Things to Do in Imhoffs Gift

Liebermann Pottery retails a vast collection of ceramics – traditional tableware designed and developed by Sammy and Mary Liebermann, rare porcelain from the Far East, functional ware from Africa and South East Asia, garden planters of all kinds, bric-a-brac, and collectables. The shop is set on a smallholding featuring an organic veggie shop, and indigenous garden. Open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday 10:00 – 18:00, Weekend 10:00 – 15:00.

As you round one of the last hairpin bends of the incredibly scenic Chapman's Peak Drive in the direction of Noordhoek village, you will be struck by the spectacular Noordhoek Beach. It's worth stopping here for a few minutes to gaze from this high vantage point at this enormous beach stretching for eight kilometres. Horse riders can often be seen galloping along this vast expanse, gripped by the wildness of the ocean and sense of space and freedom. There's more than enough space for everyone – surfers, beach walkers, dogs, horse riders, kite surfers and anyone up for a good session of sun tanning and chilling.

Kommetjie is a small village with a large tidal pool 'The Kom', and a really lovely long beach - also called Long Beach, but with far better reason than the one near Simon's Town. Long Beach is a very popular surfing and dog-walking beach. There is a great walk that passes a well preserved 1900 ship wreck, the Kakapo, and you can continue all the way to Noordhoek Beach, at the foot of scenic Chapman's Peak. Another great walk is around Bird Island at the Kommetjie slipway where boats are launched during 'kreef' season. From here you can stroll along the catwalk until you reach the Outer Kom, one of the famous surf spots. A lovely boardwalk starts here and follows the shore to Slangkop lighthouse and then continues up to a WW II radar station on top of the mountain with sweeping views of the elegant Slangkop lighthouse against the wild ocean backdrop as well as the rugged coastline all the way to Cape Point to the south west and Hout Bay to the north east.

The traditional spit n’ sawdust vibe at the local pub, Fisherman’s, opposite the Kommetjie Superette, belies its delicious fresh seafood at very reasonable prices. This great beer garden is under the milkwoods. Choose to eat outside or indoors, often to live music.

The surf’s always up at Kommetjie Longbeach! It’s easy to spend days lapping up the sunshine watching the surfers, kite-surfers and body-boarders but how about doing it yourself? No better place to start than Kommetjie. Grab a wetsuit and a surf or body board from the Kommetjie Surf Shop (021 789 4804) at Post Office House, Huskisson Way, Kommetjie, and take to the waves. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it!

Heaven on horseback is cantering through the surf on a fine thoroughbred horse with whales and dolphins leaping in the bay. That's what the brochure says but this dream can easily become a reality at The Dunes in Noordhoek. The stables are built right on the sand of Noordhoek Beach – the longest, whitest and most spectacular beach in Cape Town. Stroll or canter along the shoreline of this five-mile long beach, then explore the ancient shipwreck. Splash through the seasonal lagoon and trot through the grassy sand dunes. Advanced riders can gallop on the race horse training track parallel to the beach, while beginners admire the exquisite views of Chapman's Peak and the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from offering beach horse rides, The Dunes stables about forty thoroughbred horses who are in training and compete at Cape Town's two race courses every week. You could be taking a beach ride on a retired winner who now has a more leisurely life as a trail riding horse. Your ex-race horse will go as fast as you like, but they are quite happy to plod along at a walk, trot or canter. The horses are regularly featured in the photo shoots and films – not only could you be riding a winning race horse, but your mount could be a movie star too! Contact Mike Stewart +27 (0)21 789 1723 +27 (0)82 784 8699 www.horserides.co.za

On the road to Noordhoek's Long Beach and tucked away under the ancient milk wood trees you will find the Red Herring restaurant. Above it is Skebanga’s Pub - a place so laid back that shoes are not essential and baggy shorts are fine. Skebanga’s is loud and always packed and very popular with horse riders, surfers and locals just chilling out, but there is always room for one more. In the winter a roaring fire will keep the chills at bay, but for most of the year one can enjoy the truly spectacular views of Long Beach from the outside wooden deck. Noordhoek faces West and it is known for breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and nowhere can one enjoy them more than the deck of Skebanga’s pub. Sunny winter afternoons can be spent on the deck watching whales mating off the beach in the cool Atlantic. Deservedly reputed to be one of Cape Town’s great pubs, Skebanga’s serves great pub fare at modest prices, but locals know that the best nosh is the wonderful thin based Pizzas cooked in a wood fired oven, and said to be the best in the Southern hemisphere. Enjoy the multi-choice pizza menu or order one made to your own specification, but be warned - their pizzas are huge and best shared with another. A range of beers is available on tap as well as the usual pub offerings. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself hooked and keep on returning. That is what Skebanga’s does to you!

