visit Willowbridge Shopping Centre for their Donut Drip Studio Holiday Programme

Image credit: Willowbridge Shopping Centre via Facebook

Moving over to the Northern Suburbs, we have an exciting Donut Drip Studio Holiday Programme, taking place at PnP Court, Willowbridge Shopping Centre from 21 - 29 September 2024.

This fun programme is designed to target all inspiring graffiti artists, ages 3-10. They’ll be able to unleash all their creative juices, as they create edible art (using safe, edible spray paints, ink pens and paints) by decorating and designing their favourite Dairy Den Donuts.

For the programme, each child receives the following:

• Two plain donuts
• Two white chocolate-dipped donuts
• Sugar icing
• Sprinkles
• One kids’ ice cream cone
• An apron
• Paint brushes
• Easel and tools
• Edible paint and ink pens

The cost per child is R95 and the programme runs daily from 10am - 2pm.

To book your child’s ticket, please see here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/274029-donutdrip-studio/#/.

Have All the Fun at Playalot

Image credit: Playalot via Facebook

For something a bit more relaxed, try the Playalot Africa Play Zone at Shop 33, Haasendal Gables Shopping Centre in the Northern Suburbs.

This exciting indoor play centre is perfect for kiddies ages 4-9 and offers all sorts of fun!
Including everything from a jungle-themed obstacle course (where they can meet life-sized lion, Alex and resident giraffe, Alexa); a foam pit; spiral slides; a rainbow netted maze, a Lego lounge and so much more.
The play centre leans heavily into sensory play, making it an awesome, educational experience for kids!

While they play, parents can enjoy the comfort of the VIP lounge or the on-site beauty salon, The Mom Salon. There is also a quiet, co-working space, if you need to focus on some work!

Playalot doesn’t require any pre-bookings; kids can just rock up and play. For pricing, please see here: https://www.playalot.co.za/how-much/entry-fees/.

Watch a Kiddies’ Movie at V&A Waterfront

Image credit: www.waterfront.co.za

Last but not least, why not let the kids catch a fun movie at the spectacular Ster Kinekor Kid’s Cinema at the V&A Waterfront? This unique movie space is dedicated to entertaining kids young and old at the movies.

In the waiting room, you’ll find tables for colouring in and a snack counter, while inside the cinema, kids can enjoy bean bag seating and fun playground aspects, including an epic slide and ball pit. And that’s before you even get to the movie itself!

Currently showing at the Kid’s Cinema is Wild Robot (in 3D) and Ozi: Voice of the Forest (in 2D).

For ticket pricing or to book, please see here: https://www.sterkinekor.com/cinema/v&a/type/Kids.

Make the Most of Spring with a Seaside Holiday

DK Villas offers a stunning selection of three self-catering apartments in Hout Bay — but, this time, we want to focus on our beautiful Riverview apartment.

Located in a secure complex a short walk from the beach (and only a brief drive from the best Hout Bay has to offer), this elegant apartment is fully furnished to include everything you need for a wonderful getaway for maximum two guests, including children.

Blessed with an array of luxury amenities, thoughtful touches and, of course, great views, this one-bedroom apartment is perfect for a relaxing spring stay. (There is also secure, on-site parking.)

For more information or to book our Riverview apartment, please see here: https://book.nightsbridge.com/31422, as we have great availability from October onwards.

Lead image: Century City - Smart City. Smart Choice. Via Facebook

Heritage Day (24 September), otherwise fondly known as ‘National Braai Day’, is a special holiday that allows South Africans to celebrate our diverse cultures and heritage in the best ways possible: with friends and loved ones; over a delicious meal; or as part of a unique cultural outing.

In this post, we highlight some great ways to celebrate Heritage Day 2024 in Cape Town:

Braai at Central Park, Century City

If you’re planning to be near Century City for Braai Day, then you’re going to want to partake in the fun Heritage Day braai, which will take place at tranquil Central Park.

