Categories > Guides and Tips

Adventurous Things to Do in South Africa

Adventurous Things to Do in South Africa

South Africa is a beautiful country filled with exotic flora and fauna, arid savannas, giant mountains, and rich wildlife that will leave you in awe. That said, you’ll find a bunch of adventurous activities to do around the country that’ll give you priceless memories.

If you’re seeking an unforgettable journey or are an adventurous soul looking to explore the magic of South Africa, here’s a fun list of activities to try!

1. Venture around the beautiful Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve 

1. Venture around the beautiful Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Address: R543, Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Price: 

  • Adults: R 35 
  • Children/Pensioners: R 20

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a lush green space that’s one of the popular places for adventurous outdoor activities in South Africa. With a size of over 29,000 hectares, the nature reserve is home to thousands of unique flora and scenic cascades.

The great thing about this nature reserve is its wide variety of fun activities you can do, from simple bird watching to rafting on a river. Also, you can even enjoy the beauty of the canyon while riding a horse or by getting a bird’s eye view from a hot air balloon.

Pro tip:
While exploring the nature reserve, make sure to keep an eye out for some endangered and rare flowers. From time to time, you’ll be able to spot beautiful flower blooms like Taita Falcon, Oribi, and Kudu, which are quite rare.

2. Go abseiling down Table Mountain

2. Go abseiling down Table Mountain

Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks, known not only for its lovely views but also for its abseiling experiences. Although most tourists don’t know this, the mountain is quite popular among locals looking for a scenic rappelling spot.

What makes abseiling down Table Mountain so great is its sheer height and rocky terrain, which can provide a fun challenge. Aside from that, the mountain also offers picturesque views of Robben Island and Camps Bay that can’t be found elsewhere.

Pro tip:
When you’re done abseiling down Table Mountain, we recommend exploring the Dassie Walk. This trail can be completed in 15 minutes and is filled with lovely views of the north, south, and west, as well as lovely wildlife.

3. Tour the Cango Caves 

3. Tour the Cango Caves

Website: https://www.cango-caves.co.za

Address: Cango Caves R328 Cango Valley, Oudtshoorn, 6625, South Africa

Contact: 27 44 272 7410

Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Price: 

  • Heritage Tour:
    • Adult: R 170
    • Kids: R 120
  • Adventure Tour:
    • Adult: R 240
    • Kids: R 170

If you’re an outdoorsman who enjoys traversing tight spaces and narrow passages, make sure to explore the Cango Caves. The Cango Caves offer two types of tours: the heritage tour and the adventure tour, where you delve into the cave’s deepest parts.

The caves are situated at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains, which will have you crawling through tight crevices and narrow passages. The “Devil’s Chimney” is the main highlight of the caves, a 45 cm squeeze that’s almost impossible to get through.

Pro tip:
Inside the cave are ancient paintings that range from thousands to hundreds of years old, made by ancient Bushmen. These paintings depict imagery of hunting game and ancient Bushman culture.

4. Go on a thrilling kayaking safari in KwaZulu-Natal

4. Go on a thrilling kayaking safari in KwaZulu-Natal

Address: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

South Africa is home to many dangerous animals, and what better way to have fun than to go kayaking beside some scary predators? The province of KwaZulu-Natal is the best place to do this, with its range of kayak safari options at different prices.

It’s the perfect experience for extreme thrill-seekers, as you’ll be kayaking alongside cute but deadly hippos and scary crocodiles. Still, what makes kayaking here worth it is the place’s natural beauty, with its stunning mountains and lush greenery.

Pro tip:
Although kayaking beside predatory animals is quite scary, it also offers one of the best photo opportunities for wildlife photographers. You can easily snap some pics of crocodiles and hippos doing their own thing in the wild estuaries of KwaZulu-Natal.

5. Have fun snorkelling in Knysna

5. Have fun snorkelling in Knysna

For those who love underwater adventures, we suggest going snorkelling by the estuary near the lovely Knysna lagoon. What makes this place special is its huge population of seahorses that will not only amaze you with their looks but also their numbers.

