Active vacation in South Africa - things to do, entertainment and nightlife

South Africa can offer tourists a variety of adventures to meet the most sophisticated taste. Many South African agencies and companies offer tourists a unique opportunity to ride a boat on the river among giant menacing hippos or go kayaking on the water full of fast and dangerous crocodiles. Thrill seekers will definitely appreciate diving with great white sharks. Daredevils are immersed in the waters of the open ocean in an unbreakable cage where these ferocious sea killers swim, attracted by a bloody piece of meat or fish. This kind of entertainment for people with strong nerves can be found on Dyer and Seal Islands, in Mossel Bay and Gansbaai. And in Oudtshoorn, you can go diving with crocodiles, which can be more terrible than sharks.

In Tsitsikamma National Park, you can ride quad bikes in the woods, go kayaking through a creepy bat cave or take a half-day cruise on inflatable mattresses. Zip-line over the forest or bungee jumping from a height of more than two hundred meters is recommended for those who prefer air to water. Those wishing to conquer more exciting heights would probably enjoy the microlight flying with a pilot over the coast near Durban. You can book a 15-, 30-, 45- or 60-minute flight. Watching whale sharks and turtles from a great height is a dizzying adventure that will surely be remembered for a lifetime.

Fans of caves should head to the ancient Cango Caves in the region of Karoo. The standard temperature in the caves is approximately +18 °C. There are two types of tours: an easy one-hour walk through the caves including a visit the "Rainbow Room", "Bride's Room" and "Fairy Kingdom" and 1.5-hour expedition deeper underground, through the "Tunnel of Love", "Devil's Chimney", "Coffin", "Devil's Kitchen" and other caves and tunnels with blood-curdling names where you have to climb, crawl, and get through narrow passages. This adventure is not suitable for claustrophobic people. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

From Cape Town, you can go on a full-day safari through the Aquila Private Game Reserve. Buffaloes, elephants, leopards, rhinos, lions, hippos, giraffes, black eagles - the list of its inhabitants is really impressive. Climbing enthusiasts are invited to flat-topped Table Mountain near Cape Town, which is a popular abseiling site. The mountain offers scenic views of Robben Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Jeffreys Bay is a great place to try sandboarding, which is known to many locals and foreign travelers. Skydive Mossel Bay Center based in Mosselbay offers skydiving and jumping courses for beginners and the great opportunity to experience a freefall over the Indian Ocean for professionals.

South African beaches are typically windy, which makes them ideal for kitesurfing - a great experience for tourists of any age. The 45-kilometer-long Otter Trail is waiting for true hikers. The whole journey takes about 5 days, but spectacular views of the forest and the coast are worth it. On the way, you can meet wild monkeys. Huts for rest are installed along the way, as sleeping in tents is not allowed - this is quite dangerous. The resort town of Knysna is waiting for snorkelers - the lagoon's warm water is teeming with tiny seahorses, swimming among which will be a pleasant adventure. Bafiansklöf invites motorcyclists because one of the world's best motorbike routes runs from here - about 160 kilometers of steppes and rivers, several days' journey.

Roads around Cape Town, where there are a mountain and pine plantations, are good for mountain biking. You can ride a mountain bike in Port Elizabeth and near Johannesburg. In Cape Town, there are several helicopter tour agencies through which you can book a flight over the city and the ocean. Here you can also ride a cable car to enjoy breathtaking views of the surroundings.