5 adrenaline-filled adventures to tick off your Cape Town bucket list

Cape Town is famous for its spectacular beaches, award-winning wineries, world-class restaurants and an eclectic mix of mind-blowing museums – from the Zeitz MOCAA in the V&A Waterfront to the District Six Museum in the city centre.

Five outdoor adventure activities in Cape Town

Ruth Cooper  11 Apr 2018

There is, however, much more to the Mother City than that. To help you choose, here are a selection of adrenaline-soaked activities.

Discover Cape Town’s secret underground tunnels

Cape Town is more than meets the eye. Below the pavements lies a system of 17th-century tunnels and waterways, once used to supply the city with fresh water from the Varsche Rivier.

This stream was formed by run-off water from Platteklip Gorge, Silverstream Ravine and other parts of Table Mountain. Instead of having it discharged into the sea, Dutch settlers built tunnels and canals to serve as a water catchment system.

Today, this network of once-forgotten tunnels has risen from the ashes and have become an increasingly popular tourist attraction.

Sandboard off the mighty dunes in Atlantis

Situated 40km from Cape Town you will find the pristine sand dune landscape of Atlantis, one that lends itself perfectly for sandboarding. All you need is an adventurous spirit, a bottle of sunscreen, a good level of fitness and a few basic instructions for a fun-filled day on the slopes.

And no, you don’t need any sandboarding, skateboarding or snowboarding experience to make the most of your experience. This is an adventure for everyone who is seeking to do something different with their day.

Abseil off one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

Do you have a good head for heights? Then abseiling off Table Mountain after a heart-pumping hike to the top should be on your bucket list. After harnessing up and stepping off at the top, which happens to be the world’s highest commercial abseiling point, you will gently glide down 112m into pure vertical space, adrenaline bursting through your veins.

All of this is topped off with the most amazing views money can buy. Once on the ground, you can hike down or walk up to take the Cable Car back to Tafelberg Road.

Kayak around Cape Point (hopefully with dolphins in tow)

Besides Table Mountain, Cape Point is one of South Africa’s most famous landmarks and, according to Sir Frances Drake, the most beautiful cape in the world. It was he, after all, who in 1580 proclaimed Cape Point to be “the Fairest Cape” he had seen “in the whole circumference of the earth”.

What better way to explore this mystical part of the world by kayak, dwarfed by the towering cliffs of Cape Point and surrounded by an abundance of sea life, from dolphins and seals to sunfish?

Explore the outdoors on a Monster Mountain Scooter

Have a fun-filled day with the entire family whilst exploring the outdoors on a Monster Mountain Scooter. These non-motorised push scooters, designed to explore the Swiss Alps, were recently introduced to Cape Town as a new, exciting, and eco-friendly way to enjoy nature.

Your first track runs from the side of Signal Hill all the way into Bo Kaap, one of Cape Town’s most historic neighbourhoods. After getting picked up, your Scootour continues, zooming down the lower slopes of Table Mountain.