The estuary’s warm waters create the perfect breeding ground and environment for seahorses to thrive in. What’s more is how, during high tide, the number of seahorses swimming around increases, offering a scene straight out of a Disney movie.

Pro tip:
Once you’re done snorkelling, we recommend you stop by 34 South and try some of their oyster dishes. The area of Knysna is well known for its delicious oysters, and this restaurant is one of the best in the area, with dishes like oyster ceviche.

6. Have a fun bungee jumping session

6. Have a fun bungee jumping session

One of the best things to do in South Africa is to go for an exhilarating bungee jumping session. There are loads of bungee jumping spots around the country with beautiful sceneries, thanks to its abundance of peaks, cliffs, and mountain ranges. 

A popular and affordable place to go bungee jumping is at Bloukrans Bridge, which is one of the world’s largest commercial bungee jumping bridges. Here, you’ll be able to experience a heart-dropping plunge of 650 feet toward the river below. 

Pro tip:
If you decide to go bungee jumping off Bloukrans Bridge, you can pay an additional 400 ZAR for some photos & videos of your bungee jumping experience.

7. Try shark diving 

7. Try shark diving

Shark diving is one of the most adventurous things to do in South Africa and also one of the top activities the country is known for. People from all over the world have come to SA just to experience the thrill of staring face-to-face with hordes of giant sharks.

Although there are tons of places to go shark diving in the country, our go-to spot is Gansbaai, which is known for its shark-infested waters. Here you can experience the heart-pounding beauty of being submerged in waters with tons of sharks around you.

Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a more thrilling shark diving experience, you can opt for baited shark dives. Here, sharks are attracted by a drum of bait, while divers enter the water in scuba or snorkel gear and drift freely with the current.

8. Have a fun motorbiking journey in Baviaanskloof

8. Have a fun motorbiking journey in Baviaanskloof

South Africa’s Baviaanskloof is home to tons of curvy hills and dirt trails, which is why it’s renowned as one of the world’s best motorbiking destinations. It’s the perfect destination for any hardcore trailblazer looking to have a fun yet challenging adventure.

Baviaanskloof boasts some of the longest and most challenging tracks for motorbikers, with some stretching hundreds of kilometres. You’ll come across lots of rocky paths, muddy trails, and watery pits that add to the charm and experience of motorbiking here.

Pro tip:
We recommend stopping every so often on your motorbike journey and snapping some pictures of the area. Aside from being a popular biking spot, the place is also renowned for its beauty, so make sure to take some photos while you’re here.

9. Enjoy a thrilling skydive

9. Enjoy a thrilling skydive

It’s no secret that skydiving is an adrenaline junkie’s dream, and it just so happens that South Africa has a rich skydiving scene as well. The best thing is skydiving is easily accessible, as there are hundreds of skydiving centres all around the country.

Since South Africa is filled with lovely mountains, hills, and seascapes, you’ll find beautiful scenery everywhere you skydive. Also, the country is known for having clear skies, allowing you to take in the beauty of South Africa from above without obstruction.

Pro tip:
Since there are hundreds of skydive spots in the area, we recommend searching for the drop zones that are closest to you. From here, you can also find out the skydive routes and areas.

10. Observe animals at a safari 

10. Observe animals at a safari

Nothing says adventure in South Africa like a safari filled with wild animals and dangerous predators. With an abundance of savannas, forests, and estuaries, a safari trip around South Africa is sure to bring you a fun and memorable journey.

Kruger National Park is one of the best spots to go for an action-filled safari experience, as its lush environment is home to unique animals. You’ll be able to observe animals like rhinos, buffalos, and even lions hunting out in the wild.

Pro tip:
If you’re visiting Addo Elephant National Park, you might want to try bushwalking with giraffes. This fun activity will give you an up-close view of these towering giraffes in all their glory.

11. Go ziplining 

11. Go ziplining

Another thing to do in South Africa that’s sure to give you an adrenaline rush is go on a thrilling zipline adventure. The great thing about ziplining is that it’s one of the most easily accessible activities in the country, thanks to the abundant mountains in SA. 

