For nearly five decades, Anthony Adams has been a cherished summer fixture on Cape Town’s sun-drenched beaches, wheeling his colourful ice-cream cart along the sandy promenades and bringing smiles to locals and visitors alike.
Cristiano Junior / Pexels
Born in District Six in 1962, Adams’ journey as an ice-cream vendor began at just 14 years old, serving salty sea-air-sweetened treats to holiday-makers at iconic False Bay spots like Muizenberg, St James and Fish Hoek.
Over the years his route has expanded — from family days at Newlands Stadium to the vibrant stretches of Strand and Gordon’s Bay beaches — and he now looks forward to each festive season with the same enthusiasm that first put him on the promenade.
Pushing his cart through the sand under the Cape sun is no easy feat, and the work comes with its challenges, from permits to transport costs, but it’s the human connections, the laughter, and the refreshing joy of a cool treat that keep him going.
Anthony Adams and his ice cream cart /News24
Along the way, Adams has also had unexpected rewards — including witnessing live music at Cape Town Stadium and sharing the trade with his own children, who often help him make the rounds.
Now 63 years old and heading into his 50th summer of selling ice cream, he remains a beloved part of the Cape’s coastal culture, a reminder that part of the magic of travel is meeting the people who make every place feel like home.
Source: News24
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