During mom-in-law’s recent whirlwind visit to Cape Town, we took her all over the Cape Peninsula. One of the destinations on our list was the newly opened Green Point Urban Park. We’d visited here for a brief walkabout in April last year, during the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when the work on the nearby brand-new Cape Town Stadium wasn’t quite completed yet. So we were keen to see what it looked like now.
Our verdict?
It is fabulous! There is lots of educational material in the form of informative signs and labels, pretty sculptures and artistic creations are dotted about all over, and the biodiversity garden is quite fascinating. I could meander and explore here for quite a while!
The park is open every day from 7am to 7pm, and there are security guards on duty to make sure that you feel safe, and presumably so that nothing gets vandalised, damaged or nicked. Have a look here for the rules of using the park.
According to this article in the Cape Town Magazine:
“The park will include a fitness park for cycling, outdoor training and gym; a learning park for functions, seminars and arts training; a play park, an art park for specialist events, exhibitions and craft markets; an adventure park, a heritage park, an events park including outdoor markets, concerts, competitions and events and additional facilities including a tea garden, a biodiversity nursery, bicycle rental, flower selling and fresh produce markets.”
As far as we could see, though, these things are not available yet. If you want to find out more about the park and its features, you can contact Nafeesa Williams at nafeesa.williams@capetown.gov.za. In the meantime, enjoy the slideshow!
But in case you want to click on any of the pictures for a closer look, I’ll post the Gallery here too:
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- The sun is low in the sky by the time that we arrive at the Green Point Urban Park
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- Next to the central pathway lies the amazing Biodiversity Garden
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- Oh! Look! The famous new Cape Town Stadium – which staged the semi-final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and most recently, the rocking U2 Concert!
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- I love how these signs are in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa – so you can learn another language at the same time
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- There’s a food garden, a medicinal plants garden, an illustration of various veld types…
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- The broad central walkway
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- Handy circular orientation signs showing the layout of the entire Park
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- A water feature creates happy feng shui
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- The Stepping Stone Bridge – don’t trip now!
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- An example of a matjieshuis used by the Khoikhoi
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- A circle of handy tree-trunks around a central fire
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- Part of the biodiversity garden
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- These metal structures represent the things that destroy biodiversity
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- Urbanisation, invasive plants, agriculture and fire
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- A modern version of the matjieshuis, perhaps?
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- The spiral of life representing the connection of all human beings with their environment
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- Not sure what this is – do you think it represents the human cell?
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- Oooh! Dragonflies flying hither and thither!
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- Eeek! A puffadder, all curled up on a warm rock!
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- A strikingly coloured blue-headed lizard
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- Cheerful birds made of beads
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- Can you see the green praying mantis and the chameleon in the foreground?
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- Those look like a jackal and a small buck, hidden in the indigenous vegetation
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- Oooh, and a hooded cobra, ready to strike!
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- A crowned plover – he’s real!
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- Look – there he flies!
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- Illustrating the predator-prey relationship – a snake in the foreground, but not sure what type of animal that is!
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- Time to go – sunset approaches…
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- Urban juxtaposition: a beautiful natural (albeit man-made) park, surrounded by high-rise apartment blocks
Grains of Sand 
GreenPoint Urban Park: can’t quite work out where the entrance is ??
There are actually several entrances, Alison.
The one that is easiest to find is opposite the Mouille Point Lighthouse (with the big red and white candy-stripes). Find the Lighthouse, get parking, and then turn your back on the sea, and walk straight across Beach Road, and a small parking area. There’ll be a tall white apartment building on your right. The West Gate entrance is straight ahead of you.
Do let me know what you think of this place when you find it, will you? 🙂
Looks really interesting! Will have to check it out when I travel to Cape Town again.
Your mystery animal with the snake is a honey badger (I think). They’re supposed to eat snakes.
Aaaahh! A honey badger! Excellent – mystery solved. Thank you, Lisa. 😀
Hi Reggie
The park looks so professional and well maintained. I think I’ll drive out there soon.
Will you be going to the Kirstenbosch plant sale this weekend? Lots to buy…
Hello Gloria
Welcome, and thank you for your comment. 🙂
It’s definitely worth a ramble with camera and notebook; I particularly like the educational aspects, and wonder whether the neighbouring schools will take their classes on outings there.
No, I won’t be going to the Kirstenbosch plant sale, but hope you’ll find some great bargains there!
That looks fab – and so accessible and educational for all ages which is perfect! Be good to see it when all the things they have promised have materialised.
Thanks for sharing 😉
Ax
You’re welcome, Al. I’m also curious to find out what the status is of all the other projects – it’s probably a very long-term plan.
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit! I know I would like it. Wondering whether your mom-in-law lives in South Africa, too? Will go exploring a little deeper on your blog to see if the answer is somewhere.
Good morning, Kathy – have a look here. I explained about Namibia. 🙂
This looks seriously interesting, must go and and check it out.