Adventurous Cape Town is most certainly all of the above – the only problem is that there is almost too much choice. And that’s why we’ve done the “hard” work for you, paragliding, horseriding, motorbiking, tree-swinging, and kitesurfing our way around the Mother City to bring you our top adventurous activities. Ready, set, go!
1. Float in the sky
Admire the Mother City from above during a serene tandem paraglide over the Atlantic Seaboard. Take-off is from Signal Hill at the foot of Lion’s Head, or, if weather conditions allow, higher up the mountain. Talking of the weather – you’re pretty much at the mercy of the day’s wind conditions, meaning that a flight can last anything between 7 – 20 minutes, with a soft landing planned in front of Bungalow Restaurant in Camps Bay (handy for that post-flight drink), or along Sea Point Promenade.
Where to book: Paraglide.co.za
Where to stay: POD Boutique Hotel
2. Ride along the beach
Noordhoek Beach is one of those picture-perfect places – 8 kilometres of unspoiled, wild coastline, with Chapman’s Peak at one end, the Kommetjie Lighthouse at the other, and spectacular mountain slopes as a backdrop. The area beckons to be explored on horseback, and several horse riding schools in the vicinity offer guided rides for all levels through the wetland and along the beach. Combine your equestrian adventure with a stop-off at Imhoff Farm, complete with tea garden, restaurant, gift shops and camels (yes, really).
Where to book: Imhoff Equestrian Centre
Where to stay: The Last Word Long Beach
3. Take to the skies
It might not be the cheapest way to see Cape Town, but it’s certainly one of the most jaw-dropping bucket list experiences you can have – a scenic helicopter flight across the Peninsula. NAC Helicopters has scheduled departures from the V&A Waterfront, and will even throw in a bottle of bubbly to start the flight on a high note. Then it’s time for take-off, soaring into the sky for a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Mother City. You can opt for a short Hopper Tour to The Twelve Apostles Hotel along the Atlantic Seaboard, or go all-out with a flight all the way to Cape Point, and back again via Constantia.
Where to book: NAC Helicopters
Where to stay: The Silo Hotel
4. Go on a retro motorbike cruise
Picture this – you’re kitted out biker-style in an old-school leather jacket, helmet, goggles and a bandana, and chauffeured around the Western Cape in the sidecar of a decommissioned military bike from the 1950s. Really, it’s the only way to travel if you think about it! Get together in a group for maximum fun and choose from two-hour, half-day or full-day options, covering various parts of the peninsula. We might be biased but a drive along Chapman’s Peak in one of these vintage beauties is something you won’t forget in a hurry.
Where to book: Cape Sidecar Adventures
Where to stay: Four Rosmead
5. ‘Scootour’ down Table Mountain
There’s a new way to descend Cape Town’s most famous mountain – free-wheeling on a Monster Mountain® Scooter. Don’t be put off by the name; the Swiss-designed pushbikes are actually very family-friendly and easy to use. They are, however, propelled by gravity and you may need a little assistance getting to the top, which handily comes courtesy of a vehicle and guide. On the day, you’ll start with some off-road-tracking down the side of Signal Hill and into Bo Kaap, before being transported up Table Mountain for the final exhilarating run, through Deer Park and into Oranjezicht.
Where to book: Scootours
Where to stay: Mannabay
6. Hit the waves at Muizenberg
British crime novelist Agatha Christie is said to have learned how to ride the waves at Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg in the early 1920’s. Who knew?! Follow in her footsteps and sign up for lessons at one of the many surf schools along the beach, which also offer wetsuit rentals – the water is a lot warmer on this side, the Indian Ocean coast, than on the Atlantic coast, but still nowhere near surfing-in-board-shorts-or-bikini temperatures. Muizenberg is known for its mellow waves, making it perfect for beginners, and afterwards, reward yourself at one of the many culinary pit stops along the promenade.
Where to book: Lifestyle Surf Shop
Where to stay: Moonglow Guest House
7. Kitesurf with the pros
Cape Town’s infamous south-eastern summer wind can feel slightly unnerving when you’re working on your tan in 100km/hour gusts. But on the upside, the howling fury makes the Mother City one of the best locations in the world to kitesurf. Blouberg and Big Bay’s white sandy beaches offer supreme long-shore kiteboarding conditions – plus rather impressive views of Table Mountain. Big Bay is now also home to Red Bull’s ‘King of the Air’, one of the world’s largest annual kiteboarding competitions. Admire the pros as they take off into the sky, then sign up for lessons yourself.
Where to book: Cabrinha
Where to stay: The Clarendon Bantry Bay
8. Snorkel with seals
Get ‘mask-to-whisker’ close to the Cape’s famous Cape Fur seals on a splashy snorkelling expedition off Duiker Island. Only found on islands around the Southern African coast, Cape Fur seals enjoy celebrity status in Cape Town. Duiker Island in Hout Bay, within the Karbonkelberg marine protected area, is home to about 5000 seals, so plenty of opportunities to spot and interact with the inquisitive little creatures. The best time to go is between December and February; having said that, if you are a sucker for baby animals, go in March or April and watch seal pups attempt their first swims.
Where to book: Animal Ocean Seal Snorkeling
Where to stay: Tintswalo Atlantic
9. Discover the ‘secret’ Table Mountain
Did you know that Table Mountain has a beach? Yup, that’s right, the Hely-Hutchinson Dam, at the top of the Skeleton Gorge hiking trail is a huge body of water, complete with a white, sandy beach. Also little known is the fact that you can actually sleep on Table Mountain, either at Overseers Cottage, a surprisingly plush accommodation option for up to 16 guests, or at the more basic Orange Kloof Tented Camp, which sleeps up to 12 people in semi-permanent tents. Ambitious hikers can make the latter part of the four- to five-day Hoerikwaggo Trail that runs from Table Mountain all the way to Cape Point.
Where to stay: On the mountain!
10. Swing from the trees
Pretend to be Tarzan for a day at Acrobranch in Constantia Nek forest. Contrary to what you might think, this action-packed aerial park is for visitors of all ages – who preferably don’t have a fear of heights and get a kick out of navigating cargo nets, ladders, tunnels, walkways, barrels and spectacular zip lines. If you are looking to really test your ‘forest survival skill set’, go for the Swinging Tarzan – you’ll be swinging, climbing and crawling along 32 obstacles. It’s designed to get the adrenaline pumping – and you’ll get a chance to show off (or falter) in front of agile teenagers skipping from tree to tree.
Where to book: Acrobranch
Where to stay: The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel
