Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Looking for adventurous things to do in Cape Town? I’ve got you covered.
I’ve lived in Cape Town on and off since 2021, and in that time I’ve enjoyed almost every adventure the city has to offer, from paragliding to shark cage diving and even tackling the notorious India Venster hike. Now, I’m here to share all of the need-to-know info with you, as well as my honest thoughts and all of the insider tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Ready? Let’s get into it!
1. Paragliding
Start time: Between 10 am – 3 pm
Duration: 30-60 minutes total (flight time 5-15 mins)
Rating: 5 stars (check 400+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Paragliding is an iconic activity in Cape Town! You can watch paragliders flying over Sea Point and landing on the promenade almost every day, and when I lived in the area I would even hear them whooping and hollering as they flew over my house. So of course, I had to try it out for myself!
I did this exact paragliding flight and I loved it! I must admit that I was very nervous beforehand, especially about the takeoff, but it wasn’t too scary. There’s no free fall and I felt secure the whole time.
And the views – wow! I loved seeing Sea Point stretch below me, with the deep blue ocean just beyond. The feeling of flying is just so surreal, and I was on such a high as I landed. I wish I could bottle that feeling of childlike glee!
Flights take off from either Signal Hill or Lion’s Head, depending on the conditions of the day. I went from Signal Hill, so I took an Uber there. If you drive, the company offers a free shuttle back to the parking lot.
You can also opt to purchase the GoPro footage of your flight afterwards. It was uploaded right onto my phone upon landing, so I didn’t even have to wait to start reliving the experience!
I’ve got a full review of this experience here, but the long and short of it is that I highly recommend it. My top tip would be to schedule it early on in your trip in case the wind conditions mean you need to rearrange the date.
Book your paragliding flight here and enjoy free cancellation!
2. Go Ziplining in the Table Mountain Reserve
Start time: 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Rating: 5 stars (check 3,900+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? No
Price: Check price here!
With thousands of 5 star reviews, this ziplining tour has to be Cape Town’s top rated adventure activity! And I can see why – I mean, you get an adrenaline rush and crazy mountain views, so what’s not to love?
Plus, this guided experience takes place on the beautiful Silvermist Estate in Constantia, so you could even go and do a cheeky wine tasting afterwards! Constantia is one of Cape Town’s top wine regions, so it would be rude not to really.
You’ll need to get yourself here, either by driving or in an Uber, and after you check in you’ll hop into an open air 4×4 and head up into the mountain. The views start pretty much straight away!
Your guides will get you all clipped in, and then you’ll zoom along a course of seven different lengths. The cables are around 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) long in total, so you really get your money’s worth with this experience!
Some of the lines are fast and exhilarating while others are a little slower and less steep so that you have time to soak up the scenery. The highest cable hangs roughly 155 meters above the canyon floor – talk about views for days!
What I love about this tour is the fact that it’s super well organised, so you don’t need to queue for tickets or figure out logistics yourself. But don’t just take my word for it, because the reviews really speak for themselves.
Grab your spot on this epic zipline tour here, before it sells out!
3. Kayaking
Start time: 7:30 am, 9 am, or 12:30 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Rating: 4.8 stars (check 175+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Kayaking along the Atlantic Seaboard is not only a great way to take in the beauty of Cape Town’s dramatic skyline, it’s also a fantastic chance to spot marine life! When I went kayaking, I saw dolphins, penguins, and seals, and some people are even lucky enough to spot whales – how cool is that?
This top-rated kayak tour departs from the V&A Waterfront, and I would suggest booking one of the earlier time slots if you’re going in the summer to beat the heat. I went early and still managed to get a very dodgy bike shorts tan, but then I am a redhead!
Anyway, this is a nice, easy paddle so you don’t need any kayaking experience to do it. The kayaks also have rudders which makes it so much easier to steer your vessel! Even I managed, and I have virtually no upper body strength.
You’ll probably see quite a few seals as you leave the Waterfront, although some even popped up to say “hi” to us as we paddled past Sea Point. Keep your eyes peeled for sunfish, too, and you may well spot dolphins playing in the waves. We even spotted a lone penguin who had made his way over from Robben Island.
This kayak tour is a pretty laid back adventure, but it still really delivers in terms of scenery and wildlife. No wonder it has such stellar reviews! It does tend to sell out, though, so be sure to book in advance.
Grab your spot on this kayak tour here with free cancellation, before it sells out!
