The best outdoor activities in Cape Town

Cape Town, also known as The Mother City, is home to many natural wonders like the Table Mountain, golden sand beaches and beautiful vineyards.

Surrounded by rugged dramatic mountains, Cape Town is a holidaymaker’s dream location. As the second most populous city after Johannesburg, Cape Town is the most popular international tourist destination not only in South Africa, but Africa as a whole.

It’s easy to see why! The city is a combination of stunning natural backdrops in a modern setting that really does have something for everyone.

And when it comes to extreme sports you won’t find a better destination.

The warm sunny climate and powder sand beaches attract surfers and kiters from around the globe. Cape Town is THE spot for surfing and kitesurfing. It houses the famous kite competition, Red Bull King of the Air, one of the most impressive in Big Air (freestyle).

Cape Town is amongst the best kitesurfing holiday destinations, simply because it ticks all the boxes. The wind conditions in and around Cape Town are very reliable from November to February (20-30 knots). The coastline offers fantastic kitesurfing conditions and breath-taking panoramas. You can choose between powerful waves and flat waters. Advanced riders will be stoked to play in the challenging waves of the bay, from Sunset Beach to Blouberg Beach (approximately a mile long). The best spots in the bay are Dolphin Beach, Table View and Kitebeach. Beginners and freestylers will be amazed by kiteboarding in Langebaan, the flat water Mecca of South Africa. This is one South African kiteboarding destination that simply cannot be missed!

Due to the city's unique geography, it is possible to visit several different beaches in the same day, each with a different setting and atmosphere. Some of the city’s top surfing locations are Muizenberg, Milnerton Lighthouse, Big Bay, Long Beach, Llundadno and Dungeons.

Muizenberg is considered the birthplace of surfing in South Africa and is currently home to a large surfing community! If you are a longboarder or beginner, then Muizenberg is definitely the place for you. Shortboarders will also be able to have fun here, but if you’re looking for big, fast waves and superb reef breaks, then go to Dangers, Scarborough, or Kalk Bay. Each spot has its particularity and to make sure you get the most out of each, hire an experienced surfing instructor, who will help you achieve your surfing goals.

There is so much more to Cape Town than just kitesurfing and surfing. You can trek to the highest peaks or hike through the spectacular Table Mountain National Park and Signal Hill for panoramas of the City Bowl.

There’s also a range of trails for mountain bikers of all levels, from Contermanskloof Farm and Jonkershoek to Tokai Forest and Helderberg. The views, lush greenery and vast open space will make you wish you could stay forever.

Talking of panoramas why not enjoy a bird’s eye view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From this unique vantage point you’ll get to see all it has to offer. And how you explore it from the air is up to you. You can opt for a paragliding flight off the Lion’s Head or Signal Hill, or skydive from a plane at 10,000ft. That’ll get your heart racing!

For those of you closer to nature can observe the southern right whales, humpback whales and Bryde’s whales from June to November. The best places to see these mysterious creatures are: False Bay, Hermanus and Cape Agulhus. Want something with a bit more adrenaline? Why not go for a shark cage diving excursion to see the magnificent creatures in their natural habitat along the Gansbaii coast in the world famous area of Dyer Island (3 hour’s drive from Cape Town). Cage-diving is definitely the most thrilling of all activities, providing face-to-face encounters with the great white shark.

The African sea life is generally very abundant with a great variety of fish, crustaceans, coral and so much more. However, this is truer still for South Africa and in particular for Cape Town. Snorkelers and scuba divers come from far and wide to explore the subaquatic world, hoping to see a new species or notice something they’ve never seen in any other waters before.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg – there’s so much more to do, see, visit and explore!