From biking, abseiling and diving to kitesurfing and running: Cape Town offers many active outdoor pursuits. Professional trail runner Ryan Sandes shows the active side of South Africa’s laidback Mother City.

“Trail running is a form of meditation for me. It allows me to escape reality.”

Ryan Sanders
Ryan Sandes specialises in breaking records. While most people consider a marathon quite the accomplishment, this fitness machine thrives on the so-called ultra-marathons: runs that are much longer than the dreaded 42,2 kilometres . He not only competes in these, but regularly breaks records. In 2010, he won the 4 Deserts Race Series and became the only person in the world to win an ultra-marathon on every continent. Sandes actually ended up in the trail running circuit by accident. In 2006, he ran his first marathon after only a few weeks of training. Just for the fun of it. But he was amazed to discover how much he enjoyed it: “I live at the foot of Table Mountain. Before I knew it, I spent every second of my spare time running through the mountains.”

Trail Running
The area around Cape Town offers extraordinary and diverse landscapes – a trail runner’s paradise with miles of running space by the ocean, along beaches or through the mountains.

Abseiling
Table Mountain is the highest abseiling location in the world. Descend from 1,000 metres above sea level to enjoy spectacular views of Cape Town and the deep blue Atlantic. This descent is not for the faint-hearted; even Ryan felt a little bit nervous.

Biking
How about a 50-kilometre ride along the coast, a tour through the mountains or a trip that combines cityscapes and natural beauty? Cape Town offers endless biking opportunities. Ryan loves to bike from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, a route that includes a number of steep sections each way.