Bloubergstrand

Bloubergstrand is a quiet residential area along the Table View coastline with panoramic views of Table Mountain and Robben Island. Try the white mussels and other seafood in this marine nature reserve.

Stroll along the white-sand beach and take a dip in the ocean to cool down on a hot day. Rocky outcrops containing many black mussels decorate the beach, which is popular with surfers. Try to spot the southern right whales, which emerge here from May through December. Heaviside's dolphins and Cape fur seals also make an appearance. Stay for the sunset and watch the silhouette of Table Mountain darken against a reddening sky.

Visit Big Bay to join the many kite surfers in the cold, choppy Atlantic Ocean. Arrive in January or February, for the driest and warmest weather. Here, white mussels are obtained from the sand. Note that this protected area prohibits the extraction of Cape Rock lobster and abalone.

Dine at restaurants serving the local delicacy of mullets with maize bread. Another specialty is braaibrood, which includes bread, onion, cheese and tomato.

Appreciate the myriad shopping options in this vibrant area. A highlight is Canal Walk Shopping Centre, with its scenic water features and range of stores.

The name of the town means Blue Mountain Beach in Afrikaans, in reference to the blue hue Table Mountain appears to adopt from such a distance. Learn the history of this district, which was involved in the Battle of Blaauwberg, when the British defeated the Dutch to take hold of the Cape Colony.

Find the suburban neighborhood in the northern outskirts of Cape Town in southwestern South Africa. Drive north from Cape Town for 11 miles (18 kilometers) to get here. Parklands, Table View and the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve are among the nearby areas.

Bloubergstrand is a feast for the eyes, with its views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the majestic southern right whales.