Participating guests can choose between either a bring their own braai option (R200 cost per site; bring all your own braai goodies and a weber) or they can ‘hire and braai’ (R500 cost per site).

If you choose the hire and braai option, you’ll be provided with all the necessary braai essentials - including the braai itself, blitz and charcoal. However, you need to bring your own food and utensils!

On the day, there will be a host of fun activities to enjoy nearby, including live entertainment, kiddies’ activities and even boat and tram rides.

Guests are welcome to bring their own gazebos, tables and camping chairs (just please leave the umbrellas at home).

The Century City Clubhouse will have refreshments available on the day and guests can order braai packs from Diva Cuisine.

Book your braai spot today to partake in this fun event: https://bit.ly/4dQdKXP.

Image credit: Century City - Smart City. Smart Choice. Via Facebook

Braai Up a Storm or Picnic in a Local National Park or Public Site

Cape Town has some incredible public braai facilities and picnic spots in some of our most beautiful destinations - including places like Maiden’s Cove Braai Area, the West Coast National Park’s designated braai spots and even Cape Point Nature Reserve’s Buffels Bay and Bordjiesdrif.

While some of the braai sites do include an entrance fee (like the West Coast National Park and Cape Point Nature Reserve, which forms part of the vast Table Mountain National Park), it’s worth it if you want to braai by the ocean and enjoy an incredible day out in nature!

Other attractions on-site near these ocean-lying braai spots include lovely tidal pools for the kiddies or safe swimming, like in the West Coast National Park’s stunning Kraalbaai and Langebaan Lagoon.

If you do decide to braai at one of these special locations, please be careful of wildfires, don’t litter and practice fire safety at all times.

Image credit: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust

Also, just keep in mind that, as these are popular public braai spots, they may fill up early so please follow the ‘first come, first serve’ rule and either beat the early bird there or wait your turn.

Alternatively, you could also pack a beautiful picnic filled with your favourite local cultural drinks and non-alcoholic beverages.

For more on these public braai spots and the entry fees, opening times for these locations, please visit the relevant websites for West Coast National Park, Maiden’s Cove and Cape Point.

Enjoy a Free Aweh! Event at the V&A Waterfront

If you’d prefer to soak up some local culture, you’re going to love the Aweh Heritage Day showcase, taking place at the V&A Waterfront’s Amphitheatre on 24 September, from 14:00 - 17:00 pm.

This free event will see exciting, vibrant young performers, dancers and even a choir perform a host of English and Afrikaans songs, as well as showcasing some traditional Khoi riel dangers.

The lineup for this Heritage Day event can be viewed here:
https://www.waterfront.co.za/events/aweh-heritage-day-showcase.

Enjoy a Special Getaway This September

If you’re looking to enjoy a special, relaxing Mother City getaway this September (or in even early October), look no further than our own trio of self-catering Hout Bay apartments.

DK Villas is proud to present our Harbour View, Riverview and Boardwalk apartments respectively.

Each of our fully furnished apartments offers every necessary creature comfort and luxury; beautiful views of surrounding Hout Bay (including the glorious local harbour, mountains and more); offers safe, secure parking; and comes with a host of other handy amenities to make sure stay as comfortable and effortlessly enjoyable as possible.

For information on any of our trio of self-catering apartments or to book one, please select the relevant ‘Book Now’ dropdown on our website or contact us directly.

Lead image: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust - Travel Writing and Photography

Wildflower season in the Cape, which runs from early August till end-September, is a wonderful time to explore the province, as you soak up the beginnings of spring weather and get to admire a sea of wildflowers.

In this post, we share some of the best places to go to see the wildflowers in Cape Town and surrounds.

Just remember that wildflowers are largely weather dependent (they close up in overcast- or rainy-weather), so pick a good, sunny day to go flower hunting!

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful indigenous botanical gardens anywhere in the world. Here, you can expect to see everything from marvellous proteas to daisies and flowering fynbos bushes.

