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10 AWESOME Adventure Activities in Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the best places in the world for extreme adventures! With Table Mountain and the surrounding bio-diverse area leading into the ocean, as well as abundant wildlife, your activities will bring you close to so much beauty.

The city is inundated with amazing things to do and things to see. No matter what type of person you are, whether you are a food lover, culture curious, or an adrenaline junkie; if you share no fear in the deep blue, are no acrophobe and love cheap thrills, then this city will have you wrapped around its finger.

Take the time to enjoy the unique landscapes and ecosystems on offer in the Western Cape and really come to understand why Cape Town is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the world. We’ve found tours that allow you to do just that while getting the adrenaline pumping!

Adventure Activity Prices 2024

The cost of the tours starts at about USD $55 to $100 depending on the activity you choose, with a half-day sand-boarding adventure as the cheapest option! The priciest option is an eco-friendly shark cage diving experience, where the thrills are well worth the price.

Compare prices across the ticket providers below:

The India Venster trail, up the front side of Table Mountain, is one of the more adventurous ways up to the top, and offers terrific views of the world below. You’ll use your hands and feet to climb up some sections, but the 4-hour hike is mostly fun!
$14.37
Available
Cape Town: Table Mountain 4-Hour Hiking Adventure
Cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa is a once in a lifetime experience. This tour provides a unique opportunity to witness the wonder of the Great White Shark in a safe and professional environment.
$15.00
Available
From Cape Town or Hermanus: Shark Cage Diving Experience
Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime Cape Town adventure trip to snorkel and swim with the ocean's friendliest creatures, the cape fur seal. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or an ocean lover, this excursion should be on your itinerary.
$57.40
Available
Hout Bay: Seal Snorkeling Experience
‘Carve’ out the perfect day of fun during this half-day sandboarding adventure on the dunes near Cape Town. Travel to the Atlantis Dunes just north of town, as you zoom down the slopes of these steep sand hills. Whether you’re a novice to the sport or a more experienced board rider, you’re sure...
$56.60
Available
Sandboarding from Cape Town (Half Day guided experience with transport)
Take ‘hanging out’ to the next level in Cape Town during this adventure-lover’s ‘abseiling’ experience at Table Mountain. Pair adrenaline with incredible views as you enjoy this fun-filled activity involving a controlled-descent rappel from the world’s highest commercial abseiling point. The...
$63.99
Available
Abseiling Table Mountain
Put the pedal to the metal for during this thrilling ride aboard a 4-wheeled quad bike through South Africa’s Atlantis Sand Dunes. Motor through this outdoor playground of white sand dunes covering more than 10 square miles (27 square kilometers), with dunes reaching up to six stories in height....
$65.30
Available
Quad Bike Tour in Cape Town
Climb to the top of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain during a 4-hour hiking tour. Enjoy a leisurely pace up the slopes of the mountain while you admire stunning views of Cape Town and the water below. Follow your local guide through Platteklip Gorge up to the flat table-top of the mountain,...
$82.17
Available
Table Mountain Hike in Cape Town
Get up close with the ocean's most majestic apex predator with a cage dive amongst the sharks of Gansbaai. Learn more from the on-board marine biologists and get a pre- and post-dive briefing.
$105.74
Available
From Cape Town: Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai
Spend the day zipping along dunes and exploring the area in an open-top Jeep Wrangler. The dunes are just outside Atlantis, a 30-minute drive from the center of Cape Town.
$241.33
Available
Cape Town: Dune Adventure Tour in an Open Top Jeep...
Hiking to the summit of Table Mountain is a bucket list favorite for travelers visiting Cape Town. On this tour, follow one of the easiest and most scenic routes to the top as you hike through Skeleton Gorge. Enjoy incredible views as you climb to Maclear's Beacon, the highest point on Table...
Available
Table Mountain: Skeleton Gorge to Cable Way Full Day Hike

Times

Most adventure activities in Cape Town run from early morning to around 5 – 6 pm, before the sun sets. They also differ between Winter and Summer, but you can expect to start your adventures at these times.

