Cape Town - The Mother City is expected to sizzle again, but if you’re not keen on spending your days on the beach, read on.
Here’s a list of 10 of the best public swimming pools, tidal pools, reservoirs and spray parks the Mother City has to offer.
So grab a hat and sunblock and shape up to cool down.
Sea Point swimming pool
l Location: Lower Beach Road, Sea Point
l Entrance: Adults R21, children R10.50
l Times: 7am to 7pm
Few municipal swimming pools in the world can boast a location that matches that of Sea Point swimming pool, which is alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
The complex includes an Olympic-sized pool, a “regular” pool, a children’s splash pool and diving pool.
The pools have change rooms with toilets, showers and lockers as well as lifeguards.
You can buy a selection of sweet treats, ice-cream and pancakes from stalls on the Promenade nearby and rent bikes to cycle along the seashore.
Silvermine reservoir
l Location: Ou Kaapse Weg
l Entrance: R45 for adults, R25 for children
l Times: 7am to 7pm
You can’t (legally) hop into many reservoirs in Cape Town, but this one in the Silvermine section of Table Mountain National Park is the exception.
Enter at the gate on Ou Kaapse Weg, and drive to the large parking lot.
A short stroll along a wooden walkway brings you to the reservoir.
The reservoir’s water is tea-coloured, from the tannin in the fynbos surrounding it, but is perfectly safe to swim in.
There are no lifeguards on duty. You have to leave by 7pm, and the entrance gate closes at 6pm.
St James tidal pool
l Location: Main Road, St James
l Entrance: Free
l Times: Daytime
The St James tidal pool is one of the largest of those dotting the False Bay coast.
Park on Main Road and take the subway beneath the railway line.
Tidal pools fill with seawater at high tide and retain the water at low tide, meaning you can swim any time of the day.
If you visit St James, you can admire the dozen brightly coloured beach huts that grace the covers of many Cape Town guide books.
There is no lifeguard on duty.
Muizenberg swimming pool
l Location: Beach Road, Muizenberg
l Entrance: Adults R6, children R1.50, pensioners free
l Times: 10am to 5pm
You don’t have to head to Muizenberg Beach to cool off on a sweltering day.
There are three municipal pools near the historic Pavilion on Beach Road.
They include a 22m main pool, a round pool at the bottom of a short water slide and a children’s splash pool.
It’s a perfect place if you have young kids or the wind is blowing up a storm on the beach.
The Muizenberg water slides are a short walk away.
Newlands swimming pool
l Location: Main Road, Newlands
l Entrance: Adults R21, children R10.50
l Times: 10am to 5pm
This swimming pool complex on Main Road, Newlands, is one of the larger in the city and can accommodate up to 825 visitors. It includes a main Olympic-size pool, a diving pool and a kiddies’ splash pool. During the week you may find only a handful of serious swimmers doing laps, but at weekends it fills up with picnicking families. It has lifeguards, ablution facilities with change rooms and showers and a wooden jungle gym.
Khayelitsha spray park
l Location: Cekeca Road, Khayelitsha
l Entrance: Free
l Times: 10am to 4pm
The Khayelitsha spray park is one of seven in the city where people can cool off. The park includes refreshing jets of recirculated water that spurt out from special features, and is very popular with youngsters on hot days.
Vulindela swimming pool
l Location: corner of NY145 and NY117, Gugulethu
l Entrance: Adults R6, kids R1.50, pensioners free
l Times: 10am to 5pm
Vulindela is a great place to cool off if you live in Gugulethu and surrounds. The complex can accommodate up to 700 patrons, and includes a 38m main pool and a children’s pool. If you bring a picnic you can enjoy yourself on the grassy banks. It includes ablution facilities with change rooms and showers. Lifeguards are on duty.
Wynberg swimming pool
l Location: Rosmead Avenue, Wynberg
l Entrance: Adults R6, kids R1.50, pensioners free
l Times: 10am to 5pm
This complex on Rosmead Avenue, Wynberg, can accommodate 525 people. It includes a 30m main pool, and an 11m children’s pool. It also has a play area for children, as well as ablution facilities with change rooms and showers. Lifeguards are on duty.
Camps Bay tidal pool
l Location: Victoria Road, Camps Bay
l Entrance: Free
l Times: Daytime
If hopping up and down in the frigid waves of Camps Bay isn’t your thing, head over to Camps Bay tidal pool on the southern end of the beach for a more leisurely swim. Between Camps Bay and Clifton you will find the equally popular Maiden’s Cove tidal pool.
Long Street Baths
l Location: Long Street, Cape Town
l Entrance: Adults R21, children R10.50
l Times: 7am to 7pm
This covered swimming pool complex at the top of Long Street can accommodate 800 people. It includes one 25m main pool and a 7m children’s pool. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer. If you want to heat up rather than cool down, you can take a Turkish bath at R56.50 per hour. The pool is reserved for women every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm.
l For a full list of city swimming pools and tidal pools, see www.capetown.gov.za.
Swim safely
Good safety is as important at swimming pools and tidal pools at the beach, particularly for small children.
First, always check whether there are lifeguards on duty and know where they are.
Never let children out of your sight.
According to Cape Town rules, children younger than 7 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult or parent.
Children older than seven are not allowed in baby pools or at municipal swimming pools.
If swimming in a diving pool, do not swim under or near the diving boards.
No double bouncing, bombing or crash diving is allowed in such pools.
Remember to always use sunscreen on all exposed areas and to take a hat.
Officials say babies younger than 6 months should stay out of sunlight at all times.
In addition, no alcohol is permitted at beaches or swimming pools.
For emergencies, phone 107 toll-free from any Telkom landline, and 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
JAN CRONJE, Weekend Argus