Latest news with #TimeOutCapeTown
Time Out
12 hours ago
- General
- Time Out
Rogue Cape baboon safely rescued
The Southern Suburbs community can rest easy following the news that a rogue Cape baboon, who had authorities on their toes last Friday, is now safely back on his home turf. Cape of Good Hope SPCA Communications Manager Belinda Abraham confirmed the successful rescue endeavour over the weekend after a "tense day of tracking and multiple evasions." "We're relieved to share a positive outcome for the young dispersing male baboon spotted in Claremont and surrounding areas. Our team, working alongside the Cape Baboon Partnership and a wildlife veterinarian, returned to the area where he had slept the previous night. The baboon was successfully darted, given a full health assessment, and is en route to be safely released into his natural roaming territory." "This outcome gives him the best chance to continue his natural dispersal without facing the many dangers posed by urban environments. Baboons do not belong in residential areas. Urban spaces are filled with threats: roads, fences, domestic pets, and people. While sightings may seem exciting, these moments are stressful and dangerous for wildlife," said Abraham. "A heartfelt thank you to the community for your cooperation and care, and to every member of the response team who worked tirelessly to ensure his safety. If you see a wild animal in distress, please contact the SPCA at 021 700 4158/9. Baboons remain protected under the Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974. It is illegal to harm, harass, or interfere with them," she added. While this chap didn't quite stir the same attention as Gordy the Elephant seal, the ordeal does highlight the interplay between nature and urban habitat encroachment - with baboon sightings more frequent in certain areas around Cape Town than in others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Cape Town (@ What to do if You Spot a Baboon: Keep a respectful distance of at least 20 metres. Do not approach it or try to take close-up photos. Avoid forming crowds - this can stress or corner the animal. Do not block roads or interfere with the work of authorities onsite. On the Road: If you see the baboon near a road, slow down and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. Be mindful not to box the animal in or cause panic by following closely. At Home: Keep dogs indoors while the baboon is in the area. Leave doors and windows open only if secured with gates or bars. Store bins inside a garage or enclosed area — baboons are opportunistic feeders. To report sightings or for assistance:
Time Out
16-05-2025
- Time Out
Cape Town Taste Test: A new arrival on Kloof Street
The new kid on the Kloof Street block is Aruba. Offering diners an experience that merges Mediterranean food with a Caribbean twist, Aruba's tapas-style menu and laid-back setting is the perfect addition to the thriving dining scene. Founded by two friends, Daniel Kruger and Murray Hunter-Smith - who share a passion for food and restaurants, Aruba came to life from a dream that was once thought to be impossible. "I had been thinking about it for a really long time, but I never thought it was going to happen because property in Cape Town is really hard to find. Unless it was the right property, I wouldn't have wanted to do it. I was driving down the road one day and I saw that this property was up for rent. I was out with Murray the one night and said, 'Murray, I have an idea, come meet me for coffee tomorrow morning'," shares Daniel. Daniel adds that although they faced challenges at the start, their perseverance to create a space that embodies what they love the most about dining came to life. "It was a long process of deciding what we wanted to do because we didn't get an interior designer or anyone to help us with the design. We sat together every day and decided what we would do. As a result, everything in the restaurant has been thought out by the two of us and we got it made specifically to match what we wanted." Murray adds: "We sort of built the place that we both like to sit, eat and drink at." The restaurant concept Aptly named Aruba, Daniel emphasises that their main objective was to create a vacation-like experience for diners. "We always joke that it is an all-inclusive resort and we want our diners to feel like they are on holiday. Our setting is very colourful with our striking blue bar area and curated spaces to ensure our diners feel like they are at Aruba," Daniel explains. The restaurant aims to offer diners a 'communal' setting, with Aruba's neighbours planning to open in the next two months and share the outdoor balcony dining space. Mediterranean flair with a Caribbean twist Led by chef Darren Allsopp, the menu, while small, has been tailored to exude fresh and simple ingredients of the Mediterranean coastline and the bold, spicy notes of Caribbean fare. After hearing about the popular spot and its offering, Time Out Cape Town headed to Aruba to sample some of its dishes. As a crowd favourite, the gnocchi, served with a coconut sauce that exudes warm spice and earthy flavours, did not disappoint. The contrast between the soft gnocchi paired with the crunchy sweet potato crisp topping and pumpkin seeds made me silently nod as I savoured each bite. Opting to try the coconut and black bean rice dish - a coconut risotto rice with fried black beans, peppers and onions, I very quickly learnt after the first bite that this is not your average bean and rice dish. The creamy texture and hearty flavours make for a notable dish to try as we head into the colder months. Another popular menu offering is the calamari tentacles served as crispy heads with aioli and lime. The calamari skewers feature a smoky BBQ glaze and mango sauce topped with cashew herb crumb and crispy buttermilk tentacles. For dessert, while the cheesecake is a top pick, I decided to venture out and try the spicy pineapple; a vegan option of grilled pineapple with maple and chilli glaze served with vegan ice-cream. Upon first bite, I can strongly confirm that they put the 'spicy' in spicy pineapple, but I savoured it with the ice-cream - a surprisingly good pairing! While this may not be for everyone's palate, the experimentation of contrasting flavours between spicy and hot and sweet and cold showcases the restaurants approach to experimentation and complex flavouring. More about Aruba The cocktail offering features the classics such as mojitos, Mai Tais and Aperol spritz. Other stand outs and unique drinks include the hard iced tea and hard lemonade. As someone who doesn't drink often, I opted for the mocktail hard ice tea which was both refreshing and sweet. Though the restaurant may seem modest at first glance, its bold, flavour-rich dishes reveal a culinary experience that is both thoughtful and delicious. Notably, if you are in the mood for a lazy Sunday dining experience, Aruba has launched Sangria Sundays, offering R25 oysters all day and Sangria jugs with a steel or marimba band performing live. 108 Kloof Street and offers on-street parking.
Time Out
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Vuur named among world's best steakhouses... again
Firemaster Shaun Scrooby's Vuur has done it again! The Remhoogte Wine Estate-based restaurant has been named as the 87th best steak restaurant in the world for 2025. After coming in 88th place in 2024, the jump up one place on The World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list will have brought a smile to the faces of Scrooby and his dedicated team. 'The culinary philosophy of the brainchild and chef-owner Shaun Scrooby is rooted in the art of open-fire cooking. Utilising up to six different types of wood, each chosen for its unique flavour profile, the team crafts a seasonal, seven-course menu that showcases the best of local produce, meats and seafood. Dishes are prepared and served in front of guests, with chefs sharing the stories and inspirations behind each creation,' the write-up for Vuur's 87th-place finish reads. You may remember that Time Out Cape Town had the pleasure of visiting Vuur earlier this year for The Rare Tour, which saw Madrid's Los33 join the Vuur team for a fire collaboration of note. You can read all about that experience here. After finishing in 15th place in 2024, chef Oswaldo Gonzalez and his Los33 dropped down to 28th on the 2025 list. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Cape Town (@ A fellow South African spot also made the cut Alongside Vuur, The Blockman in Johannesburg also made the cut, sneaking into the top 101 in 97th spot. The Parkhurst steakhouse led by chef-owner Vassilios Holiasmenos is also on Time Out Johannesburg's list of the city's best steakhouses. The steakhouse that took the top spot on the list is Parrilla Don Julio, located in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina. You can check out the full list here.
