During summer most travellers seek out outdoor experiences, some of which are adrenaline-packed activities.
South Africa is an adventure destination, attracting adrenaline seekers from all over the globe, especially during summer. For adrenaline junkies, the season provides the perfect opportunity to test their limits and seek out thrills that they desire.
The country’s weather and landscapes provide the ideal backdrop to test out these limits.
Another beauty of local adrenaline activities is that they are safe, affordable and under the guidance of an experienced professional. For those looking for adventure, here are some adrenaline-packed experiences for summer and beyond.
Bungee jumping: Bloukrans Bridge, The Garden Route, South Africa
Bungee jumping is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a bridge across a deep ravine or on a natural geographic feature such as a cliff.
The bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge is the highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 216 m. It offers jaw-dropping views and a spine-tingling rush as you cut through the air.
The pendulum bungee technology ensures a smooth jump, with a swing-out rather than an abrupt recoil, promising a more comfortable experience.
Who can do it? Participants must be at least 14 years old and weigh between 35 and 150kg. The SkyWalk Adventure is available to children from 8 years old. The experience starts from R1 691 a person.
Ziplining: K3 Zipline, Caledon, South Africa
A zip-line or death slide is a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope.
It is designed to enable cargo or a person propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or being attached to, the freely moving pulley.
The K3 Zipline in Caledon holds the title of the longest zipline in the world, stretching a staggering 3.2 km.
Riders soar up to 500m above the Overberg region, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h.
Who can do it? Participants must weigh between 60 and 120kg and be over 8 years old. The experience starts from R550 a person.
Shark cage diving: KZN South Coast
If you’re looking for fun in the water and an undersea water adventure, the KZN South Coast is home to two internationally-renowned dive sites – Aliwal Shoal, just 5km offshore of Umkomaas River, and Protea Banks, which is 8km off Shelly Beach.
These two Marine Protected Areas are home to incredible apex predators and mystic shipwrecks that make for a memorable dive.
Visitors can expect to encounter diverse shark species including duskies, Zambezis, tiger sharks, hammerheads and occasionally a great white.
At any time of the year, divers will encounter a pack of oceanic black tips, more than 100 resident sharks. The experience starts from R1 300 a person.
Paragliding: Cape Town Western Cape
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure.
Tandem Paragliding in Cape Town offers some of the best scenery and weather conditions in the world and summer is the perfect time to try out this experience.
The company offers expert, friendly, staff and cutting-edge equipment and this means that regardless of your age or nervousness, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a completely different side to the ocean, mountain and cityscape once you’re in the air.
The experience starts from R1 800.
Big Swing @ Graskop Gorge Lift Centre: Graskop, Mpumalanga
Big Swing and Zipline @ Graskop Gorge Lift Centre has been incorporated into Graskop Gorge Adventure Hub, which is also home to the innovative Graskop viewing lift.
The Big Swing offers an adrenaline rush like no other and the experience is very different to a bungee-jump because you are strapped in an upright position, in a full safety harness.
Being upright enables you to enjoy the Graskop Gorge’s magnificent views if you can keep your eyes open as you freefall 70 metres at 140km/h in under three seconds.
If you need to hold someone’s hand when you jump, you can choose the tandem option.
Once your heart has stopped racing after the jump, you can immerse yourself further in the gorge’s spectacular scenery, waterfall and forest, as you climb over 400 stairs back to the top.
The maximum weight limit is 135kg and kids aged 12 and above can participate. The experience starts from R650 a person.
Kloofing: Suicide Gorge, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, South Africa
Kloofing is a recreational activity that involves descending into a deep ravine or watercourse. The term comes from the Afrikaans word "kloof", which means a steep-sided, wooded ravine or valley.
The Suicide Gorge kloofing experience involves hiking, bouldering, swimming and cliff jumping, through an intense 16.2 km journey filled with mandatory 7-metre jumps into deep rock pools.
The element of compulsory jumps, including optional ones up to 21m, makes this gorge a true test for even experienced adventurers.
Who can do it? Swimmers in good physical condition and with hiking experience. Age requirements start from 18. For more information on bookings, call 087 087 8250 or email: reservation.alert@capenature.co.za