Adventure travel is on the rise! Many travellers, from baby boomers to millennials are embracing the spirit of adventure – they are actively seeking out eco-friendly and sustainable adventures and seizing the opportunity to experience that out of the ordinary holiday – the thrill of exploration and adrenaline-pumping activities.
For that rush of adrenaline go ziplining, river rafting and shark cage diving or for a more leisurely pace a guided bike tour, a serene river cruise, guided walks and wine tastings, take an unforgettable journey with Cape Country Routes’ handpicked selection of activities! A curated collection of experiences crafted to unveil the hidden treasures of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape regions that promises to delight the curious explorer – from the thrill-seeker to the nature enthusiast, there are activities that cater to every taste.
Each experience is selected to guarantee 100% enjoyment and promises – an adventure of a lifetime!
In the Mother City – get going with the award winning Gravity Adventures – We do Adventures! Offering a variety of micro/multi-day kayaking adventures for all ages and skill levels with guides there are three Mobi-kayak Trail routes to explore -the Simonstown Trail (kelp forest, sea bird roosting sites, penguin colony); Hout Bay Trail (the inaccessible coastline) and the Table Bay Trail – where you’ll do a full 180-degree flip on your perspective of Cape Town!
In Stellenbosch – make a beeline for the Adventure Shop for a guided 25km, 3-hour long, E-bike ride from Stellenbosch to the Boschendal Wine Estate. Ride along the Stellenbosch Trailfund trails into the Idas Valley community trails to reach the beautiful Banhoek Conservancy where you may spot Eland and Oryx. It also offers Vine Hopper wine tours, private wine tours, 4×4 wine experience and guided hikes. If planning overnighting in Stellenbosch, consider two top tier CCR members, Evergreen Manor & Spa or Eendracht Hotel & Apartments. www.adventureshop.co.za; www.evergreenmanor.co.za; www.eendracht-hotel.com
In Grabouw surrounded by Cape fynbos and breathtaking panoramas and mountains, fly high with Cape Canopy Tour and soaring eagles. Cape Canopy, renowned for its awesome ziplining, is on everyone’s bucket list. You start with a 4×4 drive through the nature reserve, then at 1 000m high above sea level you fly and soar on 11 slides. Just 60 mins from Cape Town and Paarl and 45 mins from Stellenbosch, the award-winning Cape Canopy Tour ticks all the boxes. www.capecanopytour.co.za
In Gansbaai, a hotspot for Sharks, go shark cage-diving with Marine Dynamics or to see whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and African penguins do its Big 5 Marine Safari – a little tamer, but just as fascinating. A marine biologist will guide you through the Dyer Island ecosystem plus you’ll get a free visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, a Dyer Island Conservation Trust project. If you’re wanting to overnight, do consider the CCR accredited Arniston Spa Hotel, Agulhas Country Lodge and The De Hoop Collection (De Hoop Nature Reserve).
www.marinedynamics.co.za; ww.arnistonhotel.com; www.agulhascountrylodge.com; www.dehoopcollection.com
In Paarl you can take a walk on the ‘serene’ and scenic side – a walk for the senses with Olive Valley Walks.
A walk that rejuvenates, relaxes and makes you feel alive – you’re invited to walk through the Olive Valley and explore the valley, smell the fynbos, rejuvenate in the mountain water, meander the vineyards and learn more about olives, wine, buchu and yourself. Various short itineraries are offered and rates vary between R200 and R1 200 for groups or individual walks.
In Stanford you can take a cruise aboard an eco-friendly riverboat, The Lady Stanford. Meandering along the Klein River from Stanford Village towards the Hermanus Estuary to the bird sanctuary and back, the cruise takes about two hours. There are three (five in peak season) trips per day at R250 per person. A birders’ paradise, you may spot majestic Fish Eagles, elegant Flamingos, Kingfishers, Grebes, Herons, Osprey or the African Harrier-Hawk and keep an eye out for otters, turtles and fish in the water and bontebok and horses grazing on the river banks. www.xplorio.com/stanford/lady-stanford-river-cruises/
In Knysna – for private, guided (qualified, English speaking guide), half or full day tours in an air-conditioned VW Kombi to explore, discover and experience the Garden Route, pop into Knysna Touring. You can also set sail with Ocean Sailing Charters on the clear waters of the Knysna Lagoon for a fun day, with seals splashing alongside the yacht and seabirds soaring overhead. With a team that is dedicated to providing you with an unforgettable experience, and its fleet of luxurious catamarans Ocean Sailing Charters offer experiences that extend beyond your wildest dreams. After this what more could you want? A stay at the tranquil St James of Knysna on the edge of the Knysna Lagoon is the answer. www.knysna-touring.com; www.stjames.co.za; www.oceansailingcharters.co.za
In Oudtshoorn – for an interactive encounter with ostriches at the Safari Ostrich Farm, do its one-of-a-kind, guided Ostrich Tractor Tour for a peek inside the Ostrich breeding and chick-rearing camps; and for a cuteness overload visit the 5 Shy Meerkats on the 4-star De Zeekoe Guest Farm. Meerkats are part of the ‘Shy 5’ which includes the bat-eared fox, aardvark, porcupine and aardwolf. De Zeekoe and sister lodge, Wildehondekloof Private Game Reserve where you can go for a walk knowing that nothing will eat you, are ideal for a stay over. www.safariostrich.co.za; www.dezeekoe.co.za; www.whkloof.co.za
And for wine connoisseurs – in Robertson, there’s the open daily, family-friendly restaurant @Four Cousins with wood fired pizzas, delectable house specialties, craft Boet Beer on tap, gin/whisky and wine pairings and a secure play area for children and the family owned winery, Van Loveren Wines that offers wine tastings and breakfast and lunch at Christina’s Bistro. Near Bonnievale the family owned Weltevrede Wine Estate offers specialised underground cellar tours, innovative wine experiences and the onsite Kapokbos Restaurant and in Montagu, sign up with American Dream Cars, operating from Montagu Country Hotel for a scenic drive along one of the world’s longest wine routes, Route 62 and ‘a trip of a lifetime in a unique American Dream Car’. www.fourcousins.co.za; www.vanloveren.co.za; www.weltevrede.com; www.montagucountryhotel.co.za
Get in touch with TriSportSA for its range of multi-day events, pre-arranged and bespoke tours that include trail walking/running, mountain/e-biking, scuba diving, canyoneering, abseiling, wild flower hikes and ‘Safaris for Women’ in the Garden Route, south of the Outeniqua mountains and in other more remote, scenic regions of the Cape. www.trisport.co.za
Cape Country Routes’ Tread Lite 4×4 Hire Jimny rentals offer travellers the opportunity to explore off the beaten track destinations, ready-packed with everything you need and nothing you don’t, so that you’re free to explore new adventures. www.treadlite4x4hire.co.za
All the activity establishments and properties mentioned are members of Cape Country Routes.
Join CCR’s Loyalty Program for great discounts and value-adds with its participating accommodation/activity providers. An interactive to guide you to participating CCR members – https://tinyurl.com/2cajwmer
Annual membership for individuals/couples – R200|for families – R500 – sign up at https://loyalty.capecountryroutes.com/
Cape Country Routes has got your next adventure covered!
Cape Country Routes
CCR Central Reservations:
Email: bookings@capecountryroutes.com | Tel: 021 023 3611 | www.capecountryroutes.com