For one-stop adrenaline shopping, head straight for Adventure Village (229 Long St.; tel. 021/424-1580; www.adventure-village.co.za), where the staff will organize bookings for almost every adventure activity under the sun (for numbers not available below, contact them directly). This is also where bookings to Victoria Falls can be made, as well as many specialized overland and safari trips throughout southern Africa.

Abseiling -- Abseil Africa (tel. 021/424-4760) will throw you 100m (328 ft.) off Table Mountain -- attached to a rope, of course (R250/$30). But their best trip is Kamikaze Kanyon: a day's kloofing (scrambling down a river gorge) in a nature reserve, ending with a 65m (213-ft.) waterfall abseil (R450/$55).

Ballooning -- Board a balloon in the early morning and glide over the Paarl Winelands -- the 1-hour flight (R1,550/$190 per person) takes off every morning from November to April, and includes a champagne breakfast at the Grande Roche. Contact Wineland Ballooning (tel. 021/863-3192).

Bird-Watching -- The peninsula attracts nearly 400 species of birds; Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, and Rondevlei Nature Reserve are some of the best areas for sightings. For guided tours of the area and further afield, contact Birdwatch Cape (tel. 021/762-5059; www.birdwatch.co.za).

Boardsailing & Kitesurfing -- Big Bay at Blouberg (take R27 Marine Dr. off the N1) provides consistent wind, good waves, and a classic picture-postcard view of Table Mountain. Another popular place is Platboom, off the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, and Milnerton Lagoon. Contact the Kite Shop (tel. 021/421-6231). Or head north for Langebaan Lagoon.

Boating -- The most exhilarating boating experience is called "oceanrafting," reaching speeds of up to 130kmph (80 mph) across Table Bay in a 12-seater inflatable (tel. 021/425-3785; R250/$30).

Canoeing/Kayaking -- Felix Unite (tel. 021/670-1300) offers relaxing river trips on the tranquil Breede River -- the closest is the Wine Route Adventure, which includes tasting wines of the area and costs R295 ($36) per person. Real Cape Adventures (tel. 082-556-2520) covers almost every sea kayaking route on the West and Southern coasts and caters to all levels of ability -- request a trip to the rugged coastline of Cape Point.

Diving -- Wreck diving is popular here, and the coral-covered wrecks at Smitswinkel Bay are particularly worth exploring. Also Maori Bay, Oak Burn, and Bnos 400. Call Dive Action (tel. 021/511-0815). (For shark-cage diving at Hermanus, 1 hr. away).

Fishing -- Big Game Fishing Safaris (tel. 021/674-2203) operates out of Simon's Town on a 12m (40-ft.) catamaran and offers bottom/reef fishing (as well as crayfish lunches, sundowner cruises, on-board skeet shooting. and shark-cage diving). Trout fishing is popular in the crystal-clear streams found in the Du Toits Kloof Mountains near Paarl and in Franschhoek, where salmon trout is a specialty on every menu. For guided trips, call Tim at Ultimate Angling (tel. 021/686-6877); for general advice, tuition, and permits in Franschhoek, contact Mark at Dewdale Fly Fishery (tel. 021/876-2755).

Golfing -- The Royal Cape (tel. 021/761-6551) has hosted the South African Open many times. Milnerton Golf Club (tel. 021/552-1047) is the only true links course in the Cape, with magnificent views of Table Mountain, but is best avoided when the wind is blowing. Rondebosch (tel. 021/689-4176) and Mowbray (tel. 021/685-3018) -- both located off the N2 -- have lovely views of Devil's Peak (the latter course is the more demanding). Clovelly (tel. 021/782-1118) in Fish Hoek is a tight course requiring some precision. Steenberg (tel. 021/713-2233) is the course to play in Constantia.

In the Winelands, the Gary Player-designed Erinvale (Lourensford Rd.; tel. 021/847-1144) in Somerset West is considered the best, but Stellenbosch (tel. 021/880-0103), on Strand Road, is another worthwhile course, with a particularly challenging tree-lined fairway.

Hiking -- Most hikers start by climbing Table Mountain, of which there are a number of options call the Mountain Club (tel. 021/465-3412). For hikes farther afield, contact Cape Eco Trails (tel. 021/785-5511) or Ross at High Adventure (tel. 021/447-8036) -- as a trained climbing instructor, Ross can spice up your walk with some exhilarating ascents. If you're staying in Stellenbosch, the trails (5.3-18km/3-11 miles) in the mountainous Jonkershoek Nature Reserve are recommended. Recommended reading for hikers: Day Walks in and Around Cape Town, by Tim Anderson (Struik), and Mike Lundy's Best Walks in the Peninsula (Struik).

Horseback Riding -- Take an early morning or sunset ride on spectacular Long Beach, Noordhoek, by contacting Sleepy Hollow (tel. 021/789-2341; R130 to R170/$16 to $21 for 90 min; another R30/$3.75 gets you some bubbly on the beach). For beach rides closer to town, contact the Riding Centre (tel. 021/790-5286), in Hout Bay (R100/$12 per hour). To ride through the vines on horseback or in a carriage, stopping for wine tastings.

Mountain Biking -- There are a number of trails on Table Mountain, Cape Point, and the Winelands, but the Tokai Forest network and Constantiaberg trails are the best; contact Day Trippers (tel. 021/511-4766; R195-R235/$24-$29) for guided rides on the Constantiaberg and Cape Point; Downhill Adventures (tel. 021/422-0388; R350-R500/$44-$63) for guided rides on Table Mountain, Cape Point, and Winelands. Call Bobby tel. 082-881-1588; R400/$50 a day; delivery or collection R35/$4.50) for bike rentals only.

Paragliding -- Soar off Lion's Head for a jaw-dropping view of mountains and sea, and land at Camps Bay Beach or La Med bar for cocktails at sunset. This is an exhilarating trip; no prior experience is necessary (R750/$95). Contact Ian at Paraglide Cape Town (tel. 082/727-6584).

Sandboarding -- South Africa's answer to snowboarding takes place on the tallest dunes all around the Cape; contact Downhill Adventures for trips and tuition (tel. 021/422-0388).

Skydiving -- Freefall for up to 30 seconds, attached to an experienced instructor. Tandem dives are offered off the West Coast (contact Adventure Village, above) or 3,600m (12,000 ft.) over the Stellenbosch Winelands; contact Cape Parachute Club (tel. 082-800-6290; R700/$88).

Surfing -- The beaches off Kalk Bay reef and Noordhoek are considered hot spots. Muizenberg and Big Bay at Blouberg (take R27 Marine Dr. off the N1) are good for beginners. Call tel. 082-234-6340 for the daily surf report; for equipment or advice, call Charlie Moir (tel. 083-444-9442) in Cape Town.

Whale-Watching -- Hermanus, just over an hour's drive on the N2, is one of the world's best land-based spots. Call the Whale Hotline: tel. 083-910-1028. For the best whale-watching in the city, drive along the False Bay coast, or contact Evan at Atlantic Adventures (tel. 083-680-2768), which operates trips out of Simon's Town. Contact the Waterfront Boat Club (tel. 021/418-58065) for trips in Table Bay, departing from the Waterfront.