An Animal Lover’s Guide to Cape Town
By Leigh Penzhorn
So you are a big fan of furry four-legged loveable huggable creatures and you would just love to see all the best animal spots Cape Town has to offer, right? If this sounds like you, we have compiled a list of fabulous places to go and visit while in the Mother City, and we promise your trips will be filled with plenty of oooohs and aaaaahs!
Feathered Friends
World of Birds is a definite must for any animal lover, as the name can be quite deceiving. They don’t only have birds but reptiles and a monkey area as well. Speaking of birds, you can also take a train trip down to Boulders Beach and catch a tan while sleeping with one eye open to make sure one of the hundreds of penguins strolling on the beach doesn’t eat your lunch! For a bird experience of a different kind, hop on an ostrich for a thrilling Ostrich ride! Head on over to the Cape Point Ostrich farm to learn all about one of the only two bird species that cannot fly.
Cheetahs, Giraffes and Monkeys, oh my!
If you are wanting something a bit wilder, then the many fantastic cheetah outreach and conservation options are a great choice for you. These awe inspiring creatures are an endangered species, and a day spent both interacting with them and being educated about thier plight is not something you’ll forget any time soon.
The Giraffe House is another amazing day out, and they are home to meerkat, impala, zebra, giraffe, Cape Fox, crocodile and loads more! Pay them a visit to learn about these animals and conservation, and you can stay on for a delicious picnic later in the day.
Should you feel up for a day of monkeying around, then a trip out to Monkey Town should be on your to-do-list! The Monkey Town Primate Centre is privately owned and has adopted and rescued over 270 monkeys since it was opened in 2000. Visit the centre to get a chance to experience the wonderful world that primates have to offer.
Into the Wild
South Africa is loaded with opportunities to see the “Big Five”. You can either take a short trip up the west coast and visit Thali Thali Game Lodge, or the Garden Route Game Lodge. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can take a short 90 minute flight to Gauteng and go and spend some time in the Kruger National Park, where you can stay in anything from 7 star hotels, to rustic down-to-earth camp sites and enjoy daily game drives to witness some majestic African animals.
Giving Back
Over and above visiting these amazing places, there are also fantastic animal shelters in need of volunteers to help bath, walk, feed and play with cats and dogs, so if you find you have a free Saturday why not pop down to one of them to help a four-legged friend in need.
These are just to name a few, but rest assured Cape Town has plenty of furrtastic places to satisfy the animal lover in you!
Leigh Penzhorn
