20 Adventurous Things to Do in Cape Town
Cape Town has been named the most beautiful city in the world by CNN, Buzzfeed and a wealth of other people who most certainly know what they’re talking about. But the Mother City has no intention of simply sitting on the map, looking pretty.
Cape Town is becoming the place to visit for those looking for their adrenaline fix. Whether you’re just starting out on your adventurous journey, or you’ve been addicted to the adrenaline rush for years, this city has a place for you.
Adventurous Activities in Cape Town
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So, thrill seeker, let’s take a look at just a few of the adventurous activities that take place in and around Cape Town.
Outdoor Activities in Cape Town
The Cape of Good Hope is known for its exciting assortment of outdoor activities. And with natural beauty like this, who’d want to stay inside?
Snorkel with the Seals of Hout Bay Harbour
The playful Cape Fur seals that call Hout Bay harbour their home are waiting for you. While most of us tend to think of these creatures as lumps of lard that like bathing in the sun all afternoon, they are incredibly energetic in the water.
Animal Ocean Seal Snorkeling is a tour group that will guide you through the best snorkeling practices and facilitate your first encounters with these friendly seals.
Abseiling off Table Mountain
If you’re looking to get your heart pounding at a thousand beats per minute, why not lean back, relax, and drop off of the most iconic mountain in South Africa.
As soon as you can relax just enough to take a look around, you’ll see some majestic views of the city below and the deep blue ocean beyond. Cape Xtreme takes you on a guided mission down the world’s highest commercial abseiling point.
Ride The Waves
There’s no doubt that surfing is a very common past-time for most South Africans. We’re always searching for the ‘kiffest’ waves. Luckily for us, there’s no shortage of surf schools in the Cape.
Almost every beachfront will boast of its own professional surf school with surf equipment for hire. Hop on down to any one of them and we’re sure you’ll be ‘hanging-ten’ with the rest of the Cape in no time.
Skydiving
What better way to spend your morning than jumping out of a plane 9000 ft up in the air. This activity is for the most extreme adventurers – but it’s one you won’t regret.
Skydive Cape Town offers tandem jumps with the greatest views. Only a 35-minute drive from Cape Town city centre, this West Coast jump spot is ideallically placed.
While falling at over 200 km/h through the air, be sure to take in the scenery, a picturesque look at Table Mountain, Robben Island and the deep blue sea below you. If this one doesn’t get your heart pumping then nothing ever will.
After landing your jump, grab a drink at the aptly named Hard Dock Cafe while you give your knees a chance to stop shaking, before the drive home.
Kayak with Marine Wildlife
Atlantic Outlook offers guided kayaking tours from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. After following them on Instagram for no longer than a week, we realised that these tours have no shortage of marine-wildlife sightings.
Dolphins, sunfish, penguins and jellyfish are but a few of the species you can hope to come across, while gliding through the waters of the atlantic ocean.
Indoor Activities in Cape Town
For the stormy days that don’t come around too often here in the Cape, it’s always good to have a back-up plan. Here’s a few things you should try when the great outdoors are just not an option:
Swim with Sharks at the Aquarium
If you’re looking to come into close contact with these terrifying creatures without having to dive into open ocean, then shark-tank diving is the way to go.
The Two Oceans Aquarium offers a shark diving experience with no cage required. It doesn’t get closer than this. Get to know the gentler side of these creatures in a safe environment.
Go Hint-Hunting
HintHunt has become popular among Capetonians as a team-building activity. The experience involves being locked in a room with some of your friends or colleagues while trying to crack clues for your escape. The object of the exercise is to make your escape as quickly as possible.
This unique indoor activity will unleash your inner Sherlock and either bring you closer to your teammates, or create enemies for life. Either way, we highly recommend it.
The Labia Theatre
The Labia Theatre is the oldest art cinema in South Africa. It shows independant, foreign and arty movies. Be transported into a different era with this unique cinema viewing. Be sure to stay for drinks on the balcony afterwards to savour every bit of the experience.
Group Activities in Cape Town
Everything is more exciting when you have your mates by your side. In fact some things are just no fun without them.
Go-Kart Racing
Kenilworth Karting allows you to let loose and unleash your competitive streak. Race your friends or family around a tricky course that will take some skill to navigate at speed.
Book ahead of time to avoid having to wait in line before taking to the track.
Zipline over Tree Tops
SA Forest Adventures offers a variety of zipline locations in and around Cape Town. After a brief safety introduction to the sport, you’ll be whizzing through the air 155 m above the ground, taking in some spectacular views.
