Cape Town is a destination for all, with most attractions paving the way for wheelchair accessibility and inclusivity.
Here are some wheelchair-friendly Cape Town attractions to check out:
V&A Waterfront
Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s leading shopping destinations. Here, travellers in wheelchairs can navigate the attraction with ease, including disabled parking bays and accessible bathrooms.
All entrances are wheelchair friendly, and there are ramps next to areas with steps to ensure that exploring is effortless. V&A Waterfront also launched their Marine Wildlife Walk featuring a series of animal-shaped boards that showcases the animals in the vicinity and aims to raise awareness of protecting our oceans.
Where: 19 Dock Rd, Cape Town
Cost: Entry is free
Operating hours: 9am to 9pm daily
Contact details: Call +27 21 408 7600 or visit www.waterfront.co.za
Table Mountain
Hailed Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards for the fourth consecutive year, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMACC) makes exploring safe and accessible for all.
TMACC has created an easy-to-use wheelchair guide to make planning easier for travellers. On arrival at the Lower Cable Station, travellers can present their disabled parking tag to one of the green team members and they will direct them to a designated parking area.
Wheelchair travellers have priority access to the ticket office and are guided by the team to the cable car lifts.
TMACC also offers wheelchairs for visitors. They must present their ID in exchange for a wheelchair. They will receive their ID back when they return the wheelchair. The route map has designated wheelchair paths-allowing visitors to soak up the views from every corner.
Where: Tafelberg Rd, Gardens, Cape Town
Cost: Ticket prices start from R340. Children and seniors’ prices start from R110
Operating hours: The first car starts operating at 08:30, and the last car leaves at 18:30. The last car down leaves at 19:30. Operational hours are weather dependent
Contact details: Visit www.tablemountain.net
Groot Constantia
Fancy a wine tasting in a lush setting, then head to South Africa’s oldest wine-producing estate, Groot Constantia. The award-winning estate has select wheelchair-friendly facilities on the property where you can savour some of the most striking views.
Drop off and pick up, as well as disabled parking, are available at Simon’s Restaurant parking, offering easy access to the property.
There are also accessible bathroom facilities in Cloete Cellar and Simon’s Restaurant. However, the ground towards Cloete cellar is gravel and, at times, can be tricky to navigate. Travellers can also indulge in wine tasting at Cloete Cellar.
Where: Groot Constantia Rd, Constantia, Cape Town
Cost: Free entry. Wine tasting and restaurant costs apply
Opening times: Open daily between 10am to 5pm. The last tasting ticket is at 4pm
Contact details: Visit www.grootconstantia.co.za
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, set against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, is acclaimed as one of the greatest botanic gardens in the world.
With so much to see and do, this award-winning attraction ensures that all travellers relish their experience. All visitor facilities, including entrance gates, restaurants, shops and venues, are accessible for wheelchairs.
That said, as Kirstenbosch is set on a very steep gradient, not all areas of the garden are accessible to wheelchairs.
Wheelchair-friendly spaces include the areas between the Visitors’ Centre (Gate 1) and the Centre for Home Gardening (Gate 2), the area surrounding the Main Lawn, the Conservatory, parts of the Dell, Useful Plants, Fragrance Garden, Peninsula Garden, Water-wise Garden, and Sculpture Garden.
Visitors in wheelchairs will need assistance when they visit the areas of the garden on the steep upper slopes, such as the Tree Canopy Walkway, Fynbos Walk, Protea Garden, Erica Garden, Van Riebeeck’s Hedge, Camphor Avenue, and the concert area.
Unfortunately, Mathews Rockery, Cycad Amphitheatre, Arboretum and Pelargonium Koppie are not wheelchair accessible.
Parking bays for wheelchair users and stop-and-drop zones are provided at Gates 1 and 2. There is a stop-and-drop zone at Gate 3, and wheelchair users are advised to ask the ticket control clerk to open the vehicle gate for them.
Where: Rhodes Dr, Newlands, Cape Town
Cost: South African Residents & SADC Nationals 18 years and older (with ID): R90, children from 6 to 17 years: R30, and all children under 6 years enter for free. International / South African Residents and SADC Nationals without ID Adult: R210
South African residents over the age of 60 with ID: Free on Tuesdays except on public holidays
Operating hours:The garden is open daily from 8am to 7pm from September to March and 8am to 6pm from April to August
Contact details: Visit www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch/
Cape Point
Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park and is a must-visit spot if you’re in the city. Cape Point has many wheelchair-friendly sections, including the popular Flying Dutchman Funicular.
Travellers using wheelchairs can enter via a special gate to pass through onto the funicular. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to head up to the top lighthouse as there are steps. However, people with limited mobility may be able to get there slowly and with assistance.
In addition, the Two Oceans Restaurant, the Food Shop, the ablution facilities and select stores on the lower level are also wheelchair accessible.
Cape Point also offers a free audio tour that allows visitors to explore the site at their own pace while listening to insightful stories, facts and legends. Travellers can also access Cape Point via a path on a slight incline.
Other accessible spots include Buffels Bay (you will need assistance getting up and down from the water).
Where: Cape Point, Western Cape
Cost: R94 for South African adults with a valid ID and R47 for kids between 2-11 years. Funicular ticket rates apply.
Standard entry for international /South Africans without ID: R376 for adults and R188 for kids between 2 – 11 years
Operation hours: Due to seasonal changes, there are various opening times set throughout the year to coincide with daylight hours. Typically, the Cape of Good Hope gate opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. Vehicles leaving after the closing time will be fined
Contact details: Visit www.capepoint.co.za