And, although Kirstenbosch requires paid entry, it’s worth every penny to visit this gorgeous indigenous garden and soak up its springtime beauty.

If you’re visiting, grab or download a map, as the garden is quite vast and offers many beautiful spots to marvel at the natural beauty, picnic or grab a bite to eat (at either the Kirstenbosch tea room or Moyo Restaurant).

For more information on garden rules, opening times and entry fees, please see here.

Local Cape Town Parks and Gardens

Lead image: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust - Travel Writing and Photography

It may surprise you but many of the city’s parks, including places like Green Point Park or De Waal Park, are also excellent places to spot seasonal flowers and wildflowers.

And, as many of our local parks are dog-friendly and allow for peaceful picnics, the whole family gets to enjoy a fun day out.

Other city spots to see springtime blooms include the Company’s Garden, Arderne Gardens and Chart Farm.

Also, keep an eye out for Open Garden events too, as each year (usually between September - October), many private and public gardens around the Western Cape open for visitors during the special floral season.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden

Near to both sea and mountains and the amazing Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, situated near the coastal village of Betty’s Bay, is one of the most beautiful places to see flowers and flowering fynbos.

Here, you will see coastal fynbos and Cape flora at its finest, as well as heathlands, marshes, gorges and more. The garden is stunning year-round but it truly bursts to life during springtime.

Although the garden does require paid entry, Harold Porter is a special place to picnic or hike and provides family-friendly adventure for all ages.

For more information on garden rules, opening times and entry fees, please see here.

West Coast National Park

Lead image: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust - Travel Writing and Photography

During August and September, arguably one of the most well-loved, popular places to go see the wildflowers is the West Coast National Park, near Langebaan.

In fact, for one month only, this special reserve allows visitors to explore the Postberg part of the reserve, which offers an abundance of flowers and ocean views.

Another springtime highlight is safe lagoon swimming, fun beach days, scenic hiking- and biking-trails and lovely picnic- and braai-spots.

However, the park does require paid entry and you need to show your tickets to the rangers at the Postberg entrance, so hang onto them!

For more information on the park’s rules, opening times and entry fees, please see here: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/west-coast.

Book a Stay in Cape Town for Flower Season

What better time to enjoy a stay in the Mother City than during springtime? Especially as we at DK Villas are passionate about offering luxurious, self-catering accommodation and incredible holiday experiences to our guests.

Our trio of DK Villas’ apartments, in Harbour View, Riverview and The Boardwalk respectively, offer our guests quintessential luxury and essential amenities (including WiFi, safe parking and fully furnished, comfortable apartments) — and we’d love to help you savour the special spring season!

What’s more, our apartments are well-situated, as they’re close to the beach and beautiful Hout Bay and are only a short drive from the Mother City’s CBD.

So, book a stay with us and enjoy a marvellous Hout Bay getaway, as you explore all the springtime beauty Cape Town has to offer!

For information on our self-catering apartments or to book them directly, please select the relevant ‘Book Now’ dropdown on our website or contact us for help.

Photo credit: Carmen Comrie via Unsplash

Cape Town is full of inspirational people, including some truly incredible, strong and brave women.

From mothers to teachers, caregivers and community workers to role models, the list of great or notable Cape Town women is long and endlessly inspiring.

As it’s Women’s Month (August) in South Africa, we want to shine a light on some of these amazing women, based in Hout Bay and surrounds:

Marlena van der Walt

Photo credit: Little Lambs Christian Educare via Facebook

In the late 1990s, Hout Bay resident Marlena van der Walt and her husband, Johann, became aware of the struggles that many Hout Bay farm workers at local Kronendal farm were facing — and Marlena and Johann knew they needed to help.

So, what started as making soup for the farm workers soon grew into the idea to create a daycare centre, where the mothers could care for the children. Marlena taught many of these women to read and write and in time, mothers from Imizamo Yethu also sought child care assistance. And that’s how the journey began before, in 1999, the Little Lambs centre was opened. To date, it’s become both a source of hope and care in the local community and remains one of South Africa’s most successful Early childhood development (ECD) centres.

