Tokai, a residential suburb of Cape Town based at the foot of the Constantiaberg (part of the Table Mountain chain). Surrounded by Forest Glade, Steenberg Estate, Pollsmoor, Dennedal and Dreyersdal, it offers a central location from which to base yourself and to explore everything from wine routes, nature reserves and even enjoy the beach a short drive away.
The areas on the mountain are pine plantations. Once all the pines are felled, the area will be a protected conservation area allowing the fynbos to regenerate. The Tokai forest is part of the Table Mountain National Park.
TRANSPORT
Travelling around the Southern Suburbs is relatively easy.
Download the mobile app TCT (Transport Cape Town) which is available for the following smartphones: Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and Blackberry and under the name ‘TCT’ (look for the red logo). The app incorporates MyCiti, Golden Arrow (private bus company and Metrorail.
MyCiti (Cape Town’s bus system) does not yet operate in the Southern Suburbs, but Golden Arrow does.
Taxis
There are plenty of good, safe and reliable taxi firms in Cape Town, taxis cannot be hailed in the street, a telephone call is required.
Mini-bus Taxis are shared taxis can be hailed in the street on busy routes. There is a lot of bad press about minibus taxis, to be safe stick to the busy routes during the day.
Uber operates in Cape Town.
Train
Metrorail operates short distance commuter trains to Simon’s Town through the southern suburbs (southern line), to the Northern Suburbs and outlying towns of Paarl, Wellington, Malmesbury and Worcester. For the map of the lines see Metrorail. There is also a Metrorail App available.
THINGS TO SEE & DO:
1) The Tokai Arboretum
The Tokai Arboretum, a national monument, is a quiet spot with lots to do. Cyclists and hikers of all ages can find joy along the trails. Take a rest and a cup of tea with cake in the tearoom or under the trees. While there, pick up a map, which shows the location and tree numbers. There are over 274 tree species and over 1555 different first reserved by Joseph Storr Lister in 1885. The Tokai Manor House constructed in 1795.
Tokai Road, Tokai
Open daily.
+27 21 712 7471
2) Tokai Forest Market
The Tokai Forest Market is set among tall trees. A popular area with cyclists, runners and families enjoying the fresh air. There are plenty of stalls selling organic ingredients and dishes, coffee and sweet treats. Browse through the book stalls, crafts and clothing traders. For children there is a large sand pit and a jungle gym.
Corner of Orpen and Spaanschemat River Roads, Tokai
Saturdays from 9am to 2pm
Sundays from 110am to 3pm
+27 (0)79 429 1454
3) The Forest Horse Riding Club
The Tokai Forest Riding Club offers a full horse riding experience, including:
● catching horses,
● grooming,
● tacking up,
● riding,
● preparing feed and
● learning about horsemanship.
The whole experience is 2 hours with a 45-minute lesson and a meander through Tokai Forest.
11 Tokai Road, Tokai
By arrangement. Please phone. +27 71 012 9576 or +27 82 478 6503
4) The Tokai Forest Mountain Bike Trail
The Tokai Forest MTB Tokai trails starts at the Arboretum at the end of Tokai Road. Open daylight hours, park at the Arboretum and then ride, any time, Monday to Sunday, sunrise to sunset. Or join a night ride on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays; out by 10pm.
Permits are required and obtainable from the Tokai Tourist Office in Tokai Road.
The levels range from easy to extreme and the types of routes are some of the toughest single track MTB trails in the country. This is a very busy route on weekends, so it is best to go during the week or early mornings.
The Tokai forest is in the process of being changed from commercial pine plantation to a conservation area. As the current trees are felled they are not replaced. This means that the trail is constantly changing and routes are closed and reopened regularly.
● The trails combine cross-country riding with downhill trails for all riders – from beginners to professional athletes. They are graded according to difficulty and colour coded:
● Green – easy flowing single track, little uphill and short distance. Good for beginners of any age.
● Blue – for those with trail experience; expect certain obstacles like logs, roots, rocks, a few man-made trail features (with alternative bypasses), steeper climbs and descents.
● Black – for expert riders who want the technical trail features, steep and rough terrain and no alternative bypasses.
Don’t forget elbow pads, knee pads and helmet. No helmet. No ride.
The end of Tokai Road, Tokai
5) Keysers River Trail
This River Trail starts in Firgrove Way and goes south along the Keysers River to the Cycle Track and ends in Lisamore Ave.
The trail is part of the Green belt and links via Tokai Park, Tokai Manor, the Arboretum and Elephants Eye Path, and via the Constantiaberg contour path to Constantia Nek and Cecilia and to Kirstenbosch for more strenuous hikes or cycles. Over 100km of trails are maintained, with bridges over rivers and boardwalks were necessary. The trails are regularly used by hikers, dog walkers, cyclists and runners.
Although there is no fynbos, this trail has been planted by gardeners and authorities over the last 200 years. So a variety of trees and shrubs are found along the way.
6) Lower Tokai Plantation
This is a circular walk designed for families. It includes a 4 km course for runners and speed walkers, benches, boardwalks and a jungle gym for the children. Pine Trees make up the plantation that were planted in the 1900s. Today these plantations are being harvested and allowing the natural fynbos to regrow. Indigenous trees have been planted to maintain the park-like atmosphere. Please stay on the walkways to avoid damaging the fragile ecosystem.
1½ – 2 hours easy to moderate walking
7) Blue Route Shopping Mall
The Blue Route is a large shopping mall in Tokai. Includes a food court and a cinema.
8) Tokai Golf Lab
Golf Lab features a number of golf simulators where you can play some of the best courses in the world using their advanced technology.
10 Stibitz Road, Westlake Business Park
info@thegolflab.co.za
+27 21 701 1141/2
9) Westlake Golf Course
This parkland layout sits beautifully at the foot of the Silvermine mountains and is only a 25-minute drive from Cape Town CBD and 15 minutes from the Southern Suburbs. The beautiful setting, abundant bird life (look out for the iconic fish eagle) and accessibility make Westlake one of the most popular courses in Cape Town. Top South African cricketers like Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher are all members here, so you're in good company playing Westlake.
- Visit the Tokai forest which forms part of the Table Mountain National Park: Walking routes, markets, Horse riding and mountain biking trails
- Enjoy the Tokai Arboretum deep in history and enjoyed by cyclists and hikers alike
- Delight in some scrumptious food at The Brasserie offering Food, Beer and Wine
- Choose from a variety of exciting hiking trails and cycling trails from mountainous to river-based
- Take the family along a circular walk around the Lower Tokai Plantation
- Blue Route Shopping Mall is very close by with all the basics and some additional entertainment
- Improve your swing at the Tokai golf lab featuring a number of simulators
- Play a full round at the stunning Westlake Golf Club
- Close to Table Mountain Nature Reserve chain (Silvermine Nature Reserve), Marina Da Gama, Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve
- A short drive from the beach, you have the entire False Bay area to choose from (South-East from there) or take a stunning drive along the Cape Peninsula for the most incredible scenery
Tokai, originally, an open area with various wine farms and smallholdings. Although the farms have been subdivided, there are still a few old Cape Dutch houses. The suburb was built quickly because of the need for housing for predominantly white, English-speaking South African soldiers returning from World War II.
The suburb developed in the 1940s was named after Tokaj, a range of hills in Hungary.
