mzanzi addition 6 digital text2

Delpixel/shutterstock
mooinblack/shutterstock
at Waenhuiskrans, the Gamtoos and Storm’s River mouths in the Eastern
Cape, and various dive sites off East London and the Wild Coast, to name
but a few.
For all of the above activities there are numerous clubs at all the major
cities, towns and beaches, where visitors will find many locals eager to
guide them around. There are a large number of scuba diving academies
where novices can learn and be certified, or where gear can be rented.
For those looking for charter opportunities or just wanting to learn more
about the local yachting scene, there are world-famous yacht clubs like the
Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town (Tel: +27 (0)21-421-1354), the Royal
Natal Yacht Club in Durbann (Tel: +27 (0)31 301 5425), or the Algoa Bay
Yacht Club in Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay).
The beaches at Table View, Big Bay, Melkbosstrand, Langebaan Lagoon
and others along the West Coast are renowned as a global mecca for kite
surfers, when raging Southeasters churn up these seas in summer and the
kite surfers reach awesome speeds and jumping heights. (Contact the SA
Kitesurfing Association at Tel: +27 (0) 829 0344/56 for more info).
Shark cage diving is very popular too, and a large number of operators are
found in coastal cities and towns from Cape Town to Sodwana Bay.
The Mountains
South Africa’s many majestic mountain ranges, from Table Mountain in the
Western Cape, to the Drakensberg Range in the northeast of the country,
offer superb opportunities for alpine climbers, rock climbers, traditional
climbers, sport climbers, bouldering, top rope climbing, free solo climbing,
abseiling, hang gliding, and more.
Some of the more popular climbs are to be found at Waterval Boven
and Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga; Magaliesburg in Gauteng; Table
Mountain, Hottentots Holland Mountains, Cederberg Mountains, Du
Toitskloof, Klein Winterhoek, the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains
in the Western Cape; Hogsback and Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape;
and the Drakensberg which can be approached from the Eastern Cape,
KwaZulu-Natal, or Free State. For visitors a good starting point for advice
and assistance would be the Mountain Club of South Africa (Tel: +27
(0)21 465 3412), which has 14 sections or branches distributed across the
country.
If you are less adventurous or daring and simply want to enjoy the
mountains on a good walk, there are numerous lovely hiking trails ranging
from absolutely easy to very difficult in mountainous areas all across the
country. Local tourism organisations can provide details of these or you
can call SANParks at +27 (0)12 426 5000.
56 |ISSUE 6|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZI TRAVEL