1. Take in Cape Town’s beauty form a seat in a sidecar
Skim past the Atlantic Ocean along Victoria Road, only centimeters above the tarmac, flanked by the towering Twelve Apostles and Lion’s Head in the distance. Not only does cruising in a sidecar have vintage appeal, but it gives you a uniquely low vantage point from which to enjoy Cape Town’s dramatic scenery. You’ll be kitted out with goggles, a bandana and leather jackets so you’ll look and feel the part too.
A two-hour chauffeured sidecar trip includes your choice of route along the Atlantic Seaboard to Chapmans Peak Drive or out to Bloubergstrand on the West Coast.
A full-day trip around the Cape Peninsula includes stops at Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders, with its well-known penguin colony.
Alternatively, you can opt for a day in the winelands or an outing along Clarence Drive, the coastal road that runs through Gordon’s Bay past Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Kleinmond and Betty’s Bay. In season you may even spot southern rights whales in the waters below.
Contact: www.sidecars.co.za | +27 (0)21 434 9855
2. Tandem paraglide off Lion’s Head or Signal Hill
Running and jumping off the fynbos-clad Lion’s Head or Signal Hill may sound a little scary but when harnessed to a professionally accredited paragliding pilot the result is pure bliss. Depending on the air currents, you’ll float above Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard for anywhere between five and 30 minutes.
From your suspended perch you’ll be able to see bowling greens and other sports fields, a grid of buildings hugging the coast, the Cape Town Stadium and the sparkling but icy waters of Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Clifton. You’ll also have a unique and heavenly view of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain.
The launch site varies between Signal Hill and Lion’s Head depending on wind direction.
Contact:Cape Town Tandem Paragliding | +27 (0)76 892 2283
3. Roll down the mountain with Scootours
If you didn’t own a scooter as a kid, it’s not too late to become acquainted with this form of play. Scootours has jumbo versions with off-road tyres that arguably provide more delight in one tour than a childhood-full of scooting.
Once you’ve been given instructions and the safety briefing, a bus will take you to the top of Signal Hill and then it’s freewheeling fun all the way down to the BoKaap. You’ll be collected from this colourful landmark area and ferried up the steep and winding Kloof Nek Road, to Tafelberg Road, for round two that will take you down the lower slopes of Table Mountain.
You’ll get to enjoy views of the Mother City and beyond on this family-friendly adventure and don’t forget to look out for the Cape’s endemic flora as you zoot by.
Contact: scootours.co.za | +27 (0) 827760557
4. Enjoy Cape Town’s mountain bike trails
If you’d like to get a good workout in a picturesque setting, Table Mountain has lots in store for off-road cyclists.
Table Mountain Bikers (TMB) have mapped out a number of trails on the slopes above the city bowl. There are loops around Deer Park, various connected gravel contour paths and steep climbs and descents. If you choose to cycle to the top of the King’s Block House you’ll be rewarded with views over the CBD, Table Bay and beyond.
Beware of technical downhill sections, which have been marked on the map and don’t cycle alone. You don’t need to pay TMB to ride, however, you do need a SanParks activity permit. You can visit the TMB website for a downloadable map and check its Facebook page for updates on mountain safety.
If you’re a beginner at off-road cycling, the fairly flat paths in the Constantia Greenbelt are an ideal playground, while Tokai’s popular mountain bike trails offer something for everyone. Routes in Tokai vary from exposed jeep tracks to shaded singletrack through the pine forests – the downhill line has great flow with a mix of rock gardens, jumps and drop offs. Tails are graded according to their difficulty, from beginner (green) to intermediate (blue) and the very technical (black) trails.
Contact:Table Mountain Bikers | +27 (0) 83 631 9796 and Tokai MTB Trails for maps and more info.
5. Abseil off Table Mountain
Rappel down a rock face from one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World with the deep blue Atlanic beneath you.
The starting point is next to the Upper Cable Station at 1000m above sea level where you can look down over Lion’s Head. Here, Cape Extreme will show you the ropes, give you a safety briefing and guide you down the side of Table Mountain for an 112m abseiling adventure.
To get to the meeting point you can do a self-guided hike, a guided hike with Cape Extreme or take a trip up the Aerial Cableway. Remember to bring drinking for the walk back to the starting point after you abseil down.
Contact:capextreme.com | +27 (0) 21 824 3387
6. Hire a replica AC Cobra and cruise along the coast
Handbuilt in South Africa by Backdraft Racing these two-seater, topless sports cars are the embodiment of exhilaration. You can hire one for a self-drive excursion for a two, four-, eight- or even a 24-hour slot or you can opt to be driven by a chauffeur.
The cars are replicas of the original Shelby AC Cobra but are fitted with modern brakes, suspension and V8 engines for better handling and comfort. You can select your own route if you’re behind the wheel, however, popular options include driving up Signal Hill to enjoy the view, coastal jaunts along the Victoria Road towards Llandudno, or a spin along Chapman’s Peak Drive.
If you plan to drive the car yourself, you need to be 25 or older.
Contact:cobraexperience.co.za | +27 83-376-0376
