South Africa has some of the best rock climbing in the world, with Cape Town particularly well endowed. There are literally hundreds of bolted and natural routes on excellent quality Cape granite or Table Mountain sandstone within the city limits. There are climbing schools and mountain guides in all the main centres, and route guides are available from climbing shops.

River trips range from mostly scenic to grade five white water washing machines. South Africa has fantastic rivers, so you'll be spoiled for choice. The most popular is the Orange, which forms the country's northern border with Namibia. It's a long, green-fringed oasis running through the mountainous desert area known as the Richtersveld. Incredibly scenic, it also has a few fun rapids.

Thousands of kilometres of hiking trails wind around the country, in desert, forest, mountain or coast, and many have mountain bike trails adjacent. Some hikes are a bit more luxurious - you walk from hotel to hotel and have your luggage taken round.

Horse riding trails in South Africa are as diverse as the terrain. You can take a brisk canter along a beach, an amble through vineyards, a fast ride across sweeping grasslands or a meander through magnificent mountain scenery.

South Africa has the highest commercial bungee jump in the world - it's official. At 216 metres, it's not for the faint of heart. Run by Face Adrenalin, the Bloukrans is on the border of the Eastern and Western Cape.

There are over a hundred listed paragliding or hang gliding launch sites, and many more less well known, with schools in every centre. Also up in the air, there are many opportunities for helicopter rides, balloon flights, aerobatics, skydiving and micro light flights.

In the hot interior we see thermals like you wouldn't believe, and many paraglider and hang glider pilots have made record-breaking distance flights, particularly in the Northern Cape. But there's loads of excellent ridge soar and some fantastic scenic flying near the coast. In Cape Town, you can launch off Lion's Head in the evening, flying into the sunset, to land at one of the popular beachfront pubs.

The art of canyoning - known as kloofing in South Africa - is another hot favourite, with self-guided and escorted trips.

There are so many fantastic Mountain biking trails it will blow you away. South Africa is a treasure trove of exciting routes, discovered and waiting to be uncovered, with weather allowing for cycling at any time of the year, all day and just about every day.

South Africa has an enormously long coastline ranging from about 35°S to 27°S, which isn't quite within the usual range of tropical diving. Scuba diving opportunities varies considerably. The Mozambique Current flows down our East Coast, bringing warm tropical water with it, and at Sodwana Bay we have the most southerly coral reefs in the world. Of course, they have the full complement of pretty colourful fish and some great nudibranchs, including the outrageous Spanish dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineas).

Whale sharks, turtles, dolphins and ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) are often seen in specific places. As you head down the coast, the underwater fauna and flora change gradually until, once you've reached Cape Town, you're diving in chilly but beautiful kelp forests.

Whatever your preference, South Africa has all the adventure your adrenalin can handle.

Source:
Media Club South Africa