Local is “lekker” they say. Well, it can’t get much better than Noordhoek farm village; a thatched Cape Dutch yesteryear complex with farm stall, excellent restaurants, a pub, artist studios, antiques and African collectibles and curios. This charming village complex of shops, galleries and handicraft shops is situated at the start of famous Chapmans peak scenic drive - clustered under ancient oak trees. This favorite relaxing spot for the locals always has a busy vibe, but is generously shared with visitors to this enchanted valley. The restaurants begin their busy days serving wonderful country breakfasts which you can enjoy our fresco or under the thatched patio of the food barn. The Food Barn is presided over by famous chef Franck Dangereux, who offers cooking demonstrations with his always popular Bistro menu. The Food Barn also offers a wide range of organic vegetables, baked goods, preserves and cheeses for you to take home and enjoy the best of the Cape.Amongst the shops you will find a wine shop – open seven days a week – which will give you an excellent the opportunity to try a range of Cape wines including the prestigious output of our local Cape Point winery. Spend a couple of hours browsing in the art galleries sharing the inspiration that the many artists who live in the valley have gained from the beauty that surrounds Noordhoek, or shop for truly African clothes and crafts.There is no reason to be worried about the children being bored while you shop or just browse because there is a large playground area equipped with swings, slides and jungle gyms to keep them occupied. Perhaps you might join the locals at the end of your outing in the local pub “The Frog” for a cool couple of points or even an enjoyable pub meal.

Tucked just below the entrance to Chapman's Peak, Cape Point Vineyards is worth a visit. The enormous tasting room is sumptuously furnished with comfy couches, polished tables, a giant a 300-year old tapestry and crystal chandelier. Knowledgeable staff carry out the various wine sampling menus with great poise – try their award-winning flagship or premium tastings with a cheese platter of handcrafted Camembert, Huguenot, Gorgonzola, Mont Vere and Emmentaler.

Just outside Cape Point Nature Reserve, on the western side, is the lovely beach village of Scarborough with its long sandy beach, great surf, interesting rock pools and lovely walks. There are minimal, but sufficient facilities, and one restaurant in the village is fairly close.

To the east of Misty Cliffs is the popular kiting, surfing, stand up paddling and windsurfing spot called Witsands by locals. This lovely beach is long and sandy, has great winter surf, some lovely walks and is a great place to spot whales in season. There are no facilities and parking is on the main road. The approach to Witsands Beach is via a steep stone stairway.

Considered one of the finest golf courses in South Africa, Clovelly Country Club is famous for its rolling, computer-irrigated fairways and undulating holes complementing its rich coastal environment. The championship-quality greens consist of bent grass and poa annua mix. Nestled in the pristine and tranquil Silvermine Valley close to Fish Hoek, Clovelly offers its members and visitors a memorable experience.The picturesque and challenging courses are a favourite of Bobby Locke, where each hole has a distinctive setting, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and False Bay. The Silvermine River, natural sand dunes and trees line the fairways with water features and a wide variety of birdlife such as guinea fowl, pheasant and steppe buzzard.Adjoining the club house is a pro shop, restaurant and driving range.