4. Hiking India Venster
Start time: Between 6 – 8 am (depending on conditions)
Duration: 4 hours
Rating: 5 stars (check reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Hiking India Venster had been on my Cape Town bucket list for ages, but I was a bit scared to be honest! I’d heard it was a super difficult hike, but it’s also said to be the most beautiful route up. Now, having done it, I can confirm that that’s true!
I’m not a very experienced hiker, so I decided to join this guided tour, and that proved to be a great decision. The route involves some scrambling and pulling yourself up. It’s not physically super difficult, but some technical knowledge is required. I found it very do-able thanks to our amazing guide, Patrick, but I know I would have gotten stuck without him.
As for the trail itself, it was gorgeous! The trail climbs steadily up from the cable car station and you get to the famous “India Window” pretty early on. And the views only get better from there! You get fantastic views of Lion’s Head, the City Bowl, and Table Bay, then as the trail wraps around the side of the mountain you can admire the beauty of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles.
You can read my full review of the experience here, but in short, I can’t say enough good things about it! I had such a great time and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards. In fact, I still brag to people about the fact I’ve done India Venster!
Check availability and book this guided hike here!
5. ATV Ride Across the Sand Dunes
Start time: Multiple time slots between 8 am – 5 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Rating: 4.1 stars (check 400+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Yes, you read that right – sand dunes!
This quad biking tour is yet another example of a tour that I wanted to do but was nervous to try. I’d never ridden an ATV before, and the idea of zooming around the Atlantis dunes sounded both exciting and terrifying. However, driving an ATV turned out to be a lot easier than I expected.
You control your own speed, and once you get used to the steering, it’s very do-able. I’m not exactly skilled when it comes to anything with wheels (ask any of my friends about my driving), but even I got the hang of it pretty quickly.
The dunes are also very beautiful – almost otherworldly! We spent about 50 minutes zooming around and we had a mini photoshoot where the guides took tons of photos and videos on our phones for us.
You can read my full review here, but the short version is that this tour is fun and beginner-friendly. I’ll be totally honest with you, though: it’s only worth doing if you’re renting a car. The dunes are about a 45-minute drive out of the city, so taking an Uber here and back would cost more than the price of the tour.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll have to pay a permit fee on the day, in addition to the base price of the tour. This is R250 if you pay with cash or R260 on card. Still, if you have a rental car and are keen for an adrenaline rush and some cool photos, this tour is definitely worth considering!
Check details and book this exciting ATV tour here!
6. Learn to Surf
Start time: Multiple time slots between 7:30 am – 4 pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Rating: 4.9 stars (check 60+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Muizenberg is hands down the best place to learn to surf in Cape Town. For one thing, it’s on the False Bay Coast, which enjoys warmer water than the freezing waves of Clifton and Camps Bay. The waves here are also more consistent and beginner-friendly!
So if you’re keen to catch some waves, I think that this private surfing lesson is the perfect way to learn. You get dedicated coaching from start to finish and your instructor focuses entirely on you. The lesson will be tailored to your skill level, whether you’re a complete beginner or just need a refresher to boost your confidence.
All gear is included, too, which makes life super easy. I actually think that booking this tour is better value for money than organising all of your rentals separately, and it’s certainly easier. You’ll get a wetsuit, surfboard, and access to comfortable change rooms with warm showers afterwards.
You will need to get yourself to Muizenberg though, which is about a 35-minute drive from the city center. If you’d prefer a tour with transport included, you can check out this all-inclusive surf tour instead, which also includes some awesome photos.
See prices and book your private surf lesson here, with free cancellation!
7. Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike
Start time: 4 am or 5 pm (can change according to the time of year – check times here)
Duration: 3.5 hours
Rating: 5 stars (check 1,300+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check prices here!
Lion’s Head is one of the most popular hikes in Cape Town, and for good reason. The views are incredible, and this is especially true at sunrise and sunset. But since this requires doing half of the hike in the dark, I would strongly recommend booking this guided hike for safety.
Parts of the trail to the summit involve some light scrambling and a few ladders and narrow sections, so it’s worth having an experienced hiker to guide you. There’s also safety in numbers on these trails, especially at night. Plus, head torches will be provided so that you don’t have to worry about packing or buying one yourself.
And once you reach the top, I promise you’ll be blown away by the views. Sunrises and sunsets are always an epic affair in Cape Town, but with this tour you’ll get to enjoy the spectacle at one of the city’s best natural viewpoints. I mean, there’s a reason this tour has well over a thousand 5-star reviews!
