Hitting the slopes: It’s time to go sandboarding in Cape Town

Cape Town has long attracted visitors to its shores, not only for her outstanding beauty but also for the myriad activities and adventures that can be enjoyed in and around the Mother City.

From climbing the iconic Table Mountain and hiking to the very tip of the Cape Peninsula in Cape Point, to cage-diving with the terrifying great white shark and hang-gliding off Lion’s Head — there is no doubt that Cape Town has something for everyone.

Sand is sometimes better than snow

Sandboarding is a fantastic new adventure to hit the Mother City and has taken it by storm. While we don’t have the powder-white slopes of snow for skiing, we have one better — beautiful footprint-free dunes of white sand that beg to be “surfed”.

All that sandboarding requires is a modicum of fitness, a splash of sunscreen and a whole of enthusiasm and energy.

Where can you sandboard near Cape Town?

While there are myriad sand dunes throughout Southern Africa where sandboarding can be enjoyed, Cape Town is home to two popular sandboarding sites.

The first is at Atlantis on the West Coast where there are the ever-shifting dunes, which range in size up to 35 metres. The second is in Betty’s Bay on the east coast, where there is the massive 250-metre dune planted on the side of a mountain. Both of these fantastic sites are under an hour’s drive from the city centre, so are easy to get to for a fun-filled day out with the family.

There are several operators in Cape Town that run sandboarding tours and trips to these spots and others along the coast, where beginners and experts alike can enjoy this exhilarating adventure in the capable hands of experts.

Sandboarding Cape Town

Sandboarding Cape Town runs a variety of tours and trips for both beginner sand boarders and those already in the know. They provide professional gear with special snowboard bindings, hands-on training and offer a variety of packages for special occasions, such as birthday parties, bachelor 
parties, corporate events, film productions, and tours.

Add to the adventure with a quad bike or tow-boarding session. For more information, visit www.sandboardingcapetown.com.

Sidewinder Adventures 

With over 12 years of experience, Sidewinder Adventures is owned and run by South Africa’s current Sandboarding Champion, Dave Rademeyer.

Sidewinder Adventures offers weekend tours to the Atlantis dune field, as well as pre-arranged tours to the Betty’s Bay dune. Custom-made boards and professional equipment are provided, with special snowboard bindings for extra safety. For more information, visit www.sidewinderadventures.co.za.

Downhill Adventures

Established in 1995, Downhill Adventures was the first company to start sandboarding in South Africa and offers over 20 years of experience.

Founded by Sandboarding World Champion, Axel Zander, the company uses real snowboards, boots and bindings modified for sand and offers lessons based with registered guides. Trips run every day of the week and transport from Cape Town to the Atlantis Dunes can be arranged. For more information, visit www.downhilladventures.com.