Guest post submission by WanderCapeTown
Known as The Mother City Cape Town is an incredible destination, with a ton to do and see.
Whether you’re more nature-inclined and want to see the Cape fauna and flora, looking to learn about the history of this beautiful city and country, feel like being a beach bum, or would like to spend your day sipping on delectable wine, this article has you covered.
💡 Tip: All of these activities are outdoors, and therefore, it needs to be said that planning is crucial – check the weather before you book one of these activities to maximize your time out.
Cape Town is the kind of city where 4 seasons in 1 day is a legitimate concern. It would be a travesty to plan/book a snorkeling day, a trip to Robben Island, or a walk around Kirstenbosch, and it is raining cats and dogs. You have been warned!
It should also be said that this list is certainly not complete. There are many many things to do in and around Cape Town, but for the sake of your time and mine, check out this epic list of 9 fun and engaging activities ranging from free to inexpensive to a little more pricey but worth the money.
Save money and time with this City Pass. Get free entry to over 80 of Cape Town's top attractions, including free transport on the Hop On Hop Off bus for the duration of your pass.
This combination ticket includes:
- Free transport to over 80% of the included attractions
- Free entry to over 80 Cape Town attractions and tours
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- Attractions that are unique and exclusive to this pass
In this post, you'll find...
3 Stand-out Cape Town activities
While these activities are not cheap by the South African standard, they offer some sights and experiences you cannot find anywhere else! They’re worth the time and expense, so check them out.
Paragliding Cape Town
Price — R1550 or $90
🪂 Book your paragliding experience
Hiking up Lions Head or Table Mountain is a terrific way to get a great view of the entire city, but nothing compares to what you will be blessed with when paragliding above Cape Town. This must be one of the best ways to get a different perspective and a different view of The Mother City.
This activity is adrenaline-fueled, heart-pumping, and a wind-soaring experience that is not for the faint of heart. It is an incredible opportunity to do something different and to experience the city in a way that not many people can say they have.
Be prepared with laced-up shoes for reasons I’m sure I don’t need to explain, long sleeves and long pants to help with the chills and wind, as well as sunglasses to protect your eyes from the wind and reflection from the water.
Seal Snorkelling in Hout Bay
Price — R750 or $43
If you would rather stay away from the sky and frightening heights and seek another sort of thrill, a seal snorkelling experience will tickle your fancy for sure! This opportunity, to see Cape Fur Seals up close and in their natural habitat is unlike any other. They are relatively friendly, cute as heck and not as aggressive as one might assume.
It is possible to see seals while snorkelling around the Cape Peninsula, but I would recommend you use a seal snorkelling guided tour to enjoy this Cape Town experience responsibly and safely. These tours depart from the Hout Bay harbour that will take you around Sentinel Cliff to Duiker Island, where the seals gather and breed. This is a great opportunity to see Chapman’s Peak stretching out in front of you!
It is important to remember that these seals are in their natural habitat and that there are things you should refrain from doing. Do not feed or touch the seals, as you might disrupt them or draw unwanted predators. Please also refrain from getting on Duiker Island, as this is their breeding ground.
Robben Island tour
Price — R950 or $55
🛖 Book a tour of Township and Robben Island here
The Robben Island tour is an opportunity to see the prison where Nelson Mandela was held. This is a difficult tour to partake in as you are immersed in the tumultuous history of South Africa and this prison, but it is important to learn about South Africa’s history.
Nelson Mandela spent 28 of his 27 years of imprisonment on Robben Island before the end of Apartheid, a segregationist regime that was present in South Africa until 1994. This tour starts with a ferry ride from Cape Town to the island, where you are taken through the prison guided by an old prison inmate.
It’s a fascinating and informative experience, even if a little uncomfortable.
Inexpensive Cape Town experiences
Here are some fantastic experiences for those who don’t want to blow their budget.
Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens
Price — R220 or $13
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Few botanic gardens can compare in biodiversity, natural landscape and views, and ease of access. Situated on the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, you will be hard-pressed to see all of it in a day’s outing.
