When people think of wildlife in Africa they think of safari, but there’s so much more to check out!
SEAL TOUR:
We did this adventure with a company called Ocean Animals, based in the small coastal town of Hout Bay, just south of Cape Town. They took us on a guided tour of the bay, sharing fascinating facts about the local area and the marine life that calls it home. The company provides all the necessary gear for snorkeling with seals in the kelp forests—including wetsuits, goggles, snorkels, gloves, hoods, and booties.
The water was quite cold, so most people spend around 20–30 minutes in the water. After the swim, we were treated to hot cocoa on the boat and a warm shower back at their facility—both of which were incredibly welcome and comforting. This is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss if you’re in the Cape Town area.
Location: 81 Harbour Rd, Hout Bay Harbour, Cape Town, 7806, South Africa
PENGUIN ADVENTURE:
Just a short drive from the Ocean Animals sea tour is Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. This protected area is home to a colony of African penguins, also known as Jackass Penguins, named for their distinctive braying calls. Visitors can walk along a shaded boardwalk that runs behind the beach, offering great views of the penguins in their natural habitat.
At the end of the boardwalk, you’ll have the chance to step onto the beach, hop across the boulders, and watch the penguins swim and play up close. There is an entrance fee to access the park, but the opportunity to see these amazing creatures so closely makes it well worth the cost.
Location: Bellevue Rd, Simon’s Town, Cape Town, 7995, South Africa
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Shark cage diving in South Africa is a thrilling and adventurous experience that allows you to get up close and personal with some of the ocean’s most powerful predators. The coastal area of Gansbaai is known for its large shark population and is renowned for their shark sightings.
Gansbaai is located just 2.5 hours from Cape Town and is renowned worldwide for shark cage diving. Several companies operate tours in the area, typically spending 2–3 hours at sea, with the full experience lasting about 4–6 hours. No diving certification is needed, and all necessary gear is provided, making it accessible for adventurers of all experience levels.
We chose to go with a company called Marine Dynamics, and the tour was exceptionally well-organized. Snacks and drinks were available on the boat, and lunch was served afterwards. Despite the name “shark diving,” we felt completely safe throughout the entire trip. The crew gave thorough safety briefings, which added to our confidence. The water was quite cold, so we recommend bringing warm clothing to wear after your dive.
Location for the shark dive tour was:
5 Geelbek St, Van Dyks Bay, Gansbaai, 7220, South Africa
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Moalboal was one of our favorite places on our Philippines trip! The canyoneering tour is one of the best excursions this cute beach town has to offer. The tour offers ziplining and some wicked cliff jumping. If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines it is a must do!
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Lion’s Head summit is a popular, moderately challenging hike in Cape Town. There are exposed sections with ladders and staples to assist, but the 360 degree view from the summit makes the climb worth the effort!
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To kick off our Philippines trip we headed to Oslob to swim with whale sharks! We also checked out Tumalog Falls and Sumilon Island.
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If you’re an adventurous spirit visiting Cape Town, hiking the India Venster Trail up Table Mountain is an incredible way to spend the day. This route offers the perfect mix of challenge, excitement, and stunning scenery. With its location just 15 minutes from the downtown waterfront, it’s also easily accessible.
ADVENTURE STATISTICS
Time Required: 3-4 Hours up
Location: Center in Cape Town, Africa
Distance: 3.5km one way
Elevation Gain:720m
Difficulty:7/10 – Some scramble areas
Season: Year round
Additional Requirements: None
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From Cape Town:From the Downtown Waterfront area head southwest on the M62 for 3-4km up the hill and turn left onto Tafelberg Rd (follow signs and buses)Follow for 1.6km to reach the Aerial Tram. Parking is challenging depending on how busy it is.
WHAT TO BRING
Comfortable Footwear: Hiking shoes.Make sure your shoes are broken in prior to tackling this hike to prevent unexpected blisters. You could get away with running shoes but having extra grip on the rock surfaces will come in handy!
Water: This hike has some elevation gain.Be sure to bring enough water for 3-4 hours of physical exertion.
Snacks:Bring some of your favorite snacks to enjoy along the hike as well as a light lunch for when you arrive at the summit.Some of our favorite snacks are trail mix, bananas, beef jerky and licorice.
Weather appropriate clothing: You will be exposed to the elements throughout this hike.Cape Town can be very warm in the summer months. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.
Sunscreen: If it is sunny and you’re like Mattson, who easily burns, bring sunscreen!
Insect Repellent: Insect repellent can greatly improve your hiking experience.
Camera: There are numerous photo opportunities you won’t want to miss.
This Guide: Print a copy of this guide to reference throughout the hike
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Taking Tram Down: You can hike up and all the way down if you choose. There is also the option to take the tram down. After 3-4 hours of hiking and potentially a beer or two at the top, we opted for the easy way out. The tram down will cost you 220ZAR/13US dollars so a method of payment might be something you want to pack just incase.
Leave No Trace: It is important that we enjoy the outdoors responsibly and sustainably. Some key principles to consider when hiking to “Leave No Trace” are:
Plan ahead and prepare: Proper planning allows adventurers to hike safely while minimizing damage to the land.
Travel on durable surfaces: Stick to the trail when possible. If there is no trail, or you must travel off trail, stay on durable surfaces to reduce your impact.
Dispose of waste properly: Pack it in, pack it out.
Leave what you find: Leave rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance. Never feed wild animals.
Be considerate of other visitors: Be courteous to others to allow everyone to enjoy their outdoor experience.
Summary: The India Venster trail is the most challenging hike up the front of Table Mountain and is the perfect way to start off a trip in South Africa.
Image 1: Table Mountain Adventure Map
Step-By-Step Guide:
The trailhead (Route marker #1 on the map) is located just to the right of the Lower Cable Car station when facing the mountain. Depending on how crowded it is, you might need to park along the roadside and walk uphill a bit to reach the starting point.
The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow right from the beginning. Eventually, it intersects with the Contour Path Trail, where you’ll see signs for the “India Venster Route.” This path leads beneath the Cable Car and continues its climb up the mountain.
Image 2: Table Mountain Trailhead
Image 3: Table Mountain Trail
Follow the yellow footprints painted on the rocks, they serve as your trail markers and will guide you along the correct route. This was our first time doing the hike with very little prior information, and we still found it easy to navigate, so the trail is clearly well marked.
Image 4: Table Mountain Yellow Footprints
Image 5: Table Mountain Yellow Footprints
The real adventure begins about halfway up, when the trail turns into a scramble. You’ll climb a few ladders and navigate rocky crevices, with some sections offering chains to help you stay secure along the cliffside.
Image 6: Table Mountain Scrambling
Image 7: Table Mountain Scrambling
After reaching the top of the mountain, it’s about a 700 meter walk across mostly flat, solid rock to get to the Upper Cable Car Station (Route marker #2 on the map) . At the top, there’s a restaurant and concession stand where you can grab a bite to eat, have a drink, and soak in the stunning views!
Image 8: Table Mountain Summit
Image 9: Table Mountain Summit
We don’t recommend hiking back down the India Venster route, it’s much more challenging and risky descending than it is climbing up. We took the cable car down (Route marker #3 on the map), but if you’d prefer to hike down Table Mountain, consider one of the easier alternatives, like the Platteklip Gorge Trail.
Image 10: Table Mountain Cable Car
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Golden has some great dirt biking. We explored Quartz Creek and Blaeberry.
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Mount 7 is a popular downhill mountain biking spot in Golden, BC.
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Holt Repeater is a an off the beaten path hike in Golden, BC that offers stunning panoramic views of the area. This hike takes some navigation skills as it is not well documented but it’s worth it once you get up there!
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Kings Peak is a 20km round trip hike in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island. It is one of the tallest peaks in the park with 1800m elevation gain and the hike to reach the summit is grueling. The hiking trail begins in lush forest and ends with a scramble to breathtaking views at the summit!
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