South Africa is wonderful country filled with plenty of outdoor opportunities to awaken your most intrepid side. Are you up for a truly unforgettable adventure? Then keep reading, because we’re sharing with you our list of top outdoor activities in South Africa!

Admire Blyde River Canyon

South Africa’s answer to the Grand Canyon (think the South Rim, only greener), Blyde River Canyon is situated in the Drakensburg Escarpment area, which used to be rainforest and where the highveld and lowveld meet. The canyon is 20 miles long with the Blyde River cutting through at the base. Drive along the edge, or, if you have time, get out and follow a hiking trail.

Discover Madikwe Game Reserve

Located in the northwest of the country near the border with Botswana, Madikwe is only the fourth largest reserve in South Africa, but it’s a good one – and it’s known particularly for its lion population, so much so that the authorities are planning on removing them. The other species that make up the Big Five are also well represented here. The only drawback? You have to stay on site.

Walk Through Elephant Coast

The northeastern tip of the South African coastline is simply stunning. Don’t miss the Isimangaliso Wetland Park – a 125-mile stretch of coast that’s been turned into a 328,000 hectare national park. Inland you’ll find hippos, zebras, and antelopes, and there are turtles nesting on the shore and whales and dolphins just a short boat ride away!

Visit Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg is a true godsend if you’re on a whistle stop tour of South Africa, since you can reach it from Johannesburg in under three hours (it’s right by Sun City). Not only does it house big cats, elephants, giraffes, antelope, and buffalo–as well as 7000 other types of animals–but it’s set in an ancient meteor crater, too!

Come by the Winelands

It almost seems boring to travel all the way to South Africa to go wine tasting, but the environment is so spectacular that you’ll be forgiven. East of Cape Town you’ll find Franschhoek and Stellenbosch both tucked away in spectacular mountains – so you can go for a hike to work off that booze belly after your tasting.

Explore Cape Town

No trip to South Africa can be complete without a visit to Cape Town. One of the largest and most breathtaking cities in Africa, Cape Town has a variety of activities to intrigue would-be adventurers. One of the most popular activities for adventurers in Cape Town is paragliding at Lions Head, a prominent mountain peak in Table Mountain National Park. What makes paragliding off Lions Head so thrilling is its strong upslope breeze, which makes for high-velocity takeoff speeds. Visitors of a slightly less thrill-seeking bent can still get spectacular views of Cape Town from hiking up Lions Head, including panoramic views of Camps Bay. Tourists looking for a truly one-of-a-kind experience can also go sandboarding. Cape Town sits a mere 45 minutes from the Atlantis dunes, one of the best sandboarding locations in the world.

Hike the Drakensberg Mountains

The hiking trails in the Drakensberg Mountains offer travelers a fun escape from everyday life. The range is the highest point in southern Africa and covers 3,482 meters in both South Africa and Lesotho. Due to extreme weather conditions in both the winter and summer, visitors hoping to hike the Drakensberg Mountain are encouraged to plan their trip for fall or spring. One of the most popular hiking trails in the Drakensberg Mountains is called the Cathedral Peak Trail. A freestanding mountain with a height of 3,004 meters, Cathedral Peak is one of the most well-known mountains in the range. First-time visitors are encouraged to make the climb with a guide as parts of the route are fairly strenuous. Beyond the breathtaking views, hikers also get to experience the range’s diverse fauna, which include wildebeests and nearly 300 bird species.

You may also like: 10 Things to Do in South Africa That Are Not Safari Related

See Penguins at Table Mountain National Park

Looming over Cape Town like a guardian of old, Table Mountain National Park offers a variety of hiking trails and other activities for visitors. One of the most exciting attractions is the penguin colony. Located at the famous Boulders Beach, the penguin colony comprises approximately 2,100 African penguins, which are classified as endangered species. Staff at Table Mountain National Park seek to offer visitors a chance to marvel at these amazing creatures while still educating the public on conservation efforts. As such, the park offers one major viewing area and three separate boardwalks so visitors can get within mere feet of these wonderful creatures. Due to Table Mountain National Park’s proximity to Cape Town, the penguins of Boulders Beach are also easily accessible to handicapped visitors and can also be easily enjoyed by people with young children.

Go Scuba Diving!

Visitors who book cheap vacation package deals to South Africa to partake in quality scuba diving will not be disappointed by the country’s diverse choices. South Africa offers a multitude of scuba adventures, including exploration of shipwrecks and coral reefs. The bravest divers can also go on shark dives–while safely ensconced in protective cages, of course. Of the many places to scuba dive in South Africa, Rocktail Bay in KwaZulu-Natal has become a favorite among tourists. Rocktail Bay is home to a wide diversity of aquatic life, including sting rays and clownfish. Travelers can also expect to  come face-to-face with leatherback and loggerhead turtles, who lay their eggs on the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal. Less common marine life sighted in Rocktail Bay include tiger sharks and manta rays.