The garden is open from 08:00 until 19:00 in the summer months (September to March) and until 18:00 in the winter months (April to August). Three parking areas access the gardens as well as a restaurant, gift store, conservatory, plant sales shop, and education centre. Plenty of guided tours happen throughout the garden, but my recommendation would be to go in on your own and explore these three spots within the garden: the tree canopy walkway, the fynbos garden, and the fragrance garden.
The tree canopy walkway gives you a breathtaking view from the tree tops of the mountain and surrounding areas. A definite must! The fynbos garden is a collection of fynbos plant life (fynbos is a distinctive type of vegetation endemic to the southern tip of Africa) which are incredibly unique and beautiful. Finally, send your sense of smell through a sensation like none other in the fragrance garden.
Visit the African Penguins at Boulders Beach
Price — R176 or $10
🐧 Book a penguin-watching tour at Boulders Beach
Okay, I can imagine you must be thinking, “Penguins!? In South Africa!?” to which I have to say, “Yeah, have you not heard of Boulders Beach?”. Boulders Beach is home to an African Penguin colony. These tuxedo cuties are all over Boulders Beach, and with a small fee, you are welcome to get close to them, walk with them, and even swim with them.
Remember that these animals are not to be fed or touched at any time.
Boulders is situated in Simon’s town, which is a 45-minute drive from the Cape Town city bowl. It is a great day trip with some gorgeous views of the coast along the way and plenty of opportunities for ice cream or classic fish and chips!
Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve
Price — R376 or $22
🗻 Book a half-day Cape Point tour
And if you are heading down to Boulders, you should keep going down the coast and check out the Cape Point Nature Reserve. This beautiful nature reserve served as a landmark for merchants and traders travelling around the tip of Southern Africa. Two lighthouses were constructed here, the first in 1860 and functioned until the second was built in 1919.
Cape Point Nature Reserve boasts some incredible views of the Cape Peninsula, a place unlike anywhere else on Earth!
Wine tasting in Constantia
Price — Varies from farm to farm
🍷 Book a full-day wine tasting tour of the Winelands
Another blessing that Cape Town provides for those who live here and those visiting is the plethora of wine and wine farms available in the nearby areas. And one of these areas is Constantia, with 10 wine farms for you to choose from.
Not only do these offer incredible wine-tasting experiences and views, but many wine farms also have a range of pairings that you can indulge in, such as biltong (South Africa’s dried meat delicacy), chocolate, or cheese pairings.
A visit to this city would be remiss without visiting this area and enjoying these wines! Some stand-out wine farms that I would visit again and again are Beau Constantia, Constantia Glen and Buitenverwachting.
Free Cape Town activities
Cape Town also has a bunch of activities for free (if you exclude petrol and snacks for the day) that I could spend hours writing about but for the sake of your time and mine, here are 2 activities that I’d highly recommend you experience before you head off to your next destination!
Spend time at one of the numerous beaches
Cape Town has a ridiculous amount of beaches that one can visit, each with its setting and atmosphere. Clifton Beach has four different beaches you can choose from and is uniquely named Clifton 1st through 4th.
Clifton 4th is by far the most popular beach, with soft white pillowy sand that squeaks underneath your feet (yes, really) and a gorgeous blue sea with gentle waves. This is the beach you’ll want to visit if you’d like to be lazy on the sand with a book or a picnic with a partner or friends.
Llandudno is also one of the most breathtaking beaches in the world, and I am not biased as a South African. It is stunning! Perfect white sand, granite boulders enclosing the beach, and surrounded by a small natural forest. You really can’t do much better.
Hike Lions Head
🥾 Join a group Lion’s Head sunset hike
If you have spoken to anyone who has been to Cape Town, chances are that you have heard them talk about Lions Head and the awesome hike up it. Lions Head is just a short 10-minute drive from the city bowl and only takes 90 minutes to reach the top.
An easy 45-minute walk takes you up the side of Lions Head to a set of chains and steel loops that have been embedded into rock, giving you an easy and exciting opportunity to scramble up the rock face. Here it gets a little steep but very manageable with a little effort.
Lions Head offers some of the best views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic seaboard. It should not be missed if you come to Cape Town!
Explore Cape Town’s Best Things to Do
There you have it! 9 incredible activities that will come highly recommended by any local Capetonian. All of these activities are well worth your time, so I hope you have reserved enough time to visit all and more!
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