It’s starting to get colder in Cape Town these days and for the average tourist, it means the end of their holiday of exploring the Mother City and surrounding areas. But the arrival of winter doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a vacation in this famous tourist destination. There are still fun-filled activities to pursue and events to enjoy. If you’re thinking of cancelling your holiday to Cape Town in the next month or so, forget that and get your mind around this.

While the wind is starting to pick up and the temperature is dropping, there are a few facts you should consider before writing off the Mother City for your next vacation plans. The coldest it gets around Cape Town is between 7 and 20 degrees celsius (44-68 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s definitely warmer than the 2-6 degrees celsius (36 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit) in London or the -25 to -18 degrees celsius (-13 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit) in most parts of the United States during the winter. There are days when it rains, but there are plenty of days when it doesn’t, meaning that outdoor activities don’t need to be ruled out.

Keep reading to find out why vacationing in Cape Town during the winter is a good idea and what you can do to make sure you have an enjoyable holiday in the Mother City.

Off-season specials

It is a well-known fact that the winter season is also the off-peak season when it comes to travelling and accommodation. Lower cost accommodation means you’re free to spend more on your holiday in Cape Town or that you’ll even be able to save on some funds once you’re back home. You could enjoy longer stays and if you read further on you’ll see that you have a better chance of getting exactly the accommodation option and location that you want.

Fewer tourists

Yes, the cooler weather usually results in a smaller number of tourists travelling around the world. The upside to this is that lines at the airports will be shorter and you’ll spend less time waiting to be served. More holiday accommodation locations will be available, giving you a better chance of getting the rental you want. Traffic should be considerably less, letting you get to your accommodation and tourist attractions in a pleasing amount of time. Plenty of eateries around Cape Town require you to book a table, and since you won’t see many tourists around, you’ll be able to get a time slot that suits you perfectly.

What can you still get up to?

As mentioned before, the winter weather that Cape Town typically features should hardly hinder your fun while exploring the attractions in and around the Mother City. Here are some of the activities and events you can try out and go to during the colder months.

What better time could you have to go hiking?

At first, this might sound like a bad idea, but not every day in Cape Town during the winter is the same. On those days when the wind speed is low and there is no rain, mild to low temperatures ensure that a mountain or forest hike is actually easier! You won’t have to worry about the sun adding to your discomfort meaning that you’ll have more fun as you discover the gorgeous views you can get on many of the Western Cape’s popular hiking trails.

Surfing can be more exciting this time of year

With the winds picking up on some days, surfers of all kinds can look forward to bigger waves. From the West Coast to the Atlantic Seaboard, there are plenty of surfing spots, some being the best in the world and popular among surfing enthusiasts.  While it’s winter, you might think again that this is a bad idea since the water will be too cold, but here’s a fact about Cape Town’s beaches: while the waters along the coastline of the Western Cape tend to be cold during the summer, in the winter the waters become warmer. Even swimming will be a more pleasurable experience!

This is also the best time for shark cage diving

For the adrenaline junkies, the winter period is the best time to go shark cage diving in the Western Cape. The warmer waters of the winter mentioned above mean greater shark activity, so your money will be better spent since you will get a larger amount of shark sightings. How are those holiday plans for Cape Town in the winter looking now?

Winter is whale watching season peak time!

Nature lovers will be pleased to know that during the cooler weather whale sightings increase. If this activity is one of your main reasons for visiting Cape Town then your holiday funds will be better spent and you will have the vacation in the Mother City that you’ve really wanted.

And if it rains?

It wouldn’t be a winter in Cape Town if it did not rain. While that might put an end to most outdoor activities, the wide range of attractions found in and around the Mother City prove why this destination was awarded the number 1 spot on two different top destination lists last year.

Indulge in some wine and dining at one of the many establishments

Plenty of restaurants and cafés in and around Cape Town feature cosy and elegantly decorated interiors that include fireplaces, as well as offer beautiful views of sights that include the Cape Town City Centre, the Atlantic Ocean and the magnificent mountains of the Western Cape, especially Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range.

Test your climbing skills at CityROCK

While you definitely can’t try rock climbing in windy and rainy weather, the indoor climbing facilities offered at CityROCK are perfect for testing your grip. Situated in Observatory, a short distance of 6 km to the east of the Cape Town City Centre, CityROCK features a large bouldering area (bouldering meaning climbing 3-4 metres without rope), high walls for climbing with a rope, a coffee shop that is ideal to hang out with friends with free Wi-Fi access so that visitors can share their experiences on social media.

The FNB Whisky Live Festival Cape Town Leg at The Lookout in Granger Bay

The FNB Whisky Live Festival is an event taking place throughout South Africa over the course of 2015. With the Durban event having taken place already in April and the Pretoria one due later this month, the Cape Town leg takes place on the 18th to 20th of June with the finale taking place in Sandton in November.

This year, the Cape Town leg of the FNB Whisky Live Festival takes place at The Lookout in Granger Bay, the 18-20th of June. With enough parking both in front of the venue and along it at the V&A Waterfront, gorgeous views of the ocean and a central location ensure that this event will be even better than last year’s Cape Town leg of the festival!

Keep those holiday plans in Cape Town on your calendar

Now that you see what a holiday in the Mother City can be like, get those plans sorted out. The attractions in and around Cape Town are more than enough to ensure that not only can you experience comfortable vacation more easily, but you can also still have fun in one of the best tourist destinations in the world!