It's here folks!

If you live in Cape Town, you may have noticed that the days are getting shorter, the sun rises later and sets earlier. There is that snowy bite in the air and raindrops and grey skies are making their appearance more often . The South-Easter has died down and the fashion in the shops has changed. Summer dresses have been replaced with coats and scarves. Yup...you guessed it, winter is upon us!


Taken from franto.com

Winters in Cape Town are rather chilly and often wet. The seas are rough but water sports such as surfing and body-boarding are considered winter sports as the Cape’s water is warmer and waves better in winter months. Also, Great Whites, monsters of the ocean, flock to our shores and Shark Cage Diving becomes Cape Town's greatest attraction. After the initial shock of the cold Capetonian’s finally come out of their hibernation and continue to party it up at all the hotspots in and around town. Restaurants near the ocean offer you blankets and turn on their gas heaters. Ships stay out in the bay longer as storms make it dangerous for them to dock but they create quite a scene as they dance in the waves with their heavy cargos swaying.

To the pleasure of locals, prices come down as the tourists all leave back to their warm countries. Shopping malls and cinemas suddenly become fuller as the beach is not an option in the rain. People eat hot scrumptious food and waistlines expand. Traffic increases as Capetonians suddenly forget how to drive when it is raining.

The point is that winter can become depressing and I believe many Capetonians feel somewhat out of sorts while its cold and rainy, but I would have to say that I would choose a Cape Town winter over any other South African winter. It gets cold but not as cold as other places like Guateng and there is always a party, a vibe and excellent wining and dining. There is always something to do, plus, we still get to enjoy our beautiful ocean with its bobbing ships!

Table Mountain hides a lot during winter: Taken from imod.co.za