Cape Town's Big Wheel Opens This Week

Posted Mon, 7 Jun 2010 (20 months ago)

We reported recently that Cape Town's own version of the 'London Eye', the 'Wheel of Excellence', was being erected in the Mother City.

While driving into the city last week I saw it for myself, proudly standing at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town's premier tourist destination, and I must say it's looking good!

It will be opening to the public this week Wednesday.

I definitely want to take my son for a ride while the wheel is with us.

(All Images by Warrenski. Creative Commons Licence)

Here's some need to know info on the Cape Town Big Wheel.

The wheel opens to the public on Wednesday 09 June 2010 - 2 days before the World Cup kick off.

Regular rates are R70 a ticket and you need to buy on site. VIP tickets are available on request.

The wheel has 36 luxury cabins with glass floors, air conditioning and LED lighting. *8 people per cabin.

The Wheel is equipped with two types of ballast tanks at its base for safety during windy conditions and can accommodate a load capacity of 288 persons per ride (8 people per cabin).

You will be able (in daylight hours) to enjoy incredible views of the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island, Table Mountain, the City and the Paarl mountains.

The ride lasts 20 minutes

The entrance is opposite the Caltex Garage at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront.

The wheel will operate MON – THUR from 13h00 – 22h00 and on FRI, SAT and SUN from 13h00 – Midnight. PLEASE NOTE: On 4 August we were alerted by a reader to the fact that the wheel is now only in operation until 20h00 at night. We referred to the website and found the following information:

Sun to Thu: 11:00 - 20:00
Fri to Sat: 11-00 - 22:00
Mon: Closed
All opening hours are
dependent to customer frequency.
Please call 076 2766 962
to check opening hours.

It will be operated for 6 months.

Tell us about YOUR ride on the wheel!

(All Images by Warrenski. Creative Commons Licence)

If you do have a ride on the wheel we would love to hear about your experience in a few lines and if possible with some photographs! You can submit these to me at blog@portfolicollection.com if you would like to.

8 Responses to Cape Town's Big Wheel Opens This Week

hi,
very disapointed - took Jnb visitor with me and the family for all 7 of us to enjoy the wheel. I checked on this website to see closing times (22h00)and we went to the waterfront and had something to eat and then made our way to the wheel. As we appoached it looked magnificent all lit up with lights. when we got closer, guess what?
It had been closed since 8:00pm according to a man there.
what a let down. our young visitor goes back to Gauteng on Friday and we as a family won't be able to go before he leaves.
please update this website - probably it will be gone completely by the next time we can go there again.

By aver ballantyne (18 months ago)

Good morning Aver

We are very sorry to hear that you were so disappointed when visiting the wheel of excellence and especially so as you went on the information we had published on the blog. At the time we published that was the info we were given and have not been sent update info since. I just checked on the http://www.capewheel.co.za/ and found the following info which I have now also added to the blog post.

Sun to Thu: 11:00 - 20:00
Fri to Sat: 11-00 - 22:00
Mon: Closed
All opening hours are
dependent to customer frequency.
Please call 076 2766 962
to check opening hours.

Thank you for taking the time to alert us to the fact so that other readers are not similarly disappointed. I do hope you are able to visit the wheel on a future trip and apologise sincerely what happened.

By Joy (18 months ago)

Hi

I went on a ride on wheel on the 26 June 2010, we took pics with my friend, however it is not clearly stated how we are to download these pics online. Please advise with clear steps I need to follow. Thanks

By Manwaai (18 months ago)

Thank you for your comment!

Please send the images as Jpegs to blog@portfoliocollection.com along with the name of the person who took the photographs. If you would like a link to your personal blog or website please also include the relevant URL and we will do so.

Thanks again – look forward to your pics

By Joy (18 months ago)

hi Joy,
Aver Ballantyne again. I complained 3 months ago that the wheel was closed when we attempted to go on it. Well, It was well worth the wait and we finally got to go on the wheel on 17/10 - it was lovely. very nicely organised and smooth running. the little gondolas are airconditioned and have hisense screens with changing pictures. of course the view and setting is stunning as well. really nice and I'm hoping to go again as they have now extended its stay until the end of February 2011

By Aver Ballantyne (16 months ago)

Hi Aver

That's great news! My son won a ticket so we all want to go with him soon. He is very excited... I must make a definite date. Thanks for letting us know :-)

By Joy-Anne (16 months ago)

Hi

I have yet to go on the wheel and im hoping its still up and running, can anyone tell me if it still is and what the opening and closing times are, as well as the prices.

Thanx :)

By deidre (9 months ago)

hi Deidre,
the wheel was supposed to leave at the end of February 2011 but it is still here. we were at the waterfront recently and it is still in the same spot (next to the ampitheatre inside the V & A)
best thing is to phone them though - 076 276 6962 as the prices went up in december but I think they are cheaper now again.

By aver (9 months ago)