Top 7 Extreme Sports in Cape Town
By Simone Matus
Cape Town is a city known for its amazing mountain and sea views, beautiful weather and its many outdoor activities. There is something for everyone, including an awesome array of extreme sporting activities for individuals looking for that extra thrill.
Bungee Jumping
A well known feature in the world of extreme sport, Cape Town is home to the highest bungee jump in the world. Take a drive to the famous Bloukrans Bungy, near Plettenberg Bay, where you jump off the Bloukrans Bridge into the river below. The Bloukrans jump is the World’s Highest Commercial Bungee at 709 ft! It’s even recognized by the Guinness World Records.
Shark Cage Diving
If you are a fan of Shark Week – and who isn’t? – then you will absolutely love the chance to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Cape Town’s oceans are filled with sharks, including the Great White Shark, of JAWS fame. Take a drive along beautiful coastlines and get up close with an array of different species, learn about Cape Town’s local conservation and protection of sharks and experience them right in front of you. One international intern swore “they were so close he could almost touch them!”
Thankfully this photo is not from our personal collection!
Skydiving
For the ultimate joy ride, try skydiving! First, enjoy a spectacular aircraft ride, experiencing the finest views of the West Coast, Cape Town, Robben Island and Table Mountain. Then it’s time to jump out of the aeroplane for a mere 120mph/200kph freefall. It does not get more extreme than this!
Sand Boarding
For a slightly less vertical extreme sport, try sand boarding. Taking a drive out to one of two natural sand dune areas in Cape Town, you then get to strap both feet onto one board and send yourself hurtling down a dune at high speeds over and over again.
Paragliding
For a 360 degree aerial view of Cape Town with a touch of extreme, there is no better activity than paragliding. It starts with a fast-paced run on the side of Signal Hill followed by well, a leap of faith! You will find yourself soaring through the air at tremendous heights. Flights generally take 30 minutes to an hour and on a good day you may even get the chance to take over the toggles and experience what it’s like to be a pilot.
Kloofing
Kloofing, otherwise known as canyoning, is a unique experience in Cape Town. It involves getting yourself down a river gorge, by a combination of boulder hopping, wading, swimming, climbing, sliding down natural slides and jumping off cliffs from 10-70ft high; one well known Kloofing site has been aptly nicknamed Suicide Gorge and once you start there is no turning back.
Abseiling (aka Rappelling) Off Table Mountain
Towering over the city and providing a sheer, natural drop off, Table Mountain is the perfect abseiling rock. Step over the side for a 364ft descent off one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. What better way to get your adrenaline fix than while you take in the beautiful surroundings of the Table Mountain National Park and the Atlantic Ocean.
Yep, people rappel down…that.
What is your favorite extreme sport? Let us know in the comments section below!
Simone Matus