If you’re looking for a scenic spot to ride a zipline, we recommend taking the one at the beautiful Koekedouw River in Ceres. There are several lines here, the shortest is 350 feet long while the longest is 950 feet long, both suspended 130 feet above the ground.

Pro tip:
We recommend bringing a GoPro with you before hitting the zipline. Many zipline services allow you to strap on a GoPro device to your gear so you can record yourself as you go ziplining.

12. Explore some shipwrecks 

12. Explore some shipwrecks

One of the best free and exciting things to do in South Africa is to explore the numerous shipwrecks around the country. It’s no secret that the waves in the Atlantic are powerful, which has resulted in tons of shipwrecks around the waters just waiting to be explored.

Although there are some shipwrecks that we advise you to stay away from, many of the wrecks along calm waters are quite safe to explore. In fact, you’ll find lots of people going up to shipwrecks just to get a closer look or to snap Instagrammable photos.

Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a shipwreck that’s unique, check out the BOS 400 near Duiker Point. This place has a giant crane sticking out of the water, which was originally the biggest floating crane in the country before it got wrecked.

13. Explore the Wild Coast

13. Explore the Wild Coast

One of the top destinations for all things nature and exploration in South Africa is The Wild Coast, located in the Eastern Cape. This lovely area is sandwiched between the Mtamvuna River and the Great Kei River, and it’s got lots to offer in terms of activities. 

The place features lovely coastlines and beaches where you can enjoy a relaxing walk by the waters, as well as cliffs where you can practise cliff jumping. Also, the place has a rich marine life, which makes it a popular spot to go whale watching! 

Pro tip:
While you’re here, make sure to check out the M’bashe lighthouse. This awesome lighthouse features a white body and a red pointy roof, making it great for pictures, especially during sunsets.

14. Visit endangered animals at Bontebok National Park 

14. Visit endangered animals at Bontebok National Park

Address: Swellendam, 6740, South Africa

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

For animal lovers looking for a more unique wildlife-related experience, we suggest animal-spotting endangered animals at Bontebok National Park. This lovely park is home to some of South Africa’s rarest species like the Bontebok and Black Harrier.

Although the park is mainly used for preserving the endangered Bontebok, you’ll still find tons of animals roaming in grasslands and river valleys in the area. The park’s size and rich wildlife ensure that you won’t run out of places to explore and animals to spot.

Pro tip:
Keep an eye out for the Bat-Eared Fox while you’re in this park. This creature is quite unique and cute, with its giant pointy ears and fluffy coat, making it a great subject for wildlife photography.

15. Join a helicopter tour 

15. Join a helicopter tour

If you’re looking to explore most of SA’s natural beauty in one go, we recommend trying the Cape Town Helicopter Tour: Atlantic Coast by Cape Town Helicopters. This fun tour gives you an awesome view of the deep blue ocean, huge mountains, and much more.

For a nature-rich tour of Cape Town, we recommend booking the Cape Town Helicopter Tour: Atlantic Coast by Cape Town Helicopters. This fun tour will show you the Western Cape’s natural beauty, and you can even get a great view of the City Bowl. 

Pro tip:
If you’re going on a helicopter tour around Cape Town, we recommend asking your pilot to hover over the city bowl for longer than usual. This is because the helicopter offers a unique view of Cape Town’s natural amphitheatre.

16. Try paragliding 

16. Try paragliding

One of the best activities to do in South Africa is to go tandem paragliding off some of the country’s highest peaks and mountains. Paragliding is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty that Africa has to offer without the noise of a helicopter. 

A great place to try paragliding for those looking for awesome coastal views and lush mountain ranges is Table Mountain. The mountain has tons of spots where you can try paragliding like Signal Hill and Lions Head, both of which offer unique views.

Pro tip:
If you choose to go paragliding at Signal Hill, we recommend first enjoying the breathtaking views from the scenic trails that lead to the hill. These trails provide a distinctive perspective of both the ocean and the surrounding urban sprawl.

Related topics