As A Digital Nomad, I’m Continually Faced With A Conundrum

I can both be near nature or stay in a hip, city metropolis with terrific meals and various cultures. I’m able to both have clean access to trekking trails or to music and movie galas. I can either detach myself from the whole lot in the mountains or be plugged into the virtual world with fast wifi.

As a digital nomad, I frequently experience like I’m able to’t have all of it.

However my current digital nomad stint in Cape Town changed that. On my whirlwind first trip to South Africa 5 years in the past, I knew it changed into a stunning metropolis. But I had no concept simply how much it might indulge and inspire me.

In late 2019, I finished up spending 2.5 months within the town with my accomplice. Living in the shadow of Table Mountain (and later Devil’s Peak), and discovering all the unusual activities in Cape Town, we just couldn’t get ourselves to leave.

Trekking And Outdoors: Adventurous Activities In Cape Town

Cape Town is a mecca for outdoor activities, and that’s possibly what I love most about this metropolis. You may be doing city stuff one second – catching a film festival, chilling in a hipster cafe, tasting handmade gin. And the next, you could be scrambling up a mountain, trekking a wild trail home to the elusive caracal (!) or catching a pink African sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

1. Hike Up Table Mountain On The India Venster Trail

You haven’t really visited Cape Town unless you’ve experienced the iconic Table Mountain. In case you’re moderately fit, skip the cable car and hike up instead – but not on the famous Platteklip Gorge path. Granted that’s the quickest route up the mountain, but also the most unexciting. Expect steps with no great views, no fynbos experience, no scrambling up loose rocks and no opportunities to spot wildlife.

We hiked up Table Mountain four times during our stay (it’s addictive!), and one of my favourite trails was the India Venster. It involves a fair bit of exposed trekking, followed by some rock scrambling, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, the City Bowl and Lion’s Head all along the way!

We hiked up Table Mountain on the India Venster trail with Miles, a local licensed guide we found on Airbnb Experiences – and highly recommend him. The trail isn’t well-marked, plus the mountain can throw up lots of surprises and there is some reported crime in the area, so a guide is essential.

2. Cycle Up Chapman’s Peak (One Of The Best Activities In Cape Town)

You’ve probably heard of Chapman’s Peak Drive, but if you want to turn this stunning section of the road into a real adventure, pedal up instead! The road is steep and winding, the mountains beyond often enveloped in mist and the Atlantic Ocean roaring below. I’ll never forget the exhilarating feeling of riding up and whizzing down the road, with the strong wind and breathtaking views all around. A must-do in Cape Town.

Depending on your fitness level, you can use the motor assist feature of the e-bike to make your ride faster and easier. We booked this e-bike experience with Mhinti who works in the Imizamo Yethu Township near Hout Bay.

3. If You Dare, Hike Up Lion’s Head On A Route With Sheer Drops (But Not Without A Guide!)

We found ourselves at one of the starting points of the Lion’s Head trail on our second day in Cape Town. Blissfully unaware that our guide wasn’t leading us up the regular chains and ladder hike – but up a C-grade trail with rock scrambling, exposures and SHEER DROPS! Halfway through, my adrenaline was pumping so hard that I forgot I was only a misstep away from ending my trip (and life) right there. A mind-blowing and nerve-wracking experience – and in hindsight, the most insane hike we tried in/around Cape Town. Definitely not for anyone with a fear of heights.

I’ll refrain from revealing much about the route because this really isn’t a hike you should be attempting on your own + there are no trail markers. Book this one with Marius / Irmina, and message them beforehand that you have the heart for some adventure!

4. Kayak Along The Atlantic Coast At Sunset

Hugged by the Atlantic Coast, Cape Town’s magic is as much inland as in the water. The ocean is generally too cold to swim, but on a sunny day, head out to Sea Point or Hout Bay to kayak on the waves, in the backdrop of dramatic mountains, as the sun dips below the horizon and paints the sky in tones of pink and orange. Now can you see why it’s so hard to leave Cape Town?

5. Discover The Unique Fynbos In The Silver Mine Reservoir

The bush-like scratchy local flora of the Western Cape region (known as fynbos aka fine bush) is no ordinary vegetation. 

It is among one of the world’s smallest yet most diverse floral kingdoms – and a protected UNESCO site! Our very first introduction to the fynbos was in the Silver Mine Reservoir, a protected area not far from Kalk Bay – while hiking with Justin who calls the area home. Even though we found ourselves surrounded by clouds (and with no view), learning about the plant kingdom we had seen so often in Cape Town but never really observed was eye-opening! Silver Mine offers one of the easier, gentler hikes in Cape Town, perfect for pretty much every level of fitness. I highly recommend choosing Justin as your first “fynbos” guide – no one we met since matched his wealth of knowledge and passion for the fynbos.