South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town has nearly endless opportunities for adventures. Whether you want to explore the mountains, sea or city center, we have something for you. We’ll share a few ideas today, but keep in mind this is just a sampling – we have a nearly inexhaustible list of things you can do! If you don’t see what you’re imagining here, contact one of our Journey Specialists so you can dream up something together!
Do you love to be active when traveling? We recommend you explore the city of Cape Town on a guided bicycle tour – from historic and scenic points to leafy gardens, you’ll get the lay of the land while basking in the Cape sunshine. For an even easier jaunt, you can cruise the Sea Point promenade on a tandem bike – enjoying the sights of the ocean on one side and the bustling city on the other.
If you’re hungry to try the city’s cuisine, we have a culinary adventure for you that will fill you up while also whetting your appetite for more! You’ll even burn a few calories walking with your guide – who might be a chef or food critic – between destinations. Or take your foodie experience up a notch with a private gourmet picnic in a nature reserve. Your transportation to and from will be by helicopter!
If you’d like your city visit to be at a more sedate pace, riding the Table Mountain Cable Car is a must (for everyone). You’ll enjoy exhilarating and rewarding views. Take a stroll along the top of the mountain and then enjoy a light late-morning snack and coffee before descending to explore the city on foot with your guide, learning about Cape Town’s history, its unique neighborhoods and more.
If you’d like to delve deeper into the city’s past, we have some very special options. From a private talk with an expert on the role music played during South Africa’s apartheid struggle to a conversation and dinner with Christo Brand, Nelson Mandela’s prison guard, we have truly unique ways for you to dig into Cape Town’s history.
Uthando South Africa is one of our partner charities, serving as an umbrella for a wide range of highly effective community projects across the country. To offer a glimpse into the work being done to uplift the disadvantaged in South Africa, we offer excursions to visit the local townships, with particular emphasis on visiting at least three of the social development projects being funded through Uthando.
The waters around Cape Town offer myriad opportunities for adventure. We love kayaking, whether you choose to kayak along the scenic Atlantic seaboard where you can admire the beauty of the spectacular city setting or take a full day adventure down the Cape Peninsula where one of your adventures is kayaking (or stand-up paddle boarding) with penguins.
You can also learn to surf with a certified surf expert – equipment, instruction and access to one of Cape Town’s many excellent surf spots included! Another special aquatic activity is snorkeling with Cape fur seals in their natural habitat.
We can also recommend a cruise on a luxury yacht. The Princess Emma will fulfill your dreams of an exclusive day of pampering on the Atlantic – enjoy swimming from the yacht’s platform, an alfresco meal made by your personal chef and of course breathtaking views and scenery.
Hiking opportunities in and around Cape Town abound. Whether you want to ascend the iconic Table Mountain or engage in an easier trek, we have something for you. Choose from a half day guided hike up Signal Hill where you start your adventure though urban streets then ascend the mountain through fynbos and lush forest, to finally return to sandy shores on a seaside promenade.
You’ll enjoy a picnic en route and splash in the ocean at the end of your hike. This is a great option for families. Or, if you want to tackle the big mountain itself, we have many guided options on a variety of routes.
You can also amp up your adrenaline on Table Mountain with an abseiling/rappelling adventure. Or experience the mountain from a different perspective on an e-bike, whizzing along deserted roads and mountain paths.
Take it a bit easier while exploring Cape Town’s mountains with a walk linking Table Mountain and the Constantia Wine valley, two of Cape Town’s greatest icons, during a morning of easy walking along forested trails that includes an exploration of the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Do you have something you are particularly passionate about? Let us help make it a part of your holiday! You can create your own jewelry with a local artisan, dive deep into Jewish heritage, discover Cape Town’s incredible art scene, travel back in time with the city’s history or get to know its people better with community and township excursions. We offer specialty activities for families and couples. Maybe you’d like to take a scenic helicopter ride up the coast to enjoy fresh mussels, oysters and Champagne right from the waters of the Atlantic? We can do that. Share your interests with your Journey Specialist and we’ll work to craft something special for you!
Cape Town is just a stone’s throw from many other adventures. The Winelands – home to incredible, world-class wines and dining – are at your fingertips. Spend a day – or several – exploring its delicious wonders.
Marine wonders abound – whether you want to view marine life from a boat, whale watch from shore (or on a small aircraft), shark cage dive, scuba dive during the sardine run or more – we have the expertise to help you choose the right season to visit and enjoy the abundant sea life on South Africa’s shores.
Scenic coastal drives, off-the-beaten-path hamlets, hidden penguin colonies, braais (barbecue) on the beach, private gin tastings…we’ve got lots of experiences up our sleeves – just ask!
Are you ready to plan your Cape Town adventure? Contact a Journey Specialist to get started or sign up for our newsletter below to stay connected!
Photos courtesy AAC Tanzanite Circle member Gretchen H., Tad Bradley, AAC Safari Concierge Nell Pollak, Zeitz Museum and Le Quartier Francais