Silvermine Nature Reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and offers numerous trails for walking or hiking. A detailed map of the trails can be purchased from Noordhoek Village tourism office for a nominal fee. The Silvermine Hiking trail allows one to see some of the world’s most spectacular coastal and mountain scenery which is rich with a variety of flora as well as bird and small animal life. There are a large number of different Proteas and other fynbos species, flowering throughout the different seasons; making this an enjoyable and interesting walk at any time of the year. One of the easiest and most accessible walks leads from the car park at the top of the mountain to the Silvermine Reservoir. This is an easy 1 – 1 ½ hour walk and is suitable for all members of the family. From the parking area the trail is well marked and heads predominantly uphill although it is not particularly strenuous. The trail winds through remarkably different vegetation and you will enjoy a number of boardwalks over the streams. On hot summer days you will find the wooded banks verdant with tree ferns a pleasantly cool and peaceful spot to linger. Surprisingly the trail heads through some small forest glades. The path wends its way up well-maintained wooden walkways and the occasional rustic bridge until reaching the dam wall. Stop along the way to admire the spectacular views across False Bay where on a clear day you can see clear across to Gordon’s Bay. A number of quaint stone benches and tables are dotted along the path where one can picnic or braai. It is best to check at the ticket office beforehand – lighting of fires may be prohibited in dry and windy conditions. During hot summer days, people often take a cooling swim in the clear water. In early autumn there are an amazing variety of flowering plants including Proteas. On the opposite side of Ou Kaapse Weg, just after the apex, is another entrance manned by the Parks board where one can park and walk up Silvermine River Valley to a small waterfall, passing a number of old ruins. The waterfall offers the perfect spot to take in the sounds of nature. Like so many of the waterfalls on Table Mountain, this one is only seen in its full glory in winter, but it is also a great peaceful picnic spot. Need to know? There is a small entry fee or free for Wild card holders. There are toilet facilities at the parking area.

Fish Hoek Beach stretches for just over a mile at the head of a beautiful bay. It's one of the most popular Cape Town beaches for families, and there is loads of space for them to spread out. The northern side, Clovelly, is usually relatively peaceful. Fish Hoek often has a nice little wave and it's very popular with swimmers and young surfers. From the southern end of the beach another one of those great walkways hugs the southern end of the bay. It's a great walk, especially in whale season, and there are lovely tidal pools.

Visit a sparkling, colourful Alladin's Cave with your little ones. The Scratch Patch and Mineral World Gemstone shop is an awesome spot for young and old to relax while foraging for your own gemstones. Visitors can purchase fabulous, affordable gifts at the shop in addition to their collected treasures. Topstones is also worth a visit - see how rough stone is polished at the world's largest gemstone tumbling factory.

The soft white sands of Clovelly Beach have been the starting point for relaxing morning and evening strolls around the Fish Hoek bay for generations. Fringed with ancient sand-dunes and washed by the 'Indian ocean', beach-goers enjoy a temperature that's often several degrees warmer than the Atlantic waters on the peninsula's west side. A small offshore ridge gives junior surfers a perfect little practice wave, and hobie-cats and sea-kayaks launch into the ocean further down. Clovelly beach provides a peaceful alternative to the busy Fish Hoek side of the bay. Whales frequently bask in the shallows from June to November, and dolphins provide great entertainment as they glide and bounce around in the surf.

Red Rock Tribal is not your usual curio shop! Supporting and empowering local artists throughout southern Africa, Red Rock is a treasure trove of interesting and eclectic art. Their mantra is 'the world is full of waste - but not all of it is rubbish!' Here you'll find innovative crafts that are humourous, clever as well as trendy and sometime carrying a social message. Red Rock Tribal are also specialists in old tribal artefacts that have been sourced from various African countries. Definitely worth a visit! Need to know? Shop hours are 9:30 - 5:30 7 days a week.

The Hout Bay Harbour is the main attraction in Hout Bay and also one of the busiest harbours in the Western Cape with a thriving tuna, snoek and crayfish industry. Within the working harbour is the Hout Bay Yacht Club which provides moorings for recreational, fishing and sailing boats alike. Several seafood restaurants are situated within the harbour. Next to the harbour is a long white stretch of beach that is popular with tourists, locals (and their dogs) as well as horse riders.

Salty sea dawgs, venerable captains, fishermen, locals and trendy visitors all hang out at Mariner's Wharf. En route to Cape Point from Cape Town, Mariner's claims to be the first harbour emporium in Africa and is a worthwhile stopover to have lunch, sundowners or do a bit of shopping. Overlooking the bay and Chapman’s Peak, the restaurants, shops and markets exude a maritime atmosphere and even the seagulls look like part of the decor.

The perfect place to relax with friends, family and colleagues!From the moment you walk through the door, you will feel like part of the family. Warm leather sofas invite you to take your time and relax. Enjoy the warmth of the fire place during the cooler months or enjoy the breath taking view across the bay and beach on those balmy evenings.Looking for somewhere to watch South Africa rugby at its best? Chappies is the place!