Cape Town is a great place to get outdoors and try your hand at some active pursuits. From skydiving to sand-boarding there are so many activities that we decided to just cover the first three letters of the alphabet – so here is the A to C of active pursuits in and around Cape Town:

Abseiling

What’s the best way to get down Table Mountain? How about abseiling? For just £25 you can bypass the long walk down from the top of the mountain and abseil down 100 feet to the bottom. The views might not be for the faint-hearted, but you’ll be attached to a rope so there’s no need to be too alarmed. Abseiling down Cape Town’s Table Mountain might be more appealing as it is one of the country’s most known landmarks. However, Kamikaze Kanyon is the best place for abseil aficionados as you can take part in a day’s kloofing – which is basically the name given to scrambling down a river gorge. At Kamikaze Kanyon you can abseil down a 65 metre high waterfall and then scramble around in the river gorge.

Ballooning

The Paarl Winelands are the perfect place to fly over in a hot air balloon early in the morning. The one-hour flight takes in the rows of neatly manicured vineyards and guests can enjoy a champagne breakfast afterwards at the Grand Roche Estate.

Birdwatching

Not far from Cape Town is the Cape Peninsula, an area that includes over 400 different species of birds. The best place to spot these birds is the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the nearby Rondevlei Nature Reserve. However, for around £25 you can book yourself onto a private tour where an expert will attempt to point out some of the area’s rarer birds to you.

Boardsailing

There’s only one place in Cape Town to try the sport of boardsailing and that’s Big Bay at Blouberg. The area is known for its fantastic views of Table Mountain, which regularly appear on postcards of the area. Although, it isn’t the fantastic views, but actually the consistent wind and the good waves that mean boardsailers just keep returning. Milnerton Lagoon and Platboom are also popular, although Big Bay remains Cape Town’s favourite.

Boating

One of the most exhilarating experiences that you can have in Cape Town is boating around Table Bay. You’ll need to hide on tight as boats can reach speeds of up to 81 mph, and you’ll be whizzing past the bay in a inflatable dinghy taking in the famous Clifton and Camps Bay before powering back past Robben Island and to the V&A Waterfront.

Canoeing

If you like your boating experiences to be slightly more laid back, one option is to rent a canoe and paddle past the Breede River. This canoe trip can be paired with the wine route adventure, so that you can taste numerous wines from Cape Town’s wineland region before canoeing back to base. If you don’t trust yourself not to capsize after too many South African reds then you should probably opt to go sea kayaking instead. Many people choose to paddle the rugged coastline of Cape Point – but there are canoeing options for both the Eastern and Western Cape.

Author Bio: Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made Cape Town holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Cape Town