8 things to do in Cape Town (that aren’t Table Mountain) Posted by Anita Froneman on 18 May 2022 Visitors to the Mother City (or residents looking for something to do) have heard all the same recommendations. The tourist in Cape Town’s to-do list usually looks something like this: hike Table Mountain or take the aerial cableway up there, hike Lion’s Head or watch the sunset from Signal Hill, visit Boulders Beach, and browse the V&A Waterfront. On your second trip to Cape Town, you were probably told to visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, do a wine tasting and visit a popular art museum (it was the Zeitz MOCAA, wasn’t it?). Those things are all fantastic, and they’re the top online search results for things to do in Cape Town for good reason. But, there are so many more things to do. And yes, some of them are expensive, and some people are okay with that. However, you don’t need to blow the holiday budget because some of the most fun activities in town are really reasonable. Some are even free: view street art in Salt River, watch the sunset from Blouberg beach or visit a food market (Hout Bay and Oranjezicht are good options). Here are some other exhilarating ideas. If you’re on a low budget: Acrobranch Picture: Acrobranch If you’re up for a bit of adventure and don’t mind heights, branch out to some treetop rope courses. Great fun for all ages, rope climbing courses will lead you through the Constantia forest over various obstacles – but don’t worry, you’re always securely attached to a safety harness. Cost: From R150 per person (kids) and R190 per person (adults) Visit their website here. Stand up paddling Picture: SUP Cape Town Stand up paddling is a great activity for those keen to get on the water, not in the water. Glide along the canals at the V&A Waterfront, or take your ‘SUP’ to the ocean (no staying dry guaranteed when waves come into play, though!). Many people think surfing experience is required to stand up paddle, but this is not true. Your guide will show you exactly what to do, but essentially, you just…stand up and paddle. Try: SUP Cape Town Cost: From R150 per person for 30 minutes Visit their website here. Gather gemstones at Scratch Patch Picture: Unsplash If you’re delighted by all things shimmery and shiny, this place is for you. Scratch Patch has two branches, one in Simon’s Town and one at the V&A Waterfront. Step into a room filled with polished gemstones, and pick the ones that catch your eye. Some of the treasures you might find are Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jasper, Agates and Crystals. If you’re lucky, you might even come across the rarer Lapis Lazuli or Blue Lace Agate. Cost: From R30 per small bag Visit their website. Cycle the city Picture: Up Cycles Get that heart rate up while seeing the city at the same time. Cycling is good for your health and also better for the environment than driving, plus it’s fun to do with friends. With Up Cycles, you can collect your rental at any one of three stations: Camps Bay, Sea Point or the V&A Waterfront, and drop it off again at any of these stations. Cost: From R90 per person for one hour Visit their website. The vibrant area of Camps Bay offers even more for visitors. If you’re curious to learn more, check out this list of the top things to do in Camps Bay! If you’re on a flexible budget: Fly over the water with eFoiling eFoiling is the new e-biking. There are myriad ways to describe this watersport to someone who’s never heard of it: It’s like an electric surfboard, or a battery-powered wakeboard. But really, the only way to find out is to experience it yourself. READ: eFoiling is the most fun you’ll have all year Cost: From R900 per person for a group of three people. Visit their website. Pedal on a water bike in Simon’s Town Picture: Nidha Narrandes/Cape Town Etc Riding a bicycle on water? Oh, yeah. Water bikes are non-motorised, eco-friendly and designed to be used on the ocean. Water bikers often encounter playful Cape fur seals, African penguins and various other sea birds along the way. Cape Town Water Bikes is the only company of its kind in Cape Town. Cost: From R490 per person for one hour Visit their website. Paraglide over the city bowl Picture: Cape Town Tandem Paraglide Paragliding is not as scary as it looks. In fact, it’s quite peaceful floating through the air. Flights in Cape Town usually set off from Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, giving you a bird’s-eye view of Table Mountain. No experience required! Try: Cape Town Tandem Paragliding Cost: From R 1300 per person. Visit their website here. Watch the sunset on a boat cruise Picture: Christoph Scholz / Flickr Commons There really is something special about sipping champagne on a yacht. There are several operators departing from the V&A Waterfront, and we definitely recommend a sunset cruise so you can take in views of the Atlantic Seaboard as the sky turns pink and orange. Try: Cape Town Sunset Cruises Cost: From R250 per person for a morning or midday cruise, sunset cruises start from R360 per person Visit their website here. ALSO READ A bicycle wine tour in Tulbagh? It’s wheelie good 50 things to do in Cape Town with kids in 2023 Related Posts 12 sensational Western Cape campsites 30 May 2023 Love camping? So do we. These are some of our favourite Western Cape campsites, our... read more Rewilding Mozambique: Sábiè Game Park 25 May 2023 We went on a recce to Sábiè Game Park, which is setting the pace for... read more Rewilding Mozambique: Zinave National Park 25 May 2023 We went on a recce to Zinave National Park, Inhambane Province, which is setting the... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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