Tobogganing
Cool Runnings in Tiger Valley has a 1.25 km track that will have you flying through the corners at hair-raising speeds. Although you’ll be travelling very fast, it’s a very safe way to indulge your inner speed-freak.
If you’re on the more precautious side, you’ll be happy to know that each bobsled is equipped with a breaking mechanism. This can be put to use at any point during your ride.
Kloofing
If you’re not familiar with Capetonian lingo, canyoning is what Capetonians refer to as kloofing. Jumping off waterfalls, abseiling down slippery cliffs and swimming through rock pools.
This activity is not for the faint at heart and once you’re there, there’s no turning back. We recommend that you’re sure you can handle it before taking the plunge.
Extreme Scene offers guided tours of the Kamikaze kloof. And yes, it is as scary as it sounds. This experience is definitely better with friends, you’ll more than likely need their support and encouragement along the way.
Other Adventures in Cape Town
If you’d rather leave the adventures that get your heart pounding to the adrenaline junkies and the thrill seekers of this world, we totally get it. But that doesn’t mean you need to miss out. How about trying some of the tamer adventures that Cape Town has to offer. Trust us, there are plenty.
Affordable Adventures in Cape Town
It’s nearing the end of the month and budgeting is a must. But don’t be mistaken, that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. There are plenty of cheap adventures to be had in and around Cape Town.
Swim in a Tidal Pool
There’s arguably no better way to enjoy the ocean than from the safety of a tidal pool. And in Cape Town there are more than enough to choose from. Check out this list of the best tidal pools to visit around the Cape Town area.
Braai on the Beach
Oudekraal is a sheltered cove between Camps Bay and Llandudno. It offers an array of private braai spots. Making it the perfect place to relax and watch the sunset over the Atlantic ocean with your mates.
Show Up at First Thursdays
First Thursdays is a completely free event, in which all the art galleries in Cape Town open their doors to the public. As the name suggests, this happens on the first Thursday of every month. Spend the evening wondering from gallery to gallery in the Cape Town city bowl.
Wine is offered as a complimentary supplement to your viewing experience at most of the galleries, so it’s a good idea to Uber to and from this event. It might very well be your only expense for the evening.
Fun Things for Couples to Do in Cape Town
Cape Town is such a romantic destination. And of course the only way to celebrate romance Capetonian-style, is to make every day an adventure together.
Go Horse Riding on Noordhoek Beach
What could be more romantic than riding on horseback along the white sandy beach of Noordhoek, while the sun sets over the Atlantic ocean?
The Dunes offers what they claim to be ‘the world’s most beautiful beach rides.’ And we’re not arguing with them.
Cycle Along the Seapoint Promenade
Walking is so last year. Up Cycles rents bicycles along the Sea Point promenade. If you’re not feeling up to a meander along the entire length of the promenade, then renting a bicycle is the way to go.
And what better way to do it, than with the one you love.
Stroll Through Kirstenbosch Gardens
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens boasts of great biodiversity. A simple stroll through these gardens could take you hours. Kirstenbosch is also a starting point to many of the hikes on the Eastern Slopes of Table Mountain.
So whether you’re there to stop and smell the flowers or go on a hiking adventure, Kirstenbosch has what you’re looking for.
Unusual Things to Do in Cape Town
Some days we feel like doing something a little out of the ordinary. If today is one of those days, try something a little more unusual:
Outdoor Yoga on Table Mountain
Start your day with a ride on the cable-way to the top of Table Mountain. Then get ready for a sunrise yoga experience on the majestic summit with Cape Town Yoga Experiences. There’s no better setting for morning meditation and stretches.
Be prepared to feel recharged, reoxygenated and revitalized.
Travel through the Winelands on the Franschhoek Wine Tram
Spend the day exploring the many wine farms of the Franschhoek valley on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. If you’re feeling up to it, a wine tasting at each of the wine farms should be on the cards.
But wine or no wine, the tram provides views of the valley that can only be experienced 19th century style.
Adrenaline Junkie or Not..
Whether you’re a thrill seeker or not, Cape Town provides adventures that will cater to your taste. While we’ve put together an impressive list of some of the most adventurous things to do in Cape Town, this is far from all of them.
While you’re in the beautiful Mother City, be sure to do a lot of exploring. Some of the best adventures in the Cape are unplanned, self-made adventures.
A meander along Bree Street will bring you into the path of some interesting people. Be sure to make friends with locals, take it from us, they make the best tour guides.