Monday – Friday: 7am – 5pm
Saturday – Sunday: 6am – 5pm

Best Time To Go

The best time to enjoy outdoor activities in Cape Town is during South Africa’s summer or spring. The weather is warm with a low chance of rainfall, and the sunshine makes everything a little more exciting. Most adventure sports do run year-round, as Cape Town’s winters are pleasant and not too cold!

Adventurous Things to do in Cape Town

We’ve got exciting tours for every day of your holiday in Cape Town! Choose between Table Mountain hikes, abseiling, dune adventures, and snorkeling in the rich waters of the Southern tip of Africa. Choose between short tours and half-day adventures. Or pick them all!

Abseil Table Mountain

Of all the incredible sites one can see around the world, Table Mountain has long been considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. What better way to enjoy a day in Cape Town than to soak up its captivating views from 1000 metres above sea level.

Consider the feeling of leaning over the edge, enjoying a full panoramic view of the Atlantic Seaboard. With an experienced guide to show you the ropes, you and your family or friends can enjoy this thrilling adventure.

Abseiling down Table Mountain is one of the best outdoor activities in Cape Town!

Book yourself a 60-minute tour

with your friends or family, where you can descend from a mountain into vertical space.

You can see more about abseiling Table Mountain here!

What we liked: It’s a short tour with some of the best views over Cape Town and lots of excitement.

INCLUDES:
  • All equipment
  • Guide and safety instruction
  • Incredible aerial views and family-friendly space

EXCLUDES:
  • Transportation and cable car ticket (optional)
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities (optional)

Check Price & Book

Surf the Dunes in Atlantis

Up the beautiful West Coast of Cape Town lies a smaller town, Atlantis. Sandboarding the Atlantis dunes makes for an awesome and active day outside in the sun. The best part is that you don’t need any experience.

If you’d like to take a break from sightseeing and are looking for a bit of action, the rush of sandboarding is the perfect activity for all. Book a tour now with a friendly and informative guide and you are guaranteed an afternoon of exclusive fun.

This activity is suitable for all. We do recommend, however, that you have a certain degree of physical fitness.

https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/blog/top-5-adventure-sports-in-south-africa-while-volunteering/

You can also spend the day zipping along the dunes in an open-top Jeep. As exciting, but less physically taxing, this adventure sport is a better option for older individuals still looking for some fun!

After a quick introduction and briefing, you’ll choose your Jeep and set off. It’s a half-day tour out in the wilderness, and makes for some great memories! Best to do with friends or families, this is one of our favorite group activities, Cape Town.

What we liked: This half-day tour packs a lot in, and you see so much of Cape Town’s surrounds.

INCLUDES:
  • Light snacks and refreshments
  • Professional guide
  • All equipment
  • Transport from designated spot

EXCLUDES:
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Check Price & Book

Hike Skeleton Gorge

One of the best adventures in Cape Town, you cannot leave without having hiked one of the many mountain trails on offer. A favourite amongst travellers and locals alike, is the all-famous Skeleton Gorge.

Begin the day at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and take the shaded Skeleton Gorge trail right to the summit. There you are greeted by a white sandy beach and a pristine rooibos-colored dam. Swimming is not permitted for liability reasons, but everyone jumps in without consequence.

The hike includes steep hills, vast forestry, and water streams. Hikers are able to meander through the trail at their own pace, soaking up the natural beauty surrounding them. You will be required to climb a few ladders and scale rocks in order to reach the top.

What we liked: This exciting hike takes you past some of Table Mountain’s most beautiful areas – and it’s so much fun!

INCLUDES:
  • Professional guide
  • Entrance fees (Kirstenbosch Gardens)
  • Bottled water

EXCLUDES:
  • Cable car fee (optional)
  • Food and drinks
  • Transport

Book a tour with an informative guide, especially if this is your first time on the trail. It is also important to note that hiking Skeleton Gorge is for more experienced hikers and those who have a decent degree of physical fitness.

Your guide will take you to the highest point of Table Mountain, known as Maclears Beacon. Finish the day off with some lunch, some time to soak up the views and descend via the cable car.

