by Michael Shelton
28.06.2010
With England once again flopping at the football, you may find yourself with a little extra time on your hands. So forget the overpaid prima donnas and come back from South Africa with some memories that are truly worth relishing - here's our ten amazing adventures that make this incredible country a must-visit for anyone.
Diving with sharks
Ever since the Steven Spielberg film, the Great White Shark has taken on a mystical reputation as a silent but deadly prey lurking beneath the surface of the water. This is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these immense yet beautiful creatures as you spend a day with the ocean’s most fearsome predator.
The trip includes plenty of time within the specialised viewing cages, which are all that separate you from a huge set of incisors! With snacks (hopefully of the non-human variety!) on board, a 99% success rate of shark sightings and all the equipment provided, this promises a great day out for adventure seekers of all fitness levels.
Prices are approx £145/R1650 inclusive of transfers from Cape Town.
San Bushmen tracking expedition
This is the ultimate experience in al fresco learning for those who enjoy thrills of the more cranial variety. Authentic is a word that is over used, but this adventure is as close to the real thing as it gets without going native. Whether you are looking to pick up the skills to undertake your own adventure in the future or just have a passionate love of nature at its purest.
You’ll be taken deep into the Namibian bush veldt where you will be taught not only the ancient skills of the San Bushmen, but also the basics of desert survival, where water is scarce and humans are hardly the most fearsome mammals. It is a chance to sample a form of life that could be lost in another generation.
A 14-day expedition costs £1950
Forest Canopy Tour
For those who like their adventures scenic rather than physical, this is a superb way to take in the fantastic sights and views that the South African rainforests have to offer without disturbing natural habitats. Suspended high above the forest floor, you gain access to a world that few other mammals would ever see.
Professional guides offer a one-stop shop of knowledge while you can go picture crazy taking in the panoramic views of untouched waterfalls, exotic bird life and lush natural surroundings. Substitute the steel cables for jungle reeds and you could be Tarzan traversing his way high above the forest (sheepskin shorts are optional).
A two and a half tour costs R450/£40 and includes all equipment, guides, transport and refreshments. There are five locations in South Africa.
Ostrich Riding
Horse riding? That’s for amateurs! Ostrich riding is where the real fun lies. Surely this is what the term crazy adventure was made for. It’s a rare occasion when your source of transport tries to take a peck at you!
Oudtshoorn is famous for its large bird population, where they thrive in the arid conditions, soaring majestically across the plain. Sitting on these lovely beasts may not be quite as graceful though, as even the tamer ones will do their utmost to give you a bumpy ride. The truly initiated can even take part in annual Ostrich Derby, which is a sight not be missed, but first timers should probably start with a brief ride across the paddock to avoid embarrassment.
For more information contact the Oudtshoorn tourist board.
Tel: 044-279 2532 e-mail: [email protected]
Rap Jumping
Abseiling can seem fairly boring, as you spend the entire descent staring at the rock face. With Rap Jumping, you descend forwards, giving the feeling that you are defying gravity and climbing down the mountain sideways.
Situated halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg is the stunning Valley of a Thousand Hills. There stands a granite dome known as ‘Old Baldy’ which has an ideal elevation and smooth surface for Rap Jumping. Non-mountaineers can also learn the basics of mountaineering on all-day trips. You can control the speed of your descent, but there will also be a brake person who can help you out if it starts to get hairy.
A series of three jumps down ‘Old Baldy’ costs approx £25/R300 per person.
Safari
Encompassing the lush surroundings of the Savannah River, Forest and Mountain, the Kruger Park is one of Africa’s top three safari destinations.
Take a three-day guided tour in search of the big five of the animal kingdom – lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants and rhinos. It is a rare chance to see many endangered species in their natural habitats and get an expert insight into their routines, habitats and eating habits. You can choose your own option from a self-drive through the panoramic landscapes to a guided tours and the most opulent accommodation the valley has to offer.
A 3-day tour starting and finishing in Johannesburg costs from £473
Diving with crocodiles
This is cage diving, but not as you know it. Sharks? Ha! They’re for wimps. Nile crocodiles are four-metre-long, man-eating predators that can live up to hundreds of years old. Their bite can inflict up to two tonnes of pressure per square inch – that's four times that of a Great White. Rarely do you get the opportunity to see these wonderful amphibians beneath the surface.
This is a truly unique experience, with South Africa currently the only country offering such an opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close in the crystal clear waters. Snorkeling beneath the surface, your adrenalin will start pumping as the five native crocs surround the specially built cage as they eye up their next potential meal.
Prices are approximately £35/R400
Train as a surf instructor
For those staying in South Africa for the long haul, how about coming away from South Africa with more than just the experience and the memories? Ticket to Ride is thought of as the worldwide leader in surfing tuition. Even surfing amateurs can develop the skills to gain a teaching qualification.
In 10 weeks, you will visit eight of the most beautiful beaches between Cape Town and Durban, learning the basics of surf instruction, the ABC’s of lifeguarding and experiencing the superb community programs that brings the activity to the less fortunate. For those want want a bit more power behind the carving, you can also get involved in Ticket To Ride's new kite surfing adventures. This is ideal for the gap year student and those with a little more time on their hands.
The 10-week Surf Instructor course costs £5195. A two-week introduction to kite surfing costs £1295
Hike up Table Mountain
Seen as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, Cape Town’s Table Mountain dwarfs the urban landscape below. Once thought of as the end of the world, the ocean below may seem like an abyss once you reach the top. Forget the cable car though; the views are best enjoyed slowly on an extreme hike.
The Skeleton Gorge route (hopefully due to the shape rather than the fearsomeness!) offers a tough but steady ascent. If you struggle in altitude there’s the lesser of the two steep routes up the Platteklip Gorge Route. This is adventure seeking on the cheap where you control the speed and the difficulty – just remember to carry sufficient hydration with you. It may be a tourist spot, but it’s still a mountain.
Bridge jumping
0-60 miles per hour in less than three seconds – even a Ferrari can’t manage that. These are the speeds you can experience in bridge jumping. This is for anyone who thinks bungee jumping is so old hat or doesn’t like being flung upside down feeling like their brains have gone into their feet. Like Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger you will jump from one bridge with climbing ropes attached to another, creating a massive pendulum swing. More importantly you remain upright at all times. It involves a more fluid motion than the bounce of a bungee rope while maintaining the thrilling edge.
*Prices are approximate figures. Where the figure is quoted in South African Rand and Pound Sterling it is based on a conversion rate of 100 Rand to £8.78 sterling.
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