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Published On: Tue, Nov 12th, 2019

3 best adventure options on a South African vacation

A vacation in South Africa has plenty to offer anyone, but for those with a more adventurous soul, the country really comes up tops.

The following are some true adventures available right now, including diving with the great white sharks, bungee jumping and other exciting activities on the Garden Route and a walking wildlife safari in Kruger National Park.

Shark cage diving by kalanz on Wikimedia Commons

  1. Get up close and personal with a great white shark

South Africans can often be heard to say that shark cage diving is not for sissies, and they are likely correct. There is nothing quite like heading under the water, only to find yourself face-to-face with a massive great white shark and those terrifying teeth. Cue the “Jaws” theme!

A 20-minute boat trip takes you to where the sharks are currently hanging out and staff members spread “chum” in the water to attract the great whites. You get to hang out in the cage, watching the sharks vying for the treats and in the process will learn about the sharks, how to identify the male from the female and other interesting shark facts.

While diving down into the depths with these fearsome sharks might sound scary, recent news from South Africa points out the sharks can suffer their own fears. The story tells of a pod of orca whales, chasing down a great white shark from their territory and it turns out they occasionally kill their prey!

  1. Adventure sports on South Africa’s Garden Route

Running along the Western Cape coastline to the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route is a spectacular journey to follow in its own right, with quaint towns to visit, beautiful beaches and more. However, the Garden Route also offers some of the best adrenalin-rushing adventure sports.

  1. a) Abseiling

Heading to Robberg Nature Reserve close to Plettenberg Bay, daredevils can enjoy an adrenaline rush while jumping from the sheer cliffs on an abseiling adventure. Alternatively, head to the Tsitsikamma National Park and abseil down a beautiful waterfall.

  1. b) Acrobranch

The area surrounding the Garden Route destination of Wilderness offers beautiful forests, mountains and lakes. Take to an Acrobranch obstacle course here to explore and enjoy the views from a different angle via zip lines and monkey bridges through the trees, just like the proverbial Tarzan.

  1. c) World’s highest commercial bungee jump

Enjoy an exciting viewpoint over the Garden Route by experiencing the highest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world. Thought to be the ultimate thrill of the Garden Route, the Bloukrans Bridge stands 200 meters above the Bloukrans River and is conveniently located on the N2 highway on the way to Plettenberg Bay. Jumpers are secured to a full-body harness on what is termed pendulum bungee technology, which ensures the most comfortable jump possible as you head to the depths of the river gorge!

  1. Walking safari in Kruger National Park

There have been stories in the past about wild happenings in Kruger National Park, including one about a pastor who said he had challenged lions to a fight to prove the existence of God and survived. While that story turned out to be a hoax, a walking safari is a true adventure and one of the best ways to experience Africa and its wildlife. 

Not only will you learn more about the wildlife on a walking safari in Kruger National Park – including the iconic Big Five – but your guide will also teach you some of the ancient secrets of the surrounding wilderness. You will learn the old ways to track the wildlife, find out about the local birdlife and vegetation, while your (armed!) game ranger takes you deep into the bush, with the sounds of Africa surrounding you.

This type of safari is not all gung-ho and off we go into the bush, whoever, as Kruger National Park offers plenty of comfortable accommodation along the way, including bathrooms and delicious cuisine.

Have a little adventure of your own in South Africa – get the adrenaline going, while enjoying the fabulous scenery, wildlife and more.

Author: Anne Sewell

 

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