Check Price & Book

Seal Snorkeling Experience

Swim and snorkel with the ocean’s friendliest creatures, Cape fur seals! Playful and enthusiastic, they’re the perfect ocean playmates to make your snorkeling experience different to anywhere else in the world. You’ll also spot colorful ocean creatures, and maybe a little shark or two (emphasis on little – this is not a dangerous shark area).

Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate on board and get a quick and interesting briefing before your dive. You spend about 2 hours in the water, giving you plenty of time to take it all in! It’s certainly one of the most fun activities in Cape Town.

What we liked: It’s a unique opportunity to watch these seals in their natural habitat.

INCLUDES:
  • Safety briefing and instruction
  • Guided dive
  • Snacks and hot chocolate on board

EXCLUDES:
  • GoPro rental (optional)
  • Transport to meeting place
  • Food and drinks

This full-day Cape Town activity is wheelchair accessible, making it one of our favorite adventure activities. There is also no age restrictions on the boat trip, and children over the age of 7 can dive, making it a unique and fantastic family experience. You will see so much of Cape Town and its surrounds, and leave South Africa with memories that last a lifetime!

Check Price & Book

Shark Cage Diving

We couldn’t think of anything more terrifying than being face-to-face with a shark. This extreme adventure is one of the fastest growing in Cape Town and is the greatest way to test your ability to overcome your fears.

If this is the type of adventure you’re after whilst in the Mother City, you should definitely add Shark Cage Diving to your Cape Town ‘to-do’ list. On the Eco-friendly tour, you’ll also get to learn more about these apex predators from onboard marine biologists, and be ensured of the comfort of both you and your new shark friend!

 

Book yourself

 

a 10-hour tour, with transfers to and from Gansbaai, to enjoy the intense presence of one of the most feared predators in the world. This activity is also suitable for couples, groups, and thrill-seekers of any degree.

What we liked: Absolutely thrilling, this tour allows you to get up close and personal with nature’s best predator.

INCLUDES:
  • Transport to and from Cape Town
  • All dive equipment
  • Breakfast and lunch
  • Light snacks and refreshments
  • Briefing sessions before and after the dive
  • Visit to the African penguins and seabird sanctuary

EXCLUDES:
  • Professional trip footage
  • Souvenirs
  • Extra meals and drinks

This full-day tour is wheelchair accessible, making it one of our favorite Cape Town adventures. There is also no age restrictions on the boat trip, and children over the age of 7 can dive, making it a unique and fantastic family experience. You will see so much of Cape Town and its surrounds, and leave South Africa with memories that last a lifetime!

Check Price & Book

 


Last updated on November 23rd, 2019 at 10:11 pm

15 Comments
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  1. We spent just under 3 hours climbing, amazing, this can be done with or without a guide, we choose to do it with a guide and were very happy we did, this was money well spent and for us one of the many highlights of Cape Town, a must do. Graeme and Penny

  2. Reply Avatar
    Shu-An – Austria June 4, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Interesting trip but outcome very much depending on luck! You get picked up very early (5:15 am) to drive to Gaansbai, where you get a quick breakfast and an introduction to the upcoming trip. Then you board the boat and after ca. 25 min arrive at the anchor point. On board you change into the diving suits and then the first group of people go into the cage. Water was very cold and you don’t see very far. What you see in the end depends very much on your luck: for me personally, it was a rather disappointing experience though others on the same trip did get to see more sharks. If you don’t mind this „gamble“ I‘d recommend going.

  3. Reply Avatar
    Anonymous – United States May 19, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Great Crew onboard and knowledgeable The information shared about the area and the sharks was excellent and informative. I did get quite motion sick in boat and staff was super attentive and helpful. Did not see a great white but the copperhead sharks were quite amazing.

  4. An amazing experience with an excellent team! The introduction talk from the Marine Biologist was very interesting around people’s perception of sharks. Although I did not get to see a Great White the Coppertone and Whaler sharks were extraordinary. I also got the added bonus of extra time in the water, I think I had nearly an hour . I recommended this activity to another couple who we met last night in the same hotel and they booked for Sunday 21st April. Thanks for a great day!!

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