The Cape enjoys an average of over 10 hours of sunshine per day making. It is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Suggestions of places to visit and things to do.

Outdoor Adventure Sport

Few places on earth can compare with Cape Town and the Western Cape as an adventure and sporting playground.

If jumping out of a perfectly functional aeroplane interests you, you will find plenty of like-minded people in the Cape. Citrusdal on the Cape West Coast is a haven for parachutists and skydivers. With views of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, the flowers (July to October), and Table Mountain and Robben Island in the distance, it is well worth the effort.

Paragliding off Lion's Head offer spectacular views of the Atlantic Seaboard and beaches while Sir Lowry's Pass has a view of False Bay, the Helderberg Mountains and the Cape Flats that is unrivalled. If you need an adrenaline boost, try bungy jumping at the Gouritz River Bridge in the Cape Overberg. You should try the world's highest commercial bungy jump at the Bloukrantz River Bridge. The jump is 216 meters of pure adrenalin.

If you prefer your action on terra firma, there is plenty to do and enjoy. Road-running and trail-running are popular forms of exercise with a full calendar of events and different terrains to choose from. The Cape is also an ideal place for cycling, road cycling and mountain cycling, with well tarred roads and plenty of mountain trails to choose from. With the iconic Table Mountain rising straight out of the Mother City, countless other towns perched close to their own mountain backdrops, plus miles of beaches and rolling countryside, there's no shortage of place to stretch those legs. Hiking and walking in the Cape offers the chance to immerse oneself in a floral diversity that is unrivalled worldwide.

This is the region for water lovers. Fishermen can take their pick, choosing fresh or saltwater of every type. Surf anglers enjoy fishing on the False Bay and on the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Kalk Bay Harbour and the old harbour at Hermanus are also popular fishing spots. For the deep-sea fishing enthusiast, there are plenty of boats to charter from Hout Bay, Kalk Bay and Gordon's Bay. Inland, the fast-running mountain streams offer wild rainbow and brown trout for catching on fly. Franschhoek is best known for it's salmon trout, the local speciality that tastes best smoked.

The Cape has waves to suit all tastes and abilities. From the gentle rollers that cruise into Muizenberg's most protected corner of False Bay, to the huge monsters that storm in from the Antarctic each year to hit the infamous offshore reef outside Hout Bay known as Dungeons. Many of the world's top wind- and kitesurfers make the Cape their home base in the off-season due to a great sociable lifestyle, with stylish accommodation right at the water's edge, and of course the ever-present waves and wind. Langebaan is attracting international recognition, with Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay more outstanding options.

This is the Cape of great adventures.

Outdoor Cultural

The Cape is a cultural mix of Dutch, French, Malay, English, Afrikaner and Xhosa lifestyles. All sharing the treasures of the Cape to the enjoyment of all.

The Bo-Kaap, nestling on the slopes of Lion's Head in Cape Town, is a treasure trove of Malay cultural heritage. Built on the ruins of the slave quarters of old, the Bo-Kaap has a history that dates back some 300 years. Many of the descendants of slaves still live here.

The township culture of the Cape is a refreshing perspective of the region?s cultural diversity. Here rich and poor live side by side in a colourful mix of shacks and brick homes. The signs of healing from apartheid are evident in the spirited entrepreneurial activities that can be seen while walking from shebeens (township restaurant/bars), to craft markets, churches and local museums. Visitors are encouraged to visit the townships with a tour group. Tour guides will be able to show visitors the true essence of the areas.

Much of the French, English and Dutch settler influence on the Cape is particularly visible in the architecture and culture of the Cape Winelands. The impact of these cultures can be experienced in places such as the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swellendam where the architecture, art and food all enjoy a distinct Afrikaans flavour. Tulbagh in the Cape Winelands has 32 national monuments on the same street. These historical homesteads form the biggest concentration of national monuments in the world. Similarly, the town of Franschhoek, settled by French Huguenots centuries ago, is a veritable "Petit France" with its wine and culinary traditions not to miss. Eat, drink and sleep Franschhoek.

The history surrounding the origins of the fishing village of Arniston on the Cape Overberg coast, promises a blend of romance, beauty and intrigue. The fisher folk families of this area can still be seen plying their trade in the Indian Ocean as their children play between the mud and reed cottages that have survived a thousand Cape storms.

One of the best ways to experience the Cape's cultural treasures is with a tour group. Tour guides are knowledgeable and will ensure visitors are well-informed. The Local Tourism Office in every town will be able to assist visitors with maps, information on where to go and tour operators to contact.

Outdoor Lifestyle

The people of the Cape enjoy an average of over 10 hours sunshine per day, mountains, oceans, forests, beaches, rivers and lakes. It is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.

Discover the sensational secrets of Table Mountain by walking or catching the cable car to the top. Beyond Table Mountain explore a number of walking trails in the Table Mountain National Park from the "Table" in the city centre all the way to the spectacular Cape Point at the end of the dramatic False Bay. While walking on Table Mountain, remember there are over 1 470 plant species that occur on the mountain.

The Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), a World Heritage Site, stretches over 90 000 kmē. It is the smallest of the world's six distinct plant kingdoms, but one of the richest in the number of species. Of the 9 000 plant species, 70% are found nowhere else in the world. To view some of the Cape's indigenous flora, take a slow meander through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. A visit to the Cape West Coast during July to October is a flower lovers dream. The Cape West Coast flowers are in bloom, turning the area into a carpet of flowers. More than 8 600 species occur here.

For those who decide to explore the Cape West Coast, the watersport opportunities at Langebaan Lagoon will not disappoint. Windsurfing, sea kayaking, kitesurfing and sailing are very popular. Surfers enjoy the wave consistency of Bloubergstrand along the Blaauwberg Coast, Kommetjie and Noordhoek on the Atlantic Seaboard. Muizenberg's surfers' corner on the False Bay coast is a popular surfing spot throughout the year. River rafting and canoeing are popular pastimes from May to September on the Breede River and the Doring River in the Cape Winelands. The Keurbooms River at Plettenberg Bay on the Cape Garden Route offers boat trips, canoeing and water-skiing.

Moving northeast, trace a path along blue seas, sandy white beaches and verdant coastal forests, or inland across the rolling Cape Overberg hills. A drive along the Cape Garden Route is a nature lover's daydream. Secure your very own houseboat and cruise the expansive Knysna Lagoon or relax on the beaches and enjoy a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. Enjoy a braai (barbeque) of fresh fish, delicious meat and tasty vegetables grilled on hot coals and served al fresco.

The Cape offers some of the best golf courses in South Africa. No matter where you go in the Cape, you are never far from an excellent golf course. There are also a variety of fantastic sport fields for cricket, soccer, rugby and field hockey. The people of the Cape love their sport and the atmosphere at games is well worth the experience.