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Things to do in Western Cape

Our most recommended things to do in Western Cape

Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

1. Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

Get picked up from your hotel in Port Elizabeth, Bluewater Bay, or Colchester. Spend a full day exploring the third largest National Park in South Africa with an expert local guide. The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area.  Today you can see a variety of predators, antelope, zebra species, endangered black rhino as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.  The park is also the only one in the world to conserve the “Big 7” – the Big 5 as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast.  An excursion to the Addo Elephant park is a must when visiting this unique area.

From Cape Town: Round-Trip to Aquila with Game Drive

2. From Cape Town: Round-Trip to Aquila with Game Drive

Discover animals like the lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and Cape Buffalos on this day trip from Cape Town to the Aquila Private Game Reserve. Take a game tour in an open top, all-terrain vehicle. Stop for a delicious lunch at the reserve's lodge.  After a morning departure, you will head up the N1 Highway, through the spectacular Hex River Valley, and arrive at the Aquila Private Game Reserve. The bio-diverse habitat of the reserve ensures plenty of interest for the avid game viewer and bird watcher. Spot giraffes, blesbok, black and blue wildebeest, zebras, springbok, gemsbok, klipspringers, duikers, greybuck, steenbok, ostriches, baboons, caracals, foxes, jackals, and more. Spot up to 172 species of birds, including the majestic black eagle. Enjoy a game drive with a well-informed ranger followed by a delicious lunch at the lodge.

Tsitsikamma: Bungee Jump with Zipline and Sky Walk

3. Tsitsikamma: Bungee Jump with Zipline and Sky Walk

Have the experience of a lifetime and bungy jump from Africa’s highest bridge. Jump with confidence thanks to the help of a professional and experienced team with a 100% safety record, who have hosted celebrities such as Prince Harry and Jack Osbourne as well as record-breaking bungy jumpers.   Reach the jump point via zipline from the bank to the arch. Before jumping, you will be kitted out with a full body harness and your feet will be secured using specially designed equipment. Leap out into the valley and feel the thrill of falling and rebounding whilst being securely attached to the bungy cord. Feel the smoothness of the bungee experience thanks to Bloukrans Bungy’s pendulum technology.   On your way back up, get a winch ride coordinated by a recovery operator and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding national park. Walk along the 216-meter SkyWalk to get back onto solid ground.

Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

4. Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

Board your vessel for the day and receive a safety briefing before starting your whale watching adventure. In good weather conditions travellers will be allowed on the top-deck before departure for great unobstructed views, otherwise they will be allowed on top only after the whales have been found. Travel out onto the ocean taking in great views as you go.  Once the whales have been spotted, the vessel is allowed to move closer to the whales where it stops and the engines disengage is to prevent the whales from being injured by the propellers. Experience for yourself the astonishment of being so close to these majestic creatures.  As the whales are curious creatures, they might move up to the vessel for some 'people watching'. See a variety of other marine wildife such as dolphins and seals as you coast along the water. As you travel through the day and spot these beautiful creatures learn more about them from your crew, before they take you back to land after a once in a lifetime experience. 

Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

5. Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

Take the ferry to Robben Island and tour the prison where Nelson Mandela was confined. Learn about South Africa's history of Apartheid and life in the prison from a former prisoner. Depart from Cape Town on a shared bus to the V&A Waterfront. Collect your ticket and make your way to the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island. Sail out to the island on a 45-minute journey. On arrival, embark on a bus tour of the island before visiting the prison and the cell where Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 of his 27 prison years. Gain an insight into the history and conditions of the prison from a former prisoner. After the tour, return to Cape Town and be dropped off at the V&A Waterfront. Here you will be free to return to your accommodation independently or continue touring the beautiful city.

Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour

6. Garden Route National Park: Tsitsikamma Zipline Canopy Tour

This unique eco-wilderness adventure takes place in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest. Most of the platforms are located in giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees. The scenery and bird life are spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology throughout the tour. The concept of guiding people through the upper canopy of a rainforest originated in Costa Rica, where adventurous biologists devised new methods for accessing the forest canopy in order to conduct research on the undiscovered canopy ecosystem. The idea soon developed into a breathtaking form of eco-tourism which allowed people to enter and experience a previously inaccessible natural environment. The tour begins with a detailed safety briefing followed by a kitting-up session where full body harnesses, pulleys, and climbing equipment are issued and checked. A short drive into the Tsitsikamma forest and it is time to monkey around. From the start on the launch platform, a new world unfolds as one gently glides on a steel cable to the first tree platform. All groups are escorted through the forest canopy by a lead guide and a follow guide to ensure your safety as you slide from tree to tree. The platforms are built high up in the giant Outeniqua Yellowwoods and provide an unbelievable view of this enchanting new world, any fear of heights is soon lost as you gather in your new surroundings.

Hermanus: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Trip

7. Hermanus: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Trip

Discover Hermanus, one of the best destinations for watching marine mammals, on a boat trip with a whale specialist guide. Sail to areas that receive seasonal visits from southern right and humpback whales along with year-round sightings of Bryde’s whales and dolphins. Enjoy refreshments onboard. Sail on a purpose-built catamaran ensures maximum passenger comfort and spectacular viewing opportunities. During the tour, the crew is on hand to make sure everyone has a great experience, from helping get the perfect photo to serving complimentary light refreshments. The guide, a whale specialist, will interpret the marine life encountered en route and provide insight into the behavior of the whales while the action is taking place. The expert videographer will ensure the best footage is captured.

Knysna: 75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

8. Knysna: 75-Minute Lagoon Boat Cruise

The tour departs from Thesen Island Harbour Town and heads out onto the pristine Knysna Lagoon, home to an array of native birds and marine life. On board the ‘Oyster Boat', spend a leisurely 75-minutes exploring the lagoon as you sail to the breathtaking and imposing Knysna Heads. As you glide along the waters, sit back and relax whilst soaking up the famous South African sunshine with the wind in your hair. From start to finish the tour provides breathtaking views of the surrounding waters as well as the Knysna coastline. During the boat ride your guide shares fascinating insight into the history, heritage, and culture of Knysna, from a local’s perspective.

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

9. Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

Take a 3-hour guided game drive at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, and experience close encounters with rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffaloes and more. Situated in spectacular mountains near Mossel Bay, the reserve boasts a great diversity of habitats and 26 different species of wildlife.  The 4,200 hectare reserve is a paradise for bird watchers, with more than 200 species to be seen. In an open game viewing vehicle, your guide will take you to the best locations to spot lions, zebras, elephants, and other animals. After the game drive, spend some time enjoying the facilities, including a restaurant and an open-air swimming pool.

Cape Town: Tandem Paragliding Adventure

10. Cape Town: Tandem Paragliding Adventure

Enjoy an adrenaline-fuelled paragliding adventure in Cape Town and marvel at the incredible views of the Atlantic Coastline, Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Camp's Bay, Clifton Beaches, and more. Fly high into the sky with your experienced instructor and create unforgettable memories of a lifetime. Meet your pilot and other daredevils at Signal Hill to begin your adventure. First, get a short induction from your pilot before you take off from a mountain slope under a canopy that resembles a parachute.  Get ready for liftoff; take a few steps or a short run to take off from the gentle slope, the wind will catch the canopy, and you will be airborne. Ride side-by-side with your instructor and feel the exhilaration, head rush, and incredible sensation of free-fall flying. End your day on a high as you experience a once-in-a-lifetime paragliding ride that you won't forget. Get hooked on the adrenaline high and see views of Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Camp's Bay, Clifton Beaches, Waterfront, and Robben Island, that you won't forget.

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What people are saying about Western Cape

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 18,049 reviews

Cape Mountain Guides were the BEST!! Table Mountain was shrouded in clouds and Dohann first offered me the option of changing days. I had no other time, so he was happy to go for it anyway! He met me right on time at the starting point and was an absolute joy. Very energetic and positive. We made our way up tracks trails and climbs eventually getting to the top. I know we usually want to have clear skies but climbing in the clouds was something very special as well. Dorann had a picnic for us along the way and we had lots of great stories and conversation. He’s a kind and dedicated professional who is certainly in the right business. If you want to tour, he’s your man! One of the funnest days of hiking I can remember, especially because of the clouds. His guiding skills are excellent and he even collected up a few people at the top of the mountain, who had come up on the tram but had gotten a bit lost and couldn’t find their way back. A perfect day of hiking, and meeting a new friend!

This is the best thing happened to me so far here, the tour was full of activities and information. And a special thanks to the best tour guide ever “Ruben”. Thanks Ruben for the very informative tour, u have a looooot of information, always smiling and very helpful. Guys this is really worth every penny! Cheers

We had a fantastic trip with our guide Armand. He was a fantastic tour guide - very knowledgeable and we learnt so many interesting facts about everywhere we visited. The tour was great, seeing the penguins, cape point and the stunning Chapman’s Peak view. Thanks Armand!

We learned a lot more about how and why the townships were built - we became aware of that there is hope among the inhabitants but that there is a very long way to go…..

Absolutely amazing trip, seen so many different things that South Africa is famous for and James our tour guide was the best!