Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by thecapetownblog
Cape Town is famous for its beaches and mountains, but did you know that it’s also home to pristine white sand dunes?
About 45 minutes outside of the city you’ll find the Atlantis dunes, which you can explore on an exciting quad bike tour!
I’ll admit, this was something I was a little nervous about as I had never ridden an ATV before. So if you’re wondering if going quad biking in Cape Town is worth it, keep on reading to get my honest review of the experience. I’ve also included all of the need-to-know details so you can decide whether or not hitting the Atlantis dunes the right activity for you.
What is the Atlantis Dunes Quad Biking Tour?
It’s a guided ATV drive that takes you zooming across Cape Town’s sand dunes. You can get pretty good views of Table Mountain on a clear day, although the day we went was so hot that we could barely see it due to the humidity and heat haze! Riding around the dunes was a pretty surreal experience at times. At one point, as we were going uphill, I almost felt as though we were driving up to the gates of heaven – or in a 90s music video.
Where are the Atlantis Sand Dunes?
The Atlantis sand dunes are 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of central Cape Town, in the town of Atlantis. As far as I know, it’s the only place to go quad biking in Cape Town! The tour doesn’t include transport, so you’ll need to drive there. You could try to Uber, but you would struggle to get one back to the city.
How Much Does It Cost to Go Quad Biking on the Atlantis Dunes?
The tour costs R599, and you will also need to pay R118 for a quad biking permit when you arrive at the Atlatnis Dunes. You can do this with cash or card. So you’re looking at R717 in total, which is roughly £30 or $38 USD at the time of writing.
Is it Easy to Drive the Quad Bikes on This Tour?
Yes! Your instructor will give you a quick safety briefing before you head onto the dunes, but it’s pretty straightforward. You have total control over how fast or slow you go. The steering took me a second to get used to, but once we got going, I was absolutely fine – and I struggled with riding a bicycle!
How Long Does the ATV Ride Last?
The ATV ride lasts for about 50 minutes. However, you won’t be driving for all of that time because you stop for about 15 minutes for a photo shoot. The guides will use your phone to take lots of cool photos of you, and you can ask for videos of you driving your ATV, too.
Is This Tour Suitable for Kids?
Children aged 13 and over can drive their own ATV, and kids aged between 6 and 12 can ride along with an instructor. Honestly, though, I think that there are definitely better family-friendly activities in Cape Town!
Can I Share an ATV?
No, only small ATVs are available on this tour so you’ll have to drive your own one.
Is it Safe to Go Quad Biking in Cape Town?
Yes, I felt safe. The bikes are easy to drive and you’ve got an instructor with you the entire time to keep you safe. But of course, there is always a level of risk involved with ATVs and you have to sign a waiver before you go. This is pretty standard, though, and not specific to the Atlantis Dunes!
What to Wear/Bring
A bumbag or cross body bag: loose bags aren’t permitted but bring a secure one with you to store your phone and keys.
Your phone: keep this your bag because you’ll need it to take photos!
Sunscreen: I recommend applying plenty of sunscreen before you go, because there’s no shade on the sand dunes and it gets pretty hot out there.
A shirt that covers your shoulders: if you burn easily like me, you will definitely want to keep yourself as safe as possible from the sun.
Is Quad Biking on the Atlantis Dunes Worth It?
Yes, we had a great time, but I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do activity in Cape Town. It’s fun, but it’s quite far out of the city so if you’re short on time, there are definitely other activities that should take priority! I’d also only say that it’s worth doing this tour if you’ve got a rental car, because Ubering out to the dunes and back will cost more than the price of the tour itself.
If this tour sounds good to you, you can book it here! Or, for more Cape Town tour reviews, check out: