South Africa has the highest bungee jumping and abseiling spots in the world. Here you can scream your fears away in some of the most spectacular sceneryon earth.
Bungee the Bloukrans
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| |  The world’s highest commercial bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge | |
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In the heart of the Garden Route, 40 kilometres east of Plettenberg Bay, is the world’s highest single span bridge over the Bloukrans River. Once a viewpoint for the Tsitsikamma forest 216 metres below, the Bloukrans Bridgeis now a magnet for bungee junkies from around the globe.
Because of the distance of the drop regular ankle straps are replaced with a body harness. Then it’s over the edge, your eyes fixed on the river to which you hurtle, heart in mouth, a scream frozen on your lips, then exhilaration at having conquered your fears and the highest jump on earth.
Graskop Gorge
But only the bravest will head out to Graskop and experience the adrenaline rush of the world's highest cable gorge swing with a 68 metre (18 storey building) freefall. Similar to a bungee jump, except that here you are strapped to a sitting harness, you will reach 160km/h in 2,3 seconds.
Or you can fly across the 80 metre high gorge on the High Wire slide. Both are located at Panorama Gorge in Graskop, about 15kms from Pilgrim’s Rest.
Bungee at Other Venues
Thirty-five kilometres outside Mossel Bay is the Gouritz Bridge, now used only for bungee jumping. This was South Africa’s first bungee venue, and still boasts some of the most experienced jumpers in the country who are always on hand to assist. Because of its relatively low height it is the perfectplace for first-time jumpers and tandem jumps.
If you happen to be in Gauteng, then head for the Kings Kloof Bridge in Krugersdorp. This is the only place in the province to bungee, and your drop can be done as a waist jump or forward or backward dive.
Abseiling Table Mountain
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| |  An abseil down Table Mountain is a thrilling descent | |
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It may seem like a tame sport if you are watching others descending a cliff while you’re standing on terra firma. But once you find yourself in thin air hanging by a thread you will realise how extreme a sport abseiling really is.
Abseiling from Table Mountain is very popular as the views are spectacular.
Abseil Other Parts of South Africa
The Storms River Gorge is one of the most scenic abseiling venues in the country. While the 40 metre abseil down a cliff above Hartebeespoort Dam in North WestProvince is a good place for beginners.
For something completely different try a helicopter abseil down Krugersdorp’s Kings Kloof Bridge, which is also used for bungee jumping.
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Bungee jumping picture © Faceadrenalin
Abseil picture © AbseilAfrica