If you haven’t heard about South Africa as a kiteboarding destination, then you can’t really call yourself a kiteboarder / kitesurfer.
In 1998 whilst taking an Italian Tour group on a surfing adventure in South Africa, I witnessed some of the first kiters in Cape Town. This newly born sport tickled my inquisitive nature. Little did I know that a year later I would be absolutely hooked and enslaved by the world of kiteboarding.
In 2003 I moved to Cape Town and joined its growing crew of kiteboarders. That number was to explode dramatically over the next decade as Cape Town became one of the bucket list places for anyone that has touched the sport of Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing.
The Kiting pioneers in Cape Town were a few brave locals that attempted to harness the power of the wind on homemade unidentified objects. A few years later the ‘international visitors’ started arriving as everyone realised that the “Cape Doctor” (South Easterly Wind), feared by many and hated by most, was a gift from the universe for anyone in search of an adrenaline rush whilst attached to a kite.
Over the years the flow of wind seeking tourists grew and some of the worlds’ top riders decided to relocate to Cape Town for the South African Summer to train. The resurrection of the “Red Bull King of the Air” in 2013, saw Cape Town received a massive boost in worldwide exposure helping it become one of the top kiteboarding destinations in the world.
The concentration of kiteboarders in the well known kiting spots on a windy day is quite a sight! Literally hundreds of kites fighting for their space on the water.
GETTING THERE
Flying into South Africa you have two options; arriving directly in Cape Town or going via Johannesburg. Of course, your choice of airline should be based on their luggage allocation and flexibility. That is of course if you plan to bring all your gear.
Most countries are not required to have a visa for a visit lasting less than 90 days) but you also should check out the department of home affairs for some of the rules and regulation regarding travelling with under-age children.
The airlines flying the Cape town route should be used to dealing with kiteboarding equipment, so you shouldn’t encounter any problems. Once you have collected all the goodies, it’s time to head to the beach.
EXPLORE
The main Kite spots in Cape Town are crowded during season, but there are plenty of great spots all around the peninsula. Don’t be afraid to travel, it will be worth it.
Local knowledge is always best, so speak to the kite shops: List of Spots around Cape Town
South Africa has a massive coastline, 2798 km to be exact. Meaning that if crowds are not your thing, and adventure is your middle name, you can head along the coastline and find some gems. As you travel up the West Coast the water is cold and the conditions arid, especially over the summer. However, about an hour away from Cape Town you will find the second mecca of kiteboarding in the Western Cape:
Langebaan is a massive lagoon and a few kitesurfing schools operating there means it also gets pretty crowded.
Langebaan is also a perfect location for beginners, so if you are interested in starting Kiteboarding, it’s a good place to head to. If you already call yourself a kiteboarder, look out for the beginners in Langebaan. There are some worthy kiting spots on the way to Langebaan and further up the coast. Yserfontein, Saldanha Bay, Velddrift, Paternoster are just a few of the options.
Heading to the East coast is like space travel. On the way, along the Garden Route in the Southern Cape, you will find spots like Hermanus, Witsands, Struisbaai, Cape Aghulas, Mossel Bay, and anything in between. Witsands and Hermanus are now famous flat-water spots, which have welcomed visitors from Cape Town as the more adventurous crew have started spreading out.
The further you go, the more remote it gets with pockets of local kiteboarders ruling the ocean in certain spots, but often you could find yourself alone. Whilst the section from Mossel Bay to Storms River otherwise known as “Wilderness” enjoys less wind, from Jeffreys Bay to Port Alfred, the wind picks up again and there you will find a wide variety of very remote spots with lagoons and waves. By far this stretch of coast is my favourite for the variety of conditions you can find.
CAPE TOWN & SOUTH AFRICA KITEBOARDING TIPS
- Bring small kites. The wind gets strong, especially in Cape Town. Some of the spots up the coast can get more varied winds and you will need bigger kites
- In Cape Town (Tableview) the wind is almost always cross-shore from the left over the summer season. The same if you go up the West coast.
- On the East Coast, you can get wind from both sides and from lighter to strong winds.
- In the more remote areas, local knowledge is gold and may spare you frustration or loss of equipment or worse. Consider getting a local guide.
- Don’t leave valuables in the car in Cape Town and surrounding beaches. That includes kites. If you have to, “Out of sight, out of mind”
- Bring sunscreen and a pair of water sunglasses. The glare in Cape Town past 3pm is pretty hectic with the sun setting in front of you.
- In the crowded spots, do not assume everyone is a good kiter and knows the rules of navigation. People in large numbers never make for a rule-abiding bunch. Watch out for the King of the Air wannabes!
- Be careful when you jump and look out for kiters coming in from above.
- The most trusted kite repair centre: http://secondwindsails.co.za
- Bring your party shoes, lots to do in Cape Town
KITEBOARDING GEAR RENTAL IN CAPE TOWN
You will find most kite shops in Cape Town will rent you gear. Here are a few of the outlets.
https://boardandkiteafrica.com
Ced Vandenschrik
Cedric is a traveller and top kiteboarder / kiteboarding guide.