But Marlena and Johann didn’t stop with Little Lambs; they also established a wonderful trust, called the SEEDS Trust to help oversee and govern the burgeoning Little Lambs centre.

Today, Marlena remains the founder and trustee at SEEDS Trust, which wonderfully supports Little Lambs and partners with four other local organisations.

Marlena is proof that you can champion a worthy cause and create something that can literally impact hundreds of lives. She’s truly inspirational; we are proud to call her a notable woman of Cape Town!

Kerri Cross

Photo credit: Community Crime Prevention via Facebook

Kerri Cross is the co-founder and director of Community Crime Prevention (CCP) Hout Bay, a local, non-profit 24-hour response company. CCP was established by a group of concerned Hout Bay residents, (which, of course, included Kerri) who came together to prevent social crime and promote rapid incident response.

On a personal level, Kerri became involved with local security in the Hout Bay community after a traumatic, senseless crime event took place at her neighbour’s home and made her desperately want to improve Hout Bay residents’ sense of safety.

Today, Kerri and the team at CCP remain fiercely passionate about helping the community to stay safe and vigilant. In recent years, they have achieved everything from noticeable crime reduction rates to launching training and upskilling programmes and workshops that help people contribute to the mission of CCP, while also keeping the public informed and educated on community safety.

Kerri is also part of the pioneering CCP team behind the Buzzer app, a handy community safety app.

‘Boss lady’ Kerri is proof that a group of concerned residents can make a difference and improve their lives and those of the community if they’re willing to work together and take a stand.

We at DK Villas find Kerri’s work so brave and inspiring and we’re grateful for all that she and her team at CCP do for our local community.

Kim Krynauw

Another inspiring local lady is Kim Krynauw. In 2019, Kim, a former seal rescuer, took up Francois Hugo’s legacy at Seal Alert (a local centre that helped save and rehabilitate injured or dying seals) after founder Francois passed away and the centre was essentially left to ruin.

For a fresh start, the centre was renamed as the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre (HBSRC) and today, Kim and her team work around the clock at HBSRC to save as many seals as they can.

While other organisations may be quick to put the seals down, Kim and her HBSRC team do their best to give every seal they rescue a fighting chance. That’s also why Kim and the staff are on standby 24/7 to answer the call of any seals in distress.

Photo credit: Hout Bay Seal Rescue via Facebook

HBSRC has an amazing rehabilitation process, as well as a great water enclosure, where the seal yearlings can safely swim. The centre also has seals who swim freely in the ocean near the centre during the day but who, for safety, choose to sleep near the centre’s jetty at night.

We find Kim’s work with the famous local, protected Cape Fur seals so inspiring. We are proud to include her as a great, notable Cape Town woman.

Book A Stay at DK Villas this Women’s Month

DK Villas is a beautiful, carefully curated collection of Hout Bay-based accommodation properties. Our property collection consists of three unique accommodation rentals in our respective Harbour View, The Boardwalk and Riverview apartments.

Each of our fully furnished, self-catering apartments comes equipped with its own tasteful decor, all the necessary luxury amenities (to ensure our guests’ comfort) and secure parking.

Above all, though, our apartments are all secure and scenic. In fact, our apartments offer our guests the most stunning views of the local mountains and the Atlantic Ocean and of course, Hout Bay itself!

To book a stay with us this Women’s Month, please click on the relevant apartment ‘Book Now’ link on our website.

Lead image: Houtbay Coffee via Facebook

While you might know Hout Bay as more of a tourist destination, complete with rich history, breathtaking mountain- and ocean-views and a slew of fun, outdoor experiences, it may surprise you to learn that Hout Bay also has some of the loveliest coffee and breakfast spots in the Mother City.

And many of these spots provide customers with the perfect place to fend off the winter chill, which blows in from the icy Atlantic Ocean.

