One of the most spectacular beaches in the Cape Peninsula is to be found at Noordhoek. This lonely stretch of sand, sometimes known as Long Beach, is perfectly suited for those visitors to Cape Town who want the opportunity to get away from the crowds that throng the more popular tourist spots on the Peninsula. One of the best ways to enjoy this scenic stretch of beach is on horseback and Noordhoek horse riding has become one of the most popular pastimes for locals and tourists alike.

One of the best ways to access the beaches of Noordhoek and enjoy the freedom and excitement of horse riding in this scenic area of the Cape is to base oneself at one of the many comfortable and value for money boutique hotels that can be found both in Noordhoek and the surrounding areas. Many of these guest houses offer horse riding as one of their services to guests.

Most of the boutique hotels to be found in this are will provide tack, including riding hats and both novice and more experienced horse riders can be catered for.

The services of an experienced rider who has in depth knowledge of the local conditions, as well as the many trails in the area will make any horse riding excursion in Noordhoek an excursion to treasure and remember for years to come.

A beach outride in Noordhoek can be a matter of only a few hours or a more extended day out. The many shady lanes and byways to be found in the Noordhoek and Hout Bay areas will give the avid horse rider a feeling of complete relaxation, combined with the opportunity to get under the skin of some of the areas most scenic attractions, many not experienced by those who stick to the more crowded tourist spots.

The Varied Noordhoek Activities

For the avid nature lover time spent in Noordhoek will be time well spent. There are a number of Noordhoek activities that will entertain and educate both young and old in the area.

The Noordhoek Farm Village is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the area. At the Noordhoek Farm Village the young can experience a children’s playground under the shady oaks, while the older crowd immerse themselves in a relaxed atmosphere with restaurants and wine close at hand.

Whether your taste runs to the exhilaration of horse riding in Noordhoek or simply a taste for a less hurried and more relaxed way of life there will be Noordhoek activities that will suit you and your family.

The De Noordhoek Hotel is located on the Cape Peninsula from where you will be able to easily reach many of the Cape Town Game Attractions. Shark diving is one of the most popular Cape Town Game & Adventure attractions and can be enjoyed at Gansbaai. If you are looking for close up pictures of buffalo then the Solole Game Reserve in the Noordhoek Valley is a must visit. The Tygerberg Zoo is ideal for a family visit and if you are in the mood for a scenic drive you can make your way up to Wiesenhof where you will encounter cheetah, ostrich, wildebeest and variety of antelope. Not too far away at Hout Bay you will find the World of Birds where about 3000 birds are resident.

While lodging at the four star De Noordhoek Hotel located on the Cape Peninsula, you may want to explore the Cape animal attractions. The area is known for its many animal attractions including the Butterfly World at Klapmuts, the Cape Point Ostrich Farm where guided tours are offered, Boulders Penguin Colony in Simon’s Town, and the Aquila Game Reserve about two hours drive into the Karoo where the Big Five can be seen up close. More Cape animal attractions include the Clara Anna Fontein Game Reserve in Durbanville, Die Vonds Snake Park near Malmesbury, and the Crocodile Farm just outside Stellenbosch.

A visit to Cape Town is not complete until you have also visited Cape Point. It is located at the end of the Cape Peninsula and forms part of Table Mountain National Park. You will find baboons, zebras, ostrich and smaller animals in addition to an array of plants only seen in this area. The Cape Point lighthouse is a famous landmark and stands on top of the highest sea cliff in the country. It will take you about 15 minutes to reach the lighthouse where you will also find a restaurant, gift shop and a little barbeque spot. It is the perfect place from where to take pictures.

De Noordhoek Hotel is the ideal starting point for some of the most adventurous activities in the Cape. Guests can book many of the Cape Town adventure activities at the information desk or find complete information about enjoyable Cape Town adventure activities. Abseiling can be enjoyed at Table Mountain and booked through Abseil Africa while bungee jumping is done at Bloukrans. Caving can be done at the Silvermine Nature Reserve as well as Kalk Bay. Horse riding is popular at Noordhoek, taking you to a shipwreck near the beach while kite surfing is the most popular at Langebaan where there is also a complete sport centre.

If you are the outdoors type of person then you will enjoy the many Cape Town sport activities offered. Kloofing is one of the extreme Cape Town sports which can be enjoyed at the River Sonder End Gorge as well as the Suicide Gorge. Mountain biking is another one of the extreme Cape Town sports which can be enjoyed at the Silvermine South, Deer Park, Jonkershoek Valley and Paarl. Rock climbing is a popular sport in Cape Town which can be enjoyed indoors at City Rock or outdoors when booking through the Mountain Club of SA. Sandboarding is offered at Atlantis just outside Cape Town while sailing can be booked through the Royal Cape Yacht Club.