This guide is built from the live tour pages of Cape Adventure Brands (Bikes ‘n Wines, Cape Town Kayaks and Hiking Tours Cape Town) — prices, start times, ages and inclusions come straight from the operator, never invented.

What December Is Like in Cape Town

December is the middle of the Western Cape summer. It is dry and warm to hot, the days are long, and the famous south-easter wind, known as the Cape Doctor, can blow hard on many afternoons. It is also the busiest month of the year: Christmas and New Year are the peak of the peak, and the operators we link to describe November to March as their peak season and recommend booking in advance.

For visitors from Finland there is a nice practical bonus. Cape Town is on South African Standard Time, UTC+2 with no daylight saving, so there is no meaningful jet lag from Finland. A family can land and be on a bike the next morning. The trade-off is that December is crowded and the best slots go first, which is the whole reason for this post.

Dates When Operators Are Closed

Plan around these before you build an itinerary. Bikes ‘n Wines runs almost every day of the year but is closed on 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 2 January. If you land on Christmas Eve and expect a Winelands bike tour on Christmas Day, it will not be running. The other two operators publish their own schedules, so check the booking pages for Cape Town Kayaks and Hiking Tours Cape Town for the days you want.

The practical rule is simple: put your Winelands day early in the trip, before Christmas, or in the days between 27 December and 31 December, and keep the closure dates for beaches, markets and rest.

Book First: A Winelands Bike Day

If you only pre-book one thing for December, make it a Winelands bike tour. The tours run in the morning, which suits the heat, and you spend the day outdoors on quiet farm roads. For families the best option is the Stellenbosch Family Tour5% off via our link: R1,150 per person, 10:00 to 13:30 from Skilpadvlei Wine Farm, 15 km on mountain bikes, two estates, and adults get wine tastings while children get their own non-alcoholic tastings. There is no minimum age, and the operator supplies baby seats and buggies for under-sixes and children’s mountain bikes for over-sixes. The calmer alternative is the Franschhoek Family Tour5% off via our link at R1,450.

For adults, the Stellenbosch Luxury Winelands EBike Tour5% off via our link is the full-day version: R2,295 per person, 10:00 to 16:00, 15–20 km on a pedal-assist e-bike, four estates with tastings and pairings and a cheese and charcuterie platter lunch. The age minimum is 16 and e-bike riders must be at least 155 cm tall. In a windy, hot month the pedal assist helps. All other Bikes ‘n Wines tours are 16+.

Book Second: A Morning on the Water in Hout Bay

Hout Bay is 20 to 30 minutes from central Cape Town, and Cape Town Kayaks runs from the Karbonkelberg Tourism Adventure Centre. The 2 Hour Hout Bay Kayak Adventure5% off via our link is R495 per person, with departures at 09:00 and 11:30, in stable double sit-on-top kayaks. The minimum age is 6 with an adult, life jackets are compulsory, and you will get a little wet. Non-swimmers are discouraged, because you should be able to tread water. Seals are common on the route, dolphins are occasional and never guaranteed.

For early risers the Sunrise Kayak Adventure5% off via our link is R595 and finishes with hot chocolate. In summer the sunrise is early, so check the exact time on the booking page. If you have small children or a non-swimmer in the group, the Seal Island Boat Trip5% off via our link is R120 per person, 45 minutes, with no minimum age.

Book Third: A Guided Hike

Midday hiking on Table Mountain in December is a poor idea, which is why the best-fit guided options are the early or late ones. The Lion’s Head Daybreak Hike5% off via our link starts at 07:00 in summer, and the Lion’s Head Golden Hour Hike5% off via our link starts at 15:30 in summer; both are 3 hours, 5 km, R1,495 per person, rated 3 out of 5, for ages 12 and up. The Table Mountain Hike – Platteklip5% off via our link is R1,495 for 3.5 hours, 5 km, starting at 09:00 from the Lower Cable Way and described as the most direct and steep route.

Mountain weather changes quickly, so bring grippy shoes, a hat, sunscreen and a warm or waterproof layer; the operator provides water and a snack. If you would rather be in the vineyards than on rock, the Stellenbosch Winelands Vineyard Walk5% off via our link is R995 for 3 hours and is rated 2 out of 5.

A Sample December Week

Here is one way to fit the three activities into a week without rushing. This is our suggestion, not an operator itinerary.

Keep one spare day. Wind or swell can postpone kayaking, and unsafe mountain weather can change a hike. If your group includes grandparents or toddlers, swap the hike for the Seal Island Boat Trip and the family bike tour so everyone has something to do on the same day.

Practical Tips for a December Trip

A few things we would do. Book the guided activities before you fly, not on arrival. Use guided tours instead of hiking alone, and avoid hiking at dusk. Keep valuables out of sight in cars, and use ride-hailing or private transfers at night. Pack sun protection, a wind layer and closed shoes for the bike and hike days. For all three operators, a minimum of two guests is needed for a departure, and private versions are available on request for a supplement.

On cancellations: for Bikes ‘n Wines and Cape Town Kayaks, cancelling more than 72 hours ahead is a 90% refund, inside 72 hours 50%, and inside 48 hours none. If the operator cancels for weather, Bikes ‘n Wines refunds 100% and Cape Town Kayaks 95%. Hiking Tours Cape Town runs in light rain and offers alternatives if conditions are unsafe. Read each operator’s terms before you pay.

What a December Activity Plan Costs

Guided activities in Cape Town are priced in rand, and the figures below are the per-person prices on the live tour pages in October 2026. We have left out euro conversions because the exchange rate moves; as a rough guide the whole list costs a fraction of what comparable guided activities cost in Lapland, though we have not priced that side by side here.

A family of four doing one bike day, one kayak and one hike will see the total climb quickly, so decide which one or two experiences matter most and treat the rest as optional. Children under the minimum age for a hike can still join the bike tour or the boat trip, which keeps the family together.

How to Book With the Hungrytravelfamily Discount

Use the links on this page and the 5% discount is applied automatically when you book; there is no code to enter. You book and pay directly with the operator on their own site, and the price shown on the tour page is the normal price. We are a Cape Adventure Brands affiliate and earn a commission on bookings made through our links — the 5% discount is yours either way. We live in Rovaniemi, Finland, and have not done these tours ourselves; we read the operators’ pages and compare them for you.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

December in Cape Town rewards planning. Book one Winelands bike day, one morning on the water and one early or late hike before you fly, leave a spare day in the middle and respect the closure dates, and you will have a trip that does not depend on what is left over when you arrive. Check each operator’s page for current dates and prices.

Start with the Stellenbosch Family Tour5% off via our link, the 2 Hour Hout Bay Kayak Adventure5% off via our link or the Lion’s Head Golden Hour Hike5% off via our link, and 5% comes off automatically when you book through our links.

5% off · automatic via our links

Our Cape Town picks with Cape Adventure Brands

Tap a tour to see live dates and prices on the operator’s own page. Book through our link and 5% comes off automatically — nothing to type at checkout.

Bikes 'n Wines · Half DayStellenbosch Family TourFrom R1,150 per personBook with 5% off →Bikes 'n Wines · Full DayStellenbosch Luxury Winelands EBike TourFrom R2,295 per personBook with 5% off →Cape Town Kayaks · 2 Hours2 Hour Hout Bay Kayak AdventureFrom R495 per personBook with 5% off →Hiking Tours Cape Town · 3 HoursLion’s Head Golden Hour HikeFrom R1,495 per personBook with 5% off →

We are a Cape Adventure Brands affiliate and earn a commission on bookings made through our links — the 5% discount is yours either way.