In this post, we share some of our favourite cosy coffee- and breakfast-spots in Hout Bay:

Houtbay Coffee

A reputable coffee institution of note, Houtbay Coffee has been raking in good reviews for several years now and really, it’s no surprise.

Because here, you can enjoy some of the best coffee in town. What’s more, this rustic, even simple, cafe also offers arguably one of the loveliest, historical atmospheres around.

Photo credit: Houtbay Coffee

And did we mention that Houtbay Coffee’s customers rave about their coffee and delectable sweet treats (ranging from their biscuits to their cakes)? So, if you do decide to pay them a visit, definitely try something sweet while you’re at it!

For more info on Houtbay Coffee, please see their website: https://houtbaycoffee.co.za.

Allegra Cafe and Life

This lovely cafe, located at Mainstream Mall and Village, has plenty of Italian flair. They serve everything from all-day breakfasts (unless they change their minds, that is!) to panini, Italian pastas, salads, homemade cakes and of course, good coffee.

Photo credit: Allegria Cafe and Life via Facebook

According to online reviews, service is always friendly and attentive, so you’re in for both a good food experience and a quality dining treat in one.

Deus Cafe

Bringing something slightly more unconventional to the mix, Deus Cafe offers a somewhat more eclectic vibe than your traditional coffee shop. Yet, it still manages to create a welcoming and warm space for customers to enjoy good coffee and food.

Many of their visitors rave about their breakfasts, including their full English Breakfast or the Eggs Benedict (which, by default, comes on a zucchini base).

And, if you’re brave enough, ask about the ghost story and keep an eye out for the table that’s always set for two.

Dario’s Cafe

Owned by an Italian couple, Dario’s Cafe combines a casual, yet warm coffee bar-meets restaurant experience.

Here, family feasting prevails thanks to their generous menu, which offers authentic-style pizzas, pasta and freshly baked cakes.

Photo credit: Dario’s Cafe via Facebook

For breakfast, choose from a range of tasty options, including their signature breakfasts, like the excellent bacon and egg roll or Dario’s choice (which consists of smoked salmon, onion, cream cheese cucumber and potato rosti).

Parents will also be pleased to learn that Dario’s is also child-friendly. It comes equipped with a nice play area, making this cafe the perfect spot for families to enjoy.

For more info or to book a table, please see their website: www.darioscafe.com.

With these cosy, snug cafes and sunny breakfast spots, you’re spoilt for choice in Hout Bay!

Book Your Winter Stay in Beautiful Hout Bay

At DK Villas, we make it our goal to offer our guests high quality, comfortable accommodation in one of the most beautiful parts of the Western Cape: Hout Bay.

With our trio of handpicked properties, our insider’s knowledge and our combined hospitality industry experience, we can ensure you have a holiday to remember.

And, for this post, we’d like to showcase our spacious Harbour View apartment. This three bedroom apartment comes blessed with gorgeous views out over Hout Bay. It is also fully furnished with the highest quality amenities and facilities to ensure the ultimate guest satisfaction.

Beyond this, it’s situated within a secure complex and comes with two dedicated, underground parking bays, 24-hour camera security and electric fencing, so you can enjoy peace of mind during your stay.

Our self-catering Harbour View apartment happily sleeps a maximum of six guests, including two children, and can be serviced once weekly for long stays that exceed six nights.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Hout Bay for a luxurious, relaxing stay! So join us for a memorable getaway at our beautiful Harbour View apartment.

For more information on this Hout Bay apartment or to book your stay, please see here on our website: https://www.dkvillas.co.za/harbour-view-houtbay-3/.

Lead image: The Foodbarn Cafe and Tapas via Facebook

Winter in the Western Cape is well-known for its grey, depressing weather and hectic Cape storms (there’s a reason for the nickname ‘Cape of Storms’, as history has shown us time and time again).

