Table Bay, named after the feature that is most visible anywhere on its coast, the exceptional Table Mountain, is a somehow under-appreciated playground. A few minorities have long recognized and utilized its strengths – kite surfers and beachcombers to name a few – but otherwise the gigantic bay doesn’t seem to get much local attention nor publicity. Yet there are very few Peninsula viewpoints that can rival Blouberg’s grasp of Cape Town as a city nested between ocean and mountain.

Table Mountain seen from across Table Bay, Cape Town at its foot

Marie and I grew increasingly fond of the endless, empty beaches, turquoise waters and unusual sight of the Table’s western flank. Driving in from Constantia in the old Kombi, my paraglider tightly packed in its bag in hope of ideal ground-handling wind conditions, we almost felt part of the picturesque community of beach bums and kite surfers that gather there every time Aeolus acts up.

But then we would drive up or down the coast in search of a picnic spot and always find peace, silence and beauty. There’s something to be said for focused human gatherings, they are powered by great synergy – i.e. a kite surfer hotspot in Blouberg in 25 knot winds – but even more should be said about non-gatherings, about solo exploration, about steering away from crowds, about stepping off the beaten track, wondering “Why stop here?” and answering “Because no one has done it yet.”

Surprisingly, keen eyes and a gut feeling for the unusual will let you find such spots incredibly close to your home, your neighborhood, your routine, your boredom. Well, when it comes to Cape Town, routine and boredom certainly don’t apply!

 

Staring at a ghost
Gulls don’t care about the view
One never gets tired of that unique silhouette