A general website to have a look at Adventure activities is Dirty Boots

Ballooning

A Balloon Safari: Something really different - something really special. Up, up and away!

Bill Harrop’s Balloon safaris - Hartebeespoort

Hot air ballooning in South Africa

Life Ballooning near Pretoria

Oudtshoorn Ballooning

Casinos

Often excellent places to spend most of a day or evening, with restaurants, bars, movies and of course casinos!

Montecasino in Fourways, Gauteng

Sibaya Casino

Suncoast Casino

Caving

Go on a guided tour or book an intensive trip – prepare to get dirty!

Caving options available in South Africa

Boomslang cave – Western Cape

Sudwala caves - Mpumalanga

TBI adventures – caving and other activities in Oudtshoorn

Cheese Farms

See how cheese is made and, of course, sample the goods!

van Gaalen cheese farm, Skeerpoort

Fishing

South Africa has many trout and bass dams, as well as indigenous fish such as barbell (which can grow to over 6 feet in length) and yellow tail.

The coast has been overfished in the past, but there are still seasonal runs of fish where you can catch decent sizes. Fish from the rocks or from the beach, depending on the fish you wish to catch.

Heading out through the surf on a ski boat in the early morning, and spending the day trawling 20 kilometres off the coast is one of the best experiences possible, especially if the fish are biting. Marlin, swordfish, sharks, sailfish, kingfish, queenfish and tuna are still fairly plentiful.

Tiger fish of a decent size can be caught in KZN at the Jozini dam.

These are just a few of the many links to fishing experiences and venues available in South Africa.

Lynski – boat for charter in Durban

Mavungana Flyfishing centre, Dullstroom

Fishing in the Overberg, Western Cape

Fishing on the Wild Coast

Fishing Africa – all kinds of fishing on the continent

Horse Riding

Experience South African wildlife, scenery and culture at close quarters (pardon the pun!)

A useful link to horseback safaris throughout South Africa

The Safari Company – 8 day horseback safari in the Drakensberg

Horse riding in the Western Cape

Fynbos Trails through the Cape winelands

Hunting

The hunting season is in winter, and many farmers accommodate hunters wishing to stalk the wild animals. True hunters walk after their quarry, and do not shoot from vehicles.

Umsuluzi – hunting safaris for gap year students

Bonlati Hunting Safaris – near Tzaneen

KZN Hunting and Conservation Association

Riandi Hunting Safaris – central South Africa

Two Waters Safaris – eastern Cape

Kukuzans Hunting Safaris & Tours – all over the country

John X Safaris – Eastern Cape

Ice Skating

Only the larger cities have ice rinks, as they are expensive to run in South Africa’s heat!

The Ice Station – Cape Town

Kolonnade Shopping Centre – Pretoria

Durban ice rink

Northgate Ice Arena - Johannesburg

Mountain biking

For mountain biking routes, trails, races and everything else, ride onto these websites:

Mountain biking opportunities in South Africa

Live2ride – Langebaan, Cape Town

Mtbonline – an active site with a forum

Mountain Biking Africa - based in Knysna, Eastern Cape

Links to all mountain bike trails in South Africa

The Johannesburg Mountain Bike Club

Warthogs Mountain Biking – club in Western Cape

Mountain Bike South Africa – club website

Paint balling

Forum discussion on paint balling in Johannesburg

Parasailing

It is a fantastic feeling to be in the air, pulled by a boat, looking over all below!.

Parasail Africa - Durban

Parasailing in South Africa

Riding ATVs

Vroom, vroom, vroom. Intense, free-roaming, off-road racing takes on a whole new meaning.

Western Province ATV Club

Centurion Quad Rides - Pretoria

River boating

Getting onto the river is a must!

General information on river cruises in South Africa

Sand boarding

Sand boarding is as exciting as snowboarding, an adrenaline rush without getting wet or cold!

Sand boarding in Cape Town

Revel Adventures – Cape Town

Scuba Diving

Enter a whole new world under water.

The Dive Travel Centre

Dive South Africa

Divetek, Johannesburg – learn to dive and also see how to get involved in a career in the diving industry

Scuba Dive – PADI courses in Cape Town

List of quick links of diving schools and operators

Scuba Shack – Cape Town PADI centre

Sea Kayaking

You can hire a kayak or go on a guided paddle, weather permitting. Take a drink or two for sunset paddles (a truly awesome experience)

Kayak Cape Town – guided trips

Coastal Kayak – Cape Town

Kayak in Hermanus – whale sanctuary

Skateboarding

For Skateboarding events, featured skaters, video clips and more, visit National Skateboarding Association of South Africa

Information on skateboarding in South Africa

Surfing

South Africa hosts many international surfing competitions. The Surfing South Africa website has all the information you need on events and locations.

Skydiving

Accelerate second by second until the clouds disappear above you at 220km/h. F A L L I N G - or are you F L Y I N G?

Johannesburg Skydiving Club

Skydiving in South Africa

Witbank Skydiving Club

Pretoria Skydiving Club

Snorkeling

Unlimited visibility makes for excellent snorkeling.

Snorkelling in Cape Town

Theme Parks

New worlds of fun, entertainment and excitement.

uShaka Marine World - Durban

Ratanga Junction – Cape Town

Gold Reef City - Johannesburg

White water rafting

Get out there! Get some attitude! Get wet! Go rafting! In sunny South Africa!

Outrageous Adventures – rafting in the Cape, Freestate and KZN

Gravity Adventure Group – Orange River

General information on white water rafting in South Africa

Wine Farms

South Africa produces world class wines, and the estates have been growing grapes brought out with the earliest settlers about 400 years ago. An excellent way to spend a day is to visit various wine farms and sample the vintages – organize a driver! And be prepared to buy a case or two to ship home!

Links to wine farms in the Western Cape

Constantia Valley

Cape wine routes

Wine tasting guide