But, it’s not all doom and gloom if you choose to spend wintertime in the Mother City! Because we have a wonderful array of indoor experiences, well-equipped facilities and of course, some cosy, delightful coffee shops and restaurants to keep the cold at bay.

In this post, we share some of the best restaurants around Hout Bay and Constantia that come with cosy fireplaces to help make your dining experience a little more snug and a little less chilly:

The Chapman’s Peak Restaurant

The Chapman's Peak Restaurant has a longstanding reputation as one of the city’s older, yet lovelier outdoor seafood restaurants.

It’s famed for its spectacular calamari and seafood and well-loved for its sunny terrace, which is perfect for warm, summer days and beautiful sunsets, as it enjoys a stunning view of the beach, harbour and of course, the icy Atlantic Ocean.

Image credit: Chapman’s Peak Hotel via Facebook

But for wintertime, you’ll want to bundle up indoors and cosy next to the warmth of the indoor fireplaces.

The interiors provide a fond walk down memory lane, especially with their wooden accents, photographs and elegant settings.

This restaurant menu includes a selection of seafood items, salads and grilled meats, as well as wines and other cold beverages to enjoy with your winter feast.

The Foodbarn Café and Tapas

Image Credit: The Foodbarn Cafe and Tapas via Facebook

Situated at the popular Noordhoek Farm Village, The Foodbarn Cafe and Tapas is one of the most well-loved eateries you’ll find anywhere in the Mother City.

Here, in this beautiful space, families, pets and, of course, foodies are welcome to come and enjoy the delicious cuisine that top chef Franck Dangereux is famed for.

Choose between either the Deli shop or the snug Cafe and Tapas Bar. Happily, there’s also indoor heating here, so you can easily keep the cold firmly outdoors, as you dine on some of the tastiest food in Cape Town.

Tryn at Steenberg

Image Credit: Tryn at Steenberg via Facebook

For a cosy, yet contemporary dining experience (complete with a fireplace), look no further than Tryn at Steenberg.

The eatery offers refined dining in a truly tranquil setting, where tasty breakfasts, light lunches and gourmet dinners are the order of every day.

Image Credit: Tryn at Steenberg via Facebook

There are several beautifully adorned rooms to dine in, especially if the weather’s miserable outside. Otherwise, on better days, try the sunny terrace, which enjoys views of the vineyard and garden beyond.

Oh and Tryn also runs excellent winter specials, so be sure to keep an eye out for those!

Foxcroft

Image Credit: Foxcroft Constantia via Facebook

Another stunning, snug restaurant to enjoy during winter (or any season for that matter!) is the ever-popular Foxcroft in Constantia.

Since it opened several years ago now, Foxcroft has consistently wowed visitors with its elegant, stylish food in a truly refined setting, which even has a gorgeous fireplace to keep you warm.

Foxcroft also offers some excellent winter specials to help you save some bang for your buck while you dine on literal works of culinary art.

Image Credit: Foxcroft Constantia via Facebook

Enjoy a Snug Winter Stay in Hout Bay

In our minds, no winter visit or holiday to the Mother City is complete without a special stay at DK Villas.

Our three, excellent apartments provide our guests with a cosy, tranquil Mother City stay in vibey Hout Bay.

Each apartment has its own unique touches, stunning views and luxury amenities but quality and comfort is assured across the board.

To book one of our apartments, please see below:

• One-bedroom Riverview apartment (suitable for maximum two guests)
• Two-bedroom Boardwalk apartment (suitable for maximum four guests)
• Three-bedroom Harbour View apartment (suitable for maximum six guests)

For more information on each of our gorgeous Hout Bay accommodation units or to book, please visit our website.

Lead image: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust

Hout Bay is one of Cape Town’s most beautiful, ocean-fronting suburbs. It’s popular among locals and travellers alike thanks to its natural beauty, attractions and rich history.

In fact, Hout Bay is even playfully considered its own republic! (It even has its own passport, as part of a fun tourism stunt.)

