The festive season probably hasn’t been kind to your waistline and the idea of spending a sunny day in the gym makes you cringe. We’ve rounded up six activity-based weekend getaways to get you fit for 2012.
1. Get high
Forget weight lifting and jiggling machines; rock-climbing is the ultimate muscle-toning exercise. Montagu, two hours from Cape Town, boasts a range of climbing routes of varying grades (check out Getaway’s top 10 climbs in this area). De Pakhuys, a farm on the Pakhuis Pass in the Western Cape, is renowned for its bouldering and magnificent scenery (www.depakhuys.com). In summer, it’s best to climb in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid sweaty fingers.
2. Get going
Overnight hikes allow your mind to relax while your legs do the work. Showcasing the best of the lower Drakensberg, Giant’s Cup Trail (www.kznwildlife.co.za) can be done over five days or shortened to take up a weekend. The undersubscribed two-day Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail (www.sanparks.org) runs through the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. Gauteng has many great hikes within an hour or two of the major citis.
3. Get pushed around
As relaxing as a gentle river cruise might be, there’s a growing number of people who prefer the thrill of being pushed, pulled and capsized by whitewater rapids. The Vaal River offers smaller rapids, ideal for families (www.vaalrafting.co.za), while the Doring River in the Cape is good for enthusiasts wanting to be tested (www.africanrafting.co.za). The famed Orange River offers a comfortable mix of still, scenic waters and exciting yet manageable rapids (www.orangeriverrafting.com).
4. Get wet
Expect to hurt after wakeboarding or waterskiing; being pulled along by a boat at high speed is bound to flex a few muscles. Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams offer some of the cleanest water in the Western Cape and the Vaal Dam and Albert Falls Dam are great options if you’re in Joburg or Durban. If you don’t have a boat, give cable wakeboarding or skiing a bash. Blue Rock Adventure Park, near Cape Town (www.bluerock.co.za), and Base 3 (www.base3.co.za) in Midrand are good.
5. Get up
For anyone who’s watched surfers, you’ll know it’s an intimidating sport to aspire to. To get started, hire a long board for easier balance and give it a try. Durban’s surf is warm and relatively predictable with swell size increasing from south (uShaka Beach) to north (Blue Lagoon). If you know your stuff, Jeffreys Bay is an obvious choice and for a family affair, Victoria Bay near George is kid-friendly and full of charm.
6. Get down
What better way to get moving than on a sunlit dance floor? South Africa hosts a number of outdoor musical festivals. Splashy Fen (www.splashyfen.co.za) takes place in early April in the southern Drakensberg and is suitable for the whole family. Up the Creek (www.upthecreek.co.za), in early February near Swellendam, is a favourite among music and comedy lovers. Keep an eye out for day concerts in your area, such as those at Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
