Autumn. Winter. The words conjure up images of snowfall, icy winds, woolly scarves, and mugs of steaming hot cocoa. But that’s winter somewhere else. At the southern tip of Africa, locals know that the most festive time to be in the Cape is when everyone assumes you shouldn’t be!
Yes, there are days of cold and rain, but when you visit the Western Cape in winter, what you’ll see may make you blink twice: surfers, Mardi Gras, yachting, wine festivals, golf, greenery and, best of all, SUN.
Winter Green
Cape Town and most of the Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate, meaning it’s pleasant almost all year round. And surprising to many, it is often at its best during the traditional low or off-peak season. You’ll miss the crowds and there are great accommodation bargains to be had.
Between May and September, temperatures average between 7 and 20 degrees C, far removed from the concept of a ‘white winter’. The traditional winter rainfall experienced in the Cape, turns the landscape into lush green meadows – making the ‘green season’ the ideal time to visit for tourists wishing to spend their vacations in a more temperate location.
Wide Awake
The Western Cape comes alive during winter. Even though summer is the most popular time for tourists to visit, the city doesn’t go into hibernation when the colder months come around.
Instead, it hosts even more parties, festivals and events to keep visitors in a holiday frame of mind.
Surf’s up...in autumn
With the locals still in summertime mood, the surf season does not end when autumn begins. From May through August, a number of local and international surfing competitions take place including the Quicksilver King of the Groms World Series, O’Neil Cold Water Classic and the Bilabong Pro J Bay.
The competitions take place in different legs in coastal towns around the country, and spectators can spend the day watching surfers display their skill whilst riding the best waves the Cape Atlantic can throw at them.
May Madness
An hour out of Cape Town central, explore the villages and vineyards surrounding the Riebeeck Valley. Now in its 8 th year, the town’s Olive Festival in May gives visitors the opportunity to tour olive groves and the local wine route, attend art exhibitions, live music shows and more.
‘The Olive harvest is a winter harvest.’ says Juliana Meredith, the festivals founder.
‘T here is still the perception that the weather is cold and miserable ,’ she says ‘But t he Riebeeck Valley is at its most exquisite from May to September, with green wheat fields, bright blue sky and snow capped mountains.’
Add even more colour to your ‘winter’ break and join the fiesta at the Knysna Pink Loerie Mardi Gras, now in its 7 th year. Highlights include art, food, music, parties every night, and a loud-and-proud street parade!
Glorious Golfing
When winter starts along the Garden Route, get your golf shirt and sunscreen on and discover one of the country’s premier golfing destinations.
From cliff-top stunners like Pezula or Simola in Kynsna, and Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay, to world-rated Fancourt nestling at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, golfers can play some of the most scenic and affordable golf courses in the world in mostly sunny, pleasant conditions .
The Food of Love
By the time July and mid-winter comes around, head to Knysna for the Pick n Pay Oyster Festival, one of the country’s oldest, that includes 80 events, over 50 000 visitors and some 190 000 oysters.
Now in its 25 th year, the 10 day festival offers sport, wine, entertainment and oysters aplenty – including oyster-shucking (opening) and eating competitions, the Oyster Mardi Gras, an oyster cooking and wine tasting evening.
Warm in the Wine Country
The Western Cape is wine country and almost every town hosts its own ‘grape-related’ celebration. Not least of these, is a Wacky Wine Weekend in Robertson in June, Franschhoek’s Bastille Festival in July, and the Stellenbosch Wine Festival in August.
Although the vineyards are ‘asleep’ in August as the festivals coordinator Annareth Jacobs puts it, the end of winter is still a lovely time to visit. Taste superb wines and linger over long lunches outdoors in the fine Cape weather.
Spring in your Step
By the time, spring officially comes around, and the weather begins to match its seasonal name, the winter festivities will have passed, but the events keep on coming.
So stay a while longer to experience the Hermanus Whale Festival at the end of September, which celebrates both the coming of spring and the arrival of the Southern Right whales in Walker Bay.
Rather than staying at home with a blanket and some mulled wine, consider a ‘winter’ holiday on the Cape coast – where you can avoid Mother Nature’s cold shoulder and have a festive time doing it.
Image of Riebeeck Valley courtesy and copyright Chris Murphy/www.artorchard.co.za
Images of festival goers Courtesy and copyright Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival
Links: