If you love the great outdoors, then South Africa really is for you! DIVING Diving is a popular pastime in South Africa, and the facilities are numerous and well developed. Wreck diving is particularly popular around the cape whilst the Tsitsikamma Coastal Park offers excellent opportunities for underwater photography. Sodwana Bay (on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal) is noted for the reef diving, although you will need to bring your diving certificates with you. SHARK DIVING Only for those who love an adrenaline rush, South Africa has recently gained a reputation for shark-cage diving with great white sharks on the Cape. Sharks migrate through the Cape's False Bay from June to August and move into the Durban area (KwaZulu-Natal) from October to January. WHALE WATCHING One of the must-do activites, there is nothing to compare with experience of whale watching, and the Western Cape Tourism Board has established a Cape Whale Route to where you can see the Southern Right Whales, which usually swim very close to the shore. The best time to spot them is from June to September, especially in Walker Bay, where a Whale Festival is held annually during the last week of September. FISHING From fly fishing to game fishing, South Africa is the place to do it! With one of the world's richest fishing grounds (the Cape of Good Hope), it is easy to see why fishing has become one the nations most popular sports. Here, the currents of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet and large shoals of tuna and swordfish draw increasing numbers of game fishing enthusiasts. Trout fishing is also popular and the best areas are the southern mountain ranges of the Western Cape and the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. Fly fishing is best in the mountain streams and along the coastline of the Eastern Cape. BUNGEE JUMPING Another one for the fearless, South Africa has some of the highest bungee drops in the world. At 216m, the bridge over the Blaukrans River, Western Cape is more than twice the height of the jump from the bridge linking Zambia and Zimbabwe across the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. GOLF With approximately 500 courses in some of the most spectacular locations in the world, South Africa is a golfers paradise. The best time to play is in the cooler months from May to September and the low cost of living means that it is relatively cheap with green fees averaging £10-20 and a caddie costs around £7 (based on 2005 prices). SPECTATOR SPORTS The South Africans are ardent sports enthusiasts and the success of national teams has been a source of pride and reconciliation for all sections of the community. The South African rugby team are world class, the football team is one of the best in Africa, while the cricket team has proved it is the equal of any in the world. Visitors are made welcome at all these fixtures. STEAM TRAINS South Africa is one of the few remaining countries where steam trains are still widely used. They range from the luxury Pride of Africa to small engines on narrow gauge railways like the Midmar Steam Railway near Pietermaritzburg. For those looking for a scenic ride, the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe runs along the Garden Route on a day-trip from George and Knysna and the Union Limited crosses the famous Kaaimans River Bridge, one of the most photographed railway bridges in the world. WALKING & HIKING A paradise for walkers and hikers, and there are many themed walks (ask for details at the tourist office) which focus on various subjects such as flowers - south Africa boasts nearly 24000 different types! - but many people prefer just to take their own route or follow the wine routes… WINE ROUTES Each of South Africa's 13 major wine producing areas have signposted wine routes (regional wine maps and further details are available from the South African Tourism Board). The best include;

The Stellenbosch Wine Route The country's first, with all wineries situated within a 7.5 mile radius of Stellenbosch The Olifants Wine Route 125 miles long, passing through the Cederberg Mountains, the unspoilt West Coast and Knersvlakte The Klein Karoo Wine Trust A 300km-/188mile-route through the eastern Cape Winelands The Swartland Wine Route A 40-minute drive away from Cape Town The Orange River Wine Trust Comprising the northern wine-making regions, irrigated by the Orange, Vaal and Riet rivers The Robertson Valley Wine Route A two-hour drive from Cape Town, particularly noted for Chardonnay Click HERE to move to our Wine & Winelands page

About South Africa - Weather in South Africa - Places to Stay - Game & Safari Parks - Travel
Weather in South Africa - Driving and Car Hire - Eating Out & South African Cuisine
South African Wine - Attractions - Sports and Activities - Map of South Africa
History of South Africa - Advice - Brochures - Contact Us