CAPE TOWN DELIVERS EXCITEMENT BY AIR, SEA AND LAND
There are always people up for a little adrenaline jolt over the Easter holidays and Cape Town isn’t short of opportunities to get the blood pumping. The spectacular scenery and gorgeous terrain of the City and Peninsula can provide an awesome backdrop for some thrilling and unique adventure and sports activities.
Some might complain about the persistent south-easterly winds, but to Kitesurfing enthusiasts the local climate provides perfect conditions for one of the world’s fastest growing sports. The idea behind kitesurfing is very simple. A kitesurfer stands on a board with foot straps or bindings and use the power of a large controllable kite to propel him and the board across the water. This simplicity also makes kitesurfing challenging. Your body is the only connection between the kite and the board and you have to control them both at the same time: piloting the kite on the sky and steering the board on the water. Kitesurfers describe the sport as ‘an unbelievable rush’ and wax lyrical of the sense of freedom and exhilaration they experience skimming over the water at speeds of up to 60km/h.
As the initial learning curve is rather steep and the equipment quite expensive to buy beginners are strongly advised to get some expert tuition to ensure a cost effective and injury free introduction to the sport.
Blaawberg strand is regarded as the best kitesurfing spot in Metropolitan Area due top the predominantly “sideshore” wind direction. A world rated spot, is the Langebaan lagoon about an hour and half drive north of Cape Town. There the flat surface of the lagoon and near continuous wind, create perfect conditions virtually every single day.
For kitesurfing advice, rentals, and tuition try Cape Sports Centre Tel: 022 772 1114 www.capesport.co.za or Windchasers Tel: 082 079 0500 www.windchaserssa.com
Providing stunning and unique views of Cape Town and the Peninsula, Tandem Paragliding has been a unique choice for visitors who want to literally fly with the birds. Launch sites include Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, Noordhoek Beach and the top of the jaw-dropping wall of rock that is Franchhoek. Powered Paragliding experiences take off from Dolphin Beach and fly to Melkbostrand and back. No experience is required to enjoy this absolute freedom of flight.
Try Parapax, South Africa’s oldest tandem paragliding company at www.parapax.com or phone 0828814724
Absailing with Absail-Africa offers the world’s highest commercial absail off Table mountain. Repel down an amazing 1000 metres of vertical rock as you take in stunning views of the city and peninsula. The company also offers guided tours up the rugged river gorge arriving at a series of secluded rock pools. Here you can try your hand at Kloofing, jumping from 3 metres to 22 metres at the famous Kamikaze Kanyon. Perhaps only for those looking for some adrenaline fuelled adventure.
Cantact Absail-Africa at 021 424 4760 or www.abseilafrica.co.za
Cape Town offers a wide array of Surfing spots to suit all skill levels from daredevil professionals to absolute beginners. The jagged Cape Peninsula coastline that stretches from Kommetjie to Cape Point and then along False Bay to Muizenburg, always have an excellent wave to offer for surfers and bodyboarders. The shape of the Peninsula means that regardless of wind direction there is always a beach with an on-shore wind. Those interested in trying their hands at the sport and wouldn’t mind a little expert tuition are spoiled for choice, as Cape Town boasts numerous established surfing schools, some of which have been training aspiring waveriders for decades. Lessons usually last between two and three hours and it’s entirely possible for a complete novice to catch his first waves standing by the end of the session.
Try Gary’s Surf School, established in 1989 is located in Muizenburg, arguably the best beginner’s beach in the Cape. Tel. 021 788 9839 or log on to www.garysurf.com
Downhill Adventures also offers half & full day surfing courses as well as other board related activities such as sandboarding. Tel. 021 422 0388 and web, www.downhilladventures.com
Scuba Diving is surging in popularity as people wake up to amazing variety of environments found along the Cape Coast. The reason for this is the meeting of two ocean currents, the warm Indian and the cold Atlantic, on our doorstep resulting in an explosion of marine species. Completely different environments are ready to be dived just a few minutes drive from each other, ensuring there is always somewhere spectacular in season. The rough seas around these shores have also played their part and provided a long list of easily dividable wrecks to explore, suitable for every skill level.
Marine life around our waters include Stingrays, Great White Sharks, Octopus and other invertabrates, a dazzling variety of fish, Seals and many more.
The diving community in Cape Town is well serviced from equipment rental to PADI instruction, and dozens of suppliers and tour operators compete for the visitor’s patronage.
0 comments:
Post a Comment