What’s the deal with Adventure Deficit Disorder?

ADD. Apparently most adults have it. No – not the kind you’re thinking of. Yes, there are some common symptoms – being easily distracted, general fidgeting, lack of interest in daily tasks – but the ADD I’m talking about is Adventure Deficit Disorder.
If lately you’ve been caught up in the nine to five and are suddenly frequented by FOMO (and no, it’s not a cuss word, just another delight of morphing modern English. FOMO – the acronym for Fear Of Missing Out), then now is the time to relight the fire under your…uh, (self?). Ahem. Cape Town is the city of everything. Mountain, beach, forest, for goodness sake, even snow is occasionally within accessible distance.

Why is a bit of adventure a good idea?

1. The adrenaline hormone boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, giving you the gusto to get up and keep going.
2. Because Monday morning’s action replays, of the weekend, have to get more interesting that what your mother-in-law did at Sunday lunch this time.
3. When you’re sitting at your office desk, your mind starts to drift, and you end up reevaluating the contents of your kitchen fridge for this afternoon’s stop at the grocery store, it’s confirmation. Your mind needs something more interesting to drift to.
4. Can you think of a single reason not to?

Convinced? Regardless of budgets or phobias, we’ve compiled a list with something for everyone.

• Table Mountain – Cape Town’s pride, currently occupying the number two slot, in an online poll for the revised seven wonders of the world.  A walk to the top ordinarily takes 6 hours, and the most popular routes are through Skeleton Gorge or Nursery Ravine, starting in Kirstenbosch Gardens. A more calm approach is to take the cable car. Either way, from the reviews we’ve heard of Table Mountain Café`, getting up there is absolutely worthwhile.
• Go surfing! If you’re a seasoned pro then hire a board and if not, get some lessons in the warmer waters of Muizenberg. If you’re keen for something further inland, try kloofing.
• Sandboarding, paragliding, kite-boarding, shark cage diving, abseiling, skydiving, bungy jumping, rock climbing or river rafting are on offer to the more thrill-seeking outdoor types.
• And if you’re really just looking to let loose, get your most unruly friends together and go play paintball in the forest, or take up a toboggan.
• If the roar of an engine and wind rushing through your hair is your idea of a good time, roll around the Mother City in a sidecar, go quad biking or have your own formula one experience.
• Hot air balloon rides are for the more romantic, if you’re yearning for some action (out of doors action, that is) with a better-half . Or if you have kids to entertain, try Ratange Junction – equipped with the famous cobra rollercoaster.
• Then let’s not forget that you are in Africa, and there is an abundance of rare wildlife to be seen in nearby game parks.
• And last but not least, if you can’t get to that this weekend, at least hit up one of Cape Town’s prime pubs and get rowdy over a Confederations Cup match.

A list of crazed ventures compiled just for you by 17onloader – the best guest house this side of sun.

Photographs by Christine Watters