Think Tourism and Summer in Cape Town!

Tourism and Summer is on its way and Cape Town is definitely gearing up for the months ahead with an influx of local and international visitors on their way! Here are three focused initiatives:

Launch of the Freedom to Wish campaign, a celebration of Cape Town – for Capetonians. The campaign will be implemented by Cape Town Tourism (CTT), the City’s official Destination Marketing Organisation, and is the City’s way of thanking locals for making this the landmark destination that it is.

“We are inviting everyone who lives in Cape Town to nominate themselves or a loved one to tell us the one thing you would love to experience in this city. Whether it’s a stay at a 5-star hotel, a cooking class or paragliding over the mountains – we want to help make as many wishes as possible come true!” says Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth,

“The initiative ties into Find Your Freedom, CTT’s interactive concept wherein users choose an avatar for a virtual taste of Cape Town.  You begin by choosing your character – a Fearless Foodie, Nature Warrior or Urban Adventurer – and thereafter decide which part of Cape Town you’d like to experience through a series of first-person perspective videos. As a foodie, for example, you can pop into the award-winning La Colombe restaurant or join a local cooking class. Freedom to Wish speaks to the ‘Rethinking Tourism’ theme for this year’s Tourism Month wherein we are aiming to attract travellers from across the country, continent and globe while empowering small businesses in the sector with access to information, networking opportunities, and exposure.

Our work in the sector is because of the massive economic spinoffs for businesses and operators to benefit from increased bookings, more spending, job creation, and sustained investments.

People and places have always been at the core of our tourism destination offering. For the City, rethinking tourism means constantly evaluating how this sector boosts the communities of Cape Town. South Africa’s tourism sector is forecast to create over 800 000 jobs over the next 10 years. Through hard work, collaboration and innovation, we can realise these opportunities.”

To be part of ‘Freedom to Wish’, which opens on 12 September and runs until 27 September, simply Whatsapp CTT on 072 662 0626 or send your 60-second video or email freedomtowish@capetown.travel with your name, the name of the person whose wish you’d like us to grant and their desired Cape Town experience. For further details on ‘Freedom to Wish’, follow CTT on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Terms and conditions apply.

The City of Cape Town’s swimming pools and spray parks are in the final stretch of preparedness for the summer season. Of the City’s 38 swimming pools, 32 will open this season, as well as four of the six spray parks.

• Swimming pools that will open for the season are: Athlone, Bellville, Bellville South, Bonteheuwel, Delft, Goodwood, Hanover Park, Manenberg, Parow North, Parow Valley, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht, Brown’s Farm, Lentegeur, Mnandi, Muizenberg, Newlands, Retreat, Westridge, Wynberg, Zandvlei, Kuilsriver, Blue Downs, Khayelitsha, Monwabisi, Strand, Kensington, Langa, Long Street, Trafalgar, Wesfleur and Sea Point.
• The swimming pools that will remain closed are Elsiesriver, Emthonjeni, Vulindlela, Eastridge, and Observatory due to ongoing repairs and maintenance.
• The Du Noon spray park will open on 12 December, while Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Valhalla Park are likely to open later, once repairs to these facilities are completed.
• The Ocean View and Scottsville spray parks will remain closed as all the equipment, including the overhead water sprayers, have been damaged by vandalism.

The annual spring flowers have started to bloom at the City’s Durbanville Nature Reserve. Residents are encouraged to visit the reserve right on their doorstep. We are open on weekends.

Entrance to the reserve is free and the new opening times are as follows:

The reserve, located along Racecourse Road in Durbanville, offers a range of activities and facilities. There are walking trails and wheelchair-friendly pathways, and picnic sites located at the main entrance and the southern section of the reserve.

The City’s Durbanville Nature Reserve consists of six hectares and it is here, in the heart of our city, where critically endangered Swartland shale renosterveld and Cape Flats sand fynbos meet. There are about 241 plant species, three endemic to Cape Town and six threatened with extinction. The site is home to several animal species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Birds such as the Cape Sugarbird, Double-Collared Sunbird and Cape Spurfowl can be seen in the reserve. The small Grey Mongoose and Angulate Tortoise also occur here, as well as the endemic and vulnerable Cape Rain Frog which can be heard when it rains.

Environmental education activities are also available for schools; however, booking with reserve management is essential.

For further information, residents can contact the reserve on T 021 979 0060 | E durbanville.naturereserve@capetown.gov.za. |  Visit:

WHERE: As above

See also Cape Town Green Map