A Brief History of Hout Bay

Hout Bay, which is derived from the Dutch word Houtbaai (or Wood Bay), was so named by the Dutch settlers when they first explored this side of Table Mountain.

The valley, with its dense wooded areas, became a handy source of timber for repairing and building ships, as well as creating local buildings, including the famous Castle of Good Hope.

It’s believed that the name ‘Hout Bay’ dates back to 1653, although the fishing village was only properly established much later. Around 1867, in fact, when German immigrant, Jacob Trautmann, started to farm and fish in the beautiful valley.
Since then, Hout Bay has continued to thrive and flourish, expanding into a vast beautiful Cape Town suburb.
And best of all, this seaside suburb has some other incredible historical facts that we’ll look at in this post:

Hout Bay’s Watchful Last Leopard

Image credit: Google Images, sourced from Chapman’s Peak Drive Facebook

If you ever heard of or visited Hout Bay, chances are you might have heard of the famous leopard statue that proudly surveys the town from a rocky perch.

This incredible bronze (now oxidised to a kind of teal colour) statue, which weighs 295 kilograms, was sculpted by Ivan Mitford-Barberton and placed here in March 1963.

The leopard was placed here as a solemn, yet sad reminder and nod to the leopards and other wild animals who once roamed the mountains of the Mother City. (The last leopard was seen on Little Lion’s Head in 1937, according to the Hout Bay Museum.)

The leopard statue might serve as a poignant memorial but it’s also a much-loved attraction in Hout Bay and one that adds to the suburb’s unique Cape history.

Keep an eye out for it when you visit Hout Bay!

Delving into the Manganese Mine

It’s believed that manganese (a chemical element) has existed in the Cape since 1676 but manganese mining only began during the early 19th century. One of South Africa’s earliest recorded operations for this was the Hout Bay Manganese Mine, which was found on the mountainous slopes above Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Although the mine was a source of high quantities and was mined from May 1910 to May 1911 by the Hout Bay Manganese Ltd., the mine is understood to have been closed in 1912.

Not much remains of the mine today, barring its old concrete pillars and adits but the mine remains a part of Hout Bay’s unique history nonetheless.

Visit the Old East Fort

Image credit: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust

The East Fort Battery, which dates back to 1782, is one of four coastal fortifications that were built and developed in Hout Bay between 1781 and 1806 by the Vereenigde OostIndische Compagnie (VOC) or Dutch East India Company.

They were built by the government because, back in the day, Hout Bay was viewed as a weak spot that was vulnerable to possible marine invasion from the South.

Image credit: Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust

Today, when you drive along Chappies, you can see the ruins of the old blockhouse to the left and the battery of guns down the path on the right (if you’re driving up from Hout Bay side).

The East Fort is also still explorable to this day. Just follow the easy walking trail up to it and enjoy the incredible views and unique history from this ruin.

Book a Special Stay in Hout Bay

Hout Bay is not only a historical destination though; there’s so much to enjoy here with popular restaurants and cosy cafes, local attractions, beach and harbour experiences and of course, scenic outings, like Chapman’s Peak Drive (itself a historical engineering marvel), fun hiking trails and more.

DK Villas is another worthy Hout Bay offering. We provide three stellar accommodation units that blend luxury accommodation with a trendy, central Cape Town lifestyle.

Best of all, all our properties are tastefully furnished; come equipped with every necessary creature comfort; and are ideally closely situated to the beach.

DK Villas is also running an exciting Winter Warmer special. Get 15% of any stay (minimum stay of two nights) when you book between 01 June to 31 July 2024 via our website.

To book one of our accommodation offerings, please see below:

• One-bedroom Riverview apartment (suitable for maximum two guests)
• Two-bedroom Boardwalk apartment (suitable for maximum four guests)
• Three-bedroom Harbour View apartment (suitable for maximum six guests)

For more information on our Hout Bay apartments, please visit their relevant accommodation page(s) on our website.