You can even opt to include transport with this tour if you don’t have a rental car. I definitely recommend doing this if you’re booking the sunrise option because it can take longer to get an Uber in the wee hours of the morning!
Book this Lion’s Head sunrise or sunset hike here and get ready to be wowed!
8. Shark Cage Diving
Start time: 7 am or 11 am
Duration: 10 hours
Rating: 4.5 stars (check 550+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Shark cage diving is a bucket list activity for many visitors to Cape Town, but not all tours are created equal. Trust me, I learned this the hard way! I did the cheapest tour available and it wasn’t very well run. The reviews for this one, however, are miles better and there are lots of them, which always makes me feel more confident recommending it.
This tour takes you out to Gansbaai, which is THE place to see sharks in South Africa. It’s a 2.5 hour drive from Cape Town so it is quite a lot of travel time for just one day. If you want something shorter and closer to the city, I’d suggest checking out the marine safari tour below instead, as that’s just 1.5 hours long and leaves straight from the V&A Waterfront.
But if you’re up for a full adventure and don’t mind the length of the day, this is one of the most unique wildlife experiences you can have anywhere in the world! With this tour, you’ll get breakfast at the Great White House, a popular local restaurant, once you arrive in Gansbaai and then head out on a specialised dive boat to Dyer Island.
For the dive itself, you get into a cage just below the surface and pop in and out of the water yourself. They come so close to you, it’s crazy! But I also loved sitting on deck when others were in the water because I was able to watch the sharks leaping out of the water, which was pretty cool.
Plus, with this tour there will be a marine biologist onboard to explain shark behaviour and help you understand what you’re seeing. Between dives, there are snacks and drinks, and you also get light refreshments afterwards before heading back to Cape Town.
You can read hundreds of reviews and secure your spot on this tour here!
9. Marine Safari
Start time: 10:30 am
Duration: 1.5 hours
Rating: 4.4 stars (check 270+ reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price: Check price here!
Cape Town is home to some seriously exciting marine life, so when a friend spent her birthday out in Cape Town with me I decided to surprise her with this marine safari. I expected it to be a fun little boat trip where we’d maybe spot a couple of dolphins, but we ended up seeing FOUR whales!
This was such a surprise to me because we did the tour in February, and whale season runs from June to November. I didn’t expect to see any and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to be wrong! One whale surfaced so close to our boat that I could have reached out and touched it.
That’s not all we saw, either. We also saw a pod of dolphins playing in the waves and tons of seals lounging around the harbor. We also glimpsed some adorable African penguins bobbing near our boat. It was a jam-packed 90 minutes, to say the least. You can read my full review here!
What really sets this marine safari apart is how convenient it is. It leaves right from the V&A Waterfront, so there’s no long drive out of the city or full-day commitment. We were out on the ocean within mere minutes of checking in!
The only thing I’ll say is that if you sit on the catamaran nets, you will definitely get wet. We got soaked! It’s a good idea to bring a change of clothes with you, unless you plan on heading straight back to your hotel afterwards.
Check availability and book this marine safari here, with FREE cancellation!
10. Helicopter Flight
Start time: Multiple departures between 9 am – 5:30 pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Rating: 4.9 stars (check 300 + reviews here)
Free cancellation? Yes
Price:Check price here!
Let’s be honest, a helicopter flight is always an exciting adventure but it’s extra special in Cape Town, because this city is just so beautiful! This helicopter flight takes you soaring down the Atlantic Coast, past the beaches and mountains that make Cape Town so special.
Seeing the city from above really does hammer home just how dramatic the landscape is. Your pilot will circle Table Mountain so that you can admire it from every angle and see the contrast between the earthy cliffs and the deep blue ocean. If this flight doesn’t make you understand why I decided to live in Cape Town, I don’t know what will.
You’ll also trace the curve of the Twelve Apostles, which is that long line of jagged peaks that runs all the way down the peninsula. You’ll see some of Cape Town’s prettiest beaches below you, and even fly over Hout Bay Harbour before looping back toward the Waterfront. It’s around 18-20 minutes in the air, but it feels like you’ve seen the entire city in one go – talk about an efficient way to sightsee!
Read 300+ reviews and book this bucket list helicopter flight here!
Thanks so much for reading my guide to Cape Town’s adventure activities! I’ve got so many resources to help you plan a fun and exciting trip to the Mother City, so be sure to check out the following guides: