When planning a trip to South Africa, thoughts immediately turn to the safari options and other adventures in nature, closely followed by a visit to Cape Town’s many attractions. However, the two aren’t necessary mutually exclusive. Cape Town offers several opportunities to enjoy the wildlife of South Africa in a host of nature-based activities.
The Atlantic and Indian Oceans are a veritable playground for nature enthusiasts, and the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront will give you a preview of what you can expect to see on both sides of the peninsula.
Whale watching achieves its zenith at Hermanus, just over an hour’s drive away from the Mother city, but these graceful giants make an appearance all along the Atlantic Coast and can be spotted from several vantage points closer by. The road along the False Bay coast offers excellent whale viewing, or you could join one of the many charter excursions from the V&A Waterfront, which depart daily to Seal Island, providing an opportunity to spot these great beasts at play. The best time for whale watching in Cape Town is from June to July.
One of the year-round wildlife excursions on offer in Cape Town is Great White shark cage diving in Gansbaai. This exciting activity involves descending into the ocean in a shark -proof cage to watch these fascinating creatures as they glide by.
A far cry from the ‘Jaws’-inspired bad reputation that the great white shark enjoys, you will get to see these creatures’ peaceful behaviour in their natural environment and witness their amazing power in action. The sharks are attracted by chumming, which involves throwing bait into the water to bring them closer to the cage, and assist participants in getting the most out of the experience. The sharks are not harmed in any way during this activity. At Simonstown, shark-cage diving is restricted to peak season periods.
Penguins are another one of the protected species that can be observed in Cape Town. A sea-kayaking trip from Simonstown Waterfront to Boulders Beach is one of the best ways to get close to the rare African penguins. Participants often enjoy the added bonus of whale, seabird and seal sightings on the Penguin Paddle, as well as spectacular views of the Cape coastline.
For birds of a different feather, visit the Ostrich Farm at Cape Point. Here you will learn more about these ungainly birds and you can even purchase some of their products such as intricately carved or hand-painted eggs, along with various leather items.
While planning you four or five day Cape Town itinerary, be sure to include some of these animal adventures along with more traditional activities such as visiting Table Mountain, Robben Island, the wine lands and Cape Town’s many cultural sights.
Can you add any unusual Cape Town activities to this list?
