Adventure is calling and Cape Town is ready to answer
1 October 2021
Not only is Cape Town known for its vibrant nightlife, it’s also the perfect destination for outdoor adventures. From exhilarating sand dune experiences to peaceful strolls through the breathtakingly beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town really does have it all.
Atlantis Sand Dunes activities
If you like your adventure with a shot of adrenaline, then zooming through the Atlantis Sand Dunes might be just the activity for you. These dunes offer a unique way to experience Cape Town. At a short 45-minute drive from the city centre and stretching over a large area, the dunes create an excellent playground for quad bikes, sandboarding and other activities. What’s more, the desert-like scenery will have your camera-finger itching!
Why not test out your quad-biking skills during a quad bike tour of the dunes? This is a great way to cover ground and take in the amazing views. If you have a need for speed, then hop into a one-of-a-kind rail-pipe dune buggy and let an experienced driver race across the dunes with you and your friends. Reputable tour guides also offer 4×4 dune tours and these trips can be paired with tours or wine tastings at the surrounding vineyards.
We don’t get much snow in South Africa, so we have to use sand dunes instead! If you want to experience the fun of snowboarding in shorts and a T-shirt, then Cape Town’s Atlantis Dunes is the place to visit. Sandboarding is one of the most unique ways to experience the dunes and Atlantis offers some great slopes.
Like most of these activities, the sand boarding experience caters for young and old as well as beginners and experienced people. With expert instructors and courses for all levels of experience, you’ll be sure to find something that fits your needs.
Whichever activity you choose, expect an awesome day out!
Explore Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, set on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, is one of the most special locations Cape Town has on offer. It boasts beautiful natural forests and some of the world’s most biodiverse fauna. You can easily spend a full day wandering around the beautiful terrain or enjoying a picnic on the lawns.
A must-do at the gardens is the Kirstenbosch Boomslang (tree snake). Inspired by the structure of a snake skeleton, this unique 120m walkway winds its way through and above the tree canopy of the gardens. The raised walkway rises 12m above ground in places, giving visitors spectacular, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and gardens. There is no additional fee to walk along the boomslang.
There are five hiking trails at Kirstenbosch Gardens, with varying ranges of difficulty, allowing both unfit and fit folks to enjoy the natural beauty. The longer Yellowwood and Silvertree trails lead to a lovely waterfall, while the much shorter Stinkwood Trail passes through some of the oldest parts of the indigenous forest. The Boekenhout Trail is ideal for a short walk and isn’t very taxing at all.
Kirstenbosch is also very proud of its Braille Trail, which gives visually impaired visitors the opportunity to enjoy natural forest and wetland, unassisted. The trail is 450 metres long and outlined by a guide rope.
Once you’re finished exploring the boomslang and hiking trails, you can enjoy a picnic under the shade of one of the garden’s many big trees. Picnic packs can be bought from the Kirstenbosch Tea Room if you are unable to bring your own one. For something more sophisticated, the Moyo Kirstenbosch Restaurant oozes African charm and delicious cuisine.
A Cape adventure awaits
The Atlantis Sand Dunes and Kirstenbosch Gardens aren’t the only exciting outdoor experiences that Cape Town sports.
Zip-lining is a unique and fun way to experience nature. Enjoy the thrilling experience as you fly over canyons and above the spectacular canopies of the Elgin Valley – a mere one hour drive from Cape Town.
Cape Town is also home to one of the country’s biggest cycle races, the Cape Town Cycle Tour. With challenging hills and breath-taking scenery, it traverses a large portion of the peninsula. If you’re not a competitive cyclist, there are many other on-road and off-road routes for cyclists of all levels of experience. If you don’t have your own bicycle you can hire one to experience Cape Town and its surroundings. E-bike options are also available.
If you want to get up close to Cape Town’s wildlife, then consider snorkelling with the seals in Hout Bay. You’ll be able to observe the seal and their pups, from a safe distance, in their natural habitat while exploring the kelp forests of Duiker Island.
Having fun, safely
Most of Cape Town’s outdoor adventure experiences are open for business. All experiences are offered in strict compliance with Covid-19 protocols to ensure that visitors stay safe. Reputable adventure companies also prioritise the physical safety of their guests so that everyone gets their adrenaline rush, safely.
