Cape Point Cycle and Winelands Tasting: Tour Review
Cape Point Cycle and Winelands Tasting: Tour by Downhill Adventures
Cape Point and Constantia
Western Cape
Will pick you up? No
Cost per person: R500
Departs from: Downhill Adventures Office – Corner of Orange and Kloof Street
Duration: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sites visited: Boulder (Penguins), Cape Point, Groot Constantia
SA Blog recommends? Certainly
Snippet
We hopped on our bikes for a cruisy downhill, then fought the wind for 12 kilometers to the end of the road, stopping to take pictures and breaks. Barry drove the vehicle behind us, and getting in was an option at any time.
(See the full review below.)
Booking Information
Tel: +27 (0) 21 422 0388, Fax: +27 (0) 21 423 0127
Website: www.downhilladventures.com
Tour guide(s): Barry
Review
As one of – if not the – oldest adventure companies in Cape Town (est. 1995), Downhill Adventures offers adrenaline rushes in all shapes and sizes.
Their specialties are sand boarding, surfing and biking, but they also facilitate kite boarding, quad biking, shark diving, sky diving, abseiling, kloofing and more.
Our first stop was to visit the penguins at Boulders beach. We skipped the entry fee that granted access to the walkways and cove-like beaches, and instead went to the side, where there are also penguins – just not in ‘official designations’. There, we were able to get as close as we dared. We only spent fifteen minutes at Boulders – which was perfect, because, really, how long can you look at flightless birds?
Then it was off to Cape Point. Not far after the entrance (fee covered in the tour price), we hopped on our bikes for a cruisy downhill, then fought the wind for 12 kilometers to the end of the road, stopping to take pictures and breaks. Barry drove the vehicle behind us, and getting in was an option at any time.
Reaching the Cape Point parking lot, we had a 45-minute break, during which some of us trudged up to the lighthouse at the top, while others had a coffee. On the way back to the entrance point, we stopped for a vegetarian, pre-packed lunch at a visitor’s center.
Because everyone in our group was into cycling, we continued on,to Scarborough, for a total mileage of approximately 40 km.
After pictures at Scarborough beach, we piled in and headed off to Groot Constantia, where we talked and sampled some wines. Riding through the grounds was not allowed, unfortunately. We returned to HQ around 6 p.m. I had expected to stop at two wineries, but I believe that we visited only one due to our extending cycling time.
Barry was a fun, laid-back and friendly guide. We had no emergencies, thankfully, and the bikes were well-tuned and in good shape. They were considerably nicer than some of the other bikes I saw a tour group toting around.
Our group of six seemed the perfect size. As we were of similar athletic fitness, it made the outing more enjoyable. The trip does not require a lot of skill, other than the ability to pedal the bike, but you’ll get a lot more out of it if you can ride 5 km without stopping for half an hour. I would suggest inquiring about the number of people going before you book – the larger the group, chances are, the larger the difference in ability, and the more time you might spend waiting… or trying to catch up.
If you go: Bring an extra bottle of water in case the one they provide isn’t enough, as well as some wipes to get the dirt off your face before you taste wine. Plenty of sunscreen is essential.
Transport of personal bikes can be arranged if done in advance. Note that every tour does not run every day.