If there's one thing you need in Cape Town, it's to be active and fit! There are a lot of thrilling adventures to be had in this city and in the rest of the Western Cape. You can hike mountains, climb cliffs, swim in the ocean, and more! But you can't exactly do all of that when you're at your fittest. Fortunately, there are many gyms in Cape Town that can change that. From Virgin Active and Planet Fitness to Sports Science Institute and ElectroFitness Cape Town, you can work out in any of these fantastic gyms and you'll look and feel you're greatest in no time!
Virgin Active
As the biggest gym franchise in South Africa, you can expect Virgin Active to have tons of branches scattered throughout the different neighborhoods of Cape Town. They may vary in size, shape, and even number of members, but one thing is clear: the quality remains as high as ever! No matter which Virgin Active branch you enroll in, you're sure to enjoy awesome amenities and the chance to join all sorts of fitness classes. Swim laps in their Olympic-size pool, lift weights, do yoga, and more. And if you're a parent, the gym also has a daycare facility where your little one can play and have fun while you work out.
Planet Fitness
Another famous gym franchise that's also in Cape Town is Planet Fitness. Though it originated in the US, it has since taken over the fitness world by storm. It has even set up a few branches in Cape Town too! As you'd expect, the Planet Fitness gyms in Cape Town are just as stellar. It particularly doesn't hold back when it comes to gym equipment. From state-of-the-art machines to good old-fashion weights, you'll have no problem working out here. Of course, there are also many experienced trainers that work here. They will whip you into shape in no time!
Cape CrossFit
Yep, you read that right! CrossFit has invaded Cape Town as well! Housed in Pier Place on Heerengracht Street, it's the original CrossFit affiliate in the city. Many even refer to it as 'The Factory' and you know what? It's almost a pretty accurate description. The way they'll have you work out here will feel like they're manufacturing the fittest and most muscly bodies around. And they'll even do it with minimal equipment! Though this isn't to say that they lack the tools and machinery. It's just that the place is all about moving around to get into shape.
Sports Science Institute
Truth be told, the moment you walk into the Sports Science Institute on Boundary Road, you're not sure whether it's a public gym or a private training facility. The institute is in charge of helping many of South Africa's Olympic athletes train, after all. And as an affiliate of the University of Cape Town, one of
the city's finest schools, you get a sense that maintaining fitness here is more than just a mere workout. When you get into it, the institute will make sure you'll see it through to the end! Even if you cry, there's no stopping here!
ElectroFitness Cape Town
As the first gym in Cape Town—likely in all of South Africa too—to offer wireless Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) devices, ElectroFitness Cape Town is a place where you can push past your own physical limits. As the saying goes, “
no pain, no gain,” right? Well, this fitness center practically lives by that creed. Here, it's all about knowing your body and how far it can go. You're encouraged to keep working out to see how it affects and improves your muscles, as well as the rest of your body. Are you ready for such a lifestyle?
SWEAT 1000
What you'll do in SWEAT 1000, a gym in The Point Mall Shopping Centre in Sea Point, Cape Town, is just that. Sweat! But it's not for nothing, they'll make sure that every bead of sweat that comes out of your body is equal to one calorie you burn during your workout. After all, the “SWEAT” in the gym's name doesn't mean perspiration. It's an acronym for 'Specialised Weight Endurance Athletic Training.' As for the 1000? That's how many calories they plan to make you burn after just one hour of exercising. Sounds pretty intense, sure, but it is quite effective in getting fit too!
F45 Camps Bay
Have you ever heard of the HIIT workout? It stands for 'High-Intensity Interval Training' and has become just as popular as CrossFit. It's more or less an intense exercise that will have you doing all sorts of movements within 45 minutes. The aim is to get you burning as many calories as you can for a short period of time. And you can do just that in the F45 Camps Bay gym! Located near one of the
best beaches in Cape Town, this is the perfect spot to get into it and show off a fitter and healthier body on the shore!
Switch Cape Town
And finally, there's Switch Cape Town on Bree street. This is yet another popular gym franchise that has various locations in the Western Cape, Johannesburg, and even New York, USA. For a global brand to hit this city, what about it makes it noteworthy enough to join the ranks of the other gyms in Cape Town that are also on this list? Well, just like CrossFit, Switch isn't just a fitness center, but a lifestyle. It's not a specific exercise, per se, but more so a motivation to challenge your body through various workouts.
Although you can argue that the whole Western Cape of South Africa is one huge fitness center, these gyms in Cape Town are still pretty noteworthy. They'll have you moving around and getting pumped up as if you're on an exciting adventure.
