3 ADVENTUROUS IDEAS
1. HARNESS THE WIND
The south-easter, aka the Cape Doctor, is the prevailing wind along the western and southern Cape coasts during summer. It’s not a wind with many fans, except if you’re into kitesurfing… Big Bay in Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, is home to the annual international Red Bull King of the Air competition. Other good places: Die Plaat at Grotto Beach in Hermanus, Witsand at the mouth of the Breede River and Langebaan on the West Coast. If you’re a novice and you’d like to take lessons, contact Kite Lab in Langebaan (packages start from R2 800 for a two-day course; four hours per day; gear hire included; kitelab.co.za) or Coastline at Blouberg and Langebaan (R1 800 for a two-day course; coastlinekitesurfing.com).
2. RIDE THE WAKE
Umtamvuna River Lodge on the KZN South Coast is at the mouth of the river of the same name. It has excellent facilities for a variety of water sports including regulars like swimming, paddling and angling – and it’s a top local destination for wakeboarding. (Kind of like waterskiing on a snowboard.) Some of the best local and European wakeboarders train at Umtamvuna, where the water is generally calm and warm. Keen wakeboarders can get lessons from the likes of Kevin Dry and Matti Buys – taking you all the way from beginner to pro level. What’s more, Umtamvuna River Lodge also offers great accommodation and a half-pipe, where “ordinary” skateboarders practise on land. Visit theriverlodge.co.za
3. STAND UP AND GO
Stand-up paddle boarding, shortened to SUP, is one of the fastest-growing water sports. You stand and paddle on a big, wide board the shape of a surfboard, almost like you’re punting a mokoro on the Okavango Delta or a gondola in Venice. The ocean is your playground if you’re comfortable on a SUP – around Cape Town you can paddle at Bloubergstrand, Three Anchor Bay, Camps Bay, Clifton and Fish Hoek. If you would like to take lessons, contact Cabrinha at Big Bay ( cabrinha.co.za), Surf Emporium in Muizenberg ( surfemporium.co.za) or Cape Sports Centre in Langebaan ( capesports.co.za). Check on Google for companies that offer lessons on the canals around the Cape Town Convention Centre and at Century City, and for SUP lessons in other coastal cities and inland.