Recommended venues for abseiling

Abseiling at Kurisa Moya (Houtbosdorp)

In association with Adventure Lifestyles, Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge offers soft adventure sports on the farm including Abseiling.

Try the perfect beginner's abseiling experience at Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge by abseiling on Kurisa Moya's Snellkop Mountain. The views are quite spectacular when you are abseiling on Snellkop Mountain. 

Address: Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, Houtbosdorp (near Mageobaskloof), Limpopo.

Abseiling in the Kaaimans Gorge (Wilderness)

The serene Kaaimans Gorge holds one of the most beautiful abseil sights you will find. You have a chance to do two 45m abseils right next to a magnificent waterfall. The first abseil is an easy one to get you used to the idea of trusting the ropes and the second one is slightly more technical, however just as exhilarating.

What also makes this sight special is that you land in a canoe at the bottom. You need not have abseiled before, however it is not for the faint-hearted! It is also important to remember not to wear slippery shoes.

Address: Eden Adventures, Wilderness National Park, Garden Route.

Abseiling Table Mountain (Cape Town)

A thrilling experience of adrenaline and achievement: a 112 metre controlled descent off Cape Town's magnificent Table Mountain. Step off the top, at 1000 metres above sea level, and rappel into pure vertical space.

This is the world's highest commercial abseil. You are surrounded by awesome views and the deep blue Atlantic Ocean at your feet.

Address: We start and end at the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town.

Acknowledgement: SA Venues

Abseiling in South Africa

If you’re not afraid of heights and you have a craving for the extreme, then abseiling in South Africa is just for you. Abseiling was initially a means for hardcore mountain climbers to descend vertical cliffs but has now developed into a globally popular activity for thrill seekers. Abseiling involves using specialized ropes, harnesses and other safety equipment, to make a controlled descent down a jagged cliff face. For beginners and first timers, this descent is usually very slow, very nerve-wracking and always aided by a professional.

Abseiling in South Africa has only quite recently matured into a mainstream sport. It’s rapidly grown in popularity with its claim to having the highest commercial abseil of 112m. This legendary descent can be found on the cliffs of Table Mountain in Cape Town. For a reasonable fee, you can book the services of a professional abseiling company who'll guide you through the in's and out's of abseiling and then help you to face you fears as you repel off the cliff and drop 112m back down to terra firma.

Abseiling’s attraction lies not only with the rush of descending an otherwise impassable cliff, but also in the opportunity to experience the view and magnificence of the landscapes around you. The unique vantage points that abseiling in South Africa provides you with, will allow you to enjoy uninterrupted views of incredible mountain rock faces, valley and gorges. Whilst your first abseiling experience will probably not include much sightseeing on the way down, once you’re accustomed to it, the views and experiences that you’ll enjoy are unparalleled.

A four hour drive along the Garden Route will bring you to the spectacular sea side town of Knysna which is home to a number of options for the abseiling enthusiast. Whilst Knysna boasts of being one of the most scenic areas in South Africa, the view will more than likely be the last thing on your mind as you brave the cliff faces and make your steady descent to the ground below. Abseiling in Knysna provides the opportunity to make a breathtaking descent on a totally exposed cliff with the waves crashing into the rocks below - an experience for only the very brave, or the slightly crazy abseiling enthusiast.

An hour’s drive past Knysna will bring you to Storms River Gorge, an area that is jam-packed with exciting adventure sports. There are adventure combination packages available that will allow you to have an adrenaline filled day involving an amazing 100m abseil into a stunning valley, a tube ride down the river and finally an invigorating cycle to the Storms River village.

Other abseiling combination packages can be found inland near the Hartbeespoort Dam. Those who’re keen to try abseiling, but who don’t feel quite up to the challenge of a 100m drop, can test their limits at the abseiling spots around Crocodile River. A combination abseiling package includes a 40m abseil into a magnificent mountain gorge, followed by an exciting river-rafting trip through Grade 1 and Grade 2 rapids.

Once you’ve tried it a few times and the 112m abseil on Table Mountain isn’t so hair-raising anymore, then abseiling’s big brother, 'rapp jumping' awaits you. Rapp jumping is quite similar to abseiling in that you’re descending frightful drops in a matter of minutes, but it offers something more. With abseiling, the harness is attached to your front, so you descend the mountain backwards. With rapp jumping however, the harness is attached to your back. Your descent is made going forwards and is a lot faster than abseiling. In the concrete jungles of Durban and Johannesburg cities, rapp jumpers can be seen sprinting down the sides of office blocks in what seems like a surrealistic defiance of gravity.

So if you’re keen to get your adrenaline pumping, to experience views that few others will see and push the limits of excitement, then abseiling in South Africa is not to be missed.

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Pony Trekking in South Africa

South Africa is a sanctuary of picturesque scenery, abundant wildlife, lush forests, diverse cultures and a refreshing climate. These merits make South Africa a pony trekking adventure destination not to be missed. Go pony trekking and experience magnificent scenery whilst breathing in the fresh and invigorating air. There are numerous places throughout South African terrains that offer pony trekking.

Pony trekking in Lesotho is extremely popular as there are no roads to the mountain villages. Lesotho boasts valleys over 1000 feet above sea level. You will experience exquisite scenery and magical terrains boasting waterfalls, lush forests and mystical mountains. Go on 3-5 day expedition which starts at the Bushman’s Neck at 1 500m and takes you up to the spectacular Sehlabathebe Wilderness Area of Lesotho at a height of 2 500m. Quite noticeable is the locals’ love for song and dance. Their sounds echo across the mountains and is sure to touch your heart. Be prepared for breath-taking and unforgettable South African pony trekking adventures.

Drifters Adventure Tours offers spectacular pony trekking trails from 4 hours to 4 days in Malealea and Basotho. Here you have the opportunity to enjoy a fun South African pony trekking adventure with friends and family whilst experiencing magnificent scenery. Enjoy the crackling fire whilst sipping on a hot cup of hot chocolate and sharing your day’s adventures with loved ones.

The Madikwe Game Reserve offers pony trekking through the misty mountains. A South African pony trek is the best way to explore this beautiful country. This area is surrounded by endless mountains and picturesque scenery. You might find yourself just sitting and staring for hours on end at the beauty laid out before you. An experienced guide will take you across these valleys and mountains and show you all the local points of interest.

The Drakensberg is renowned for is magical scenery and magnificent mountain ranges. What better way to experience and explore all the treasures this area has to offer than to go pony trekking. Drakensberg Adventures is based at Sani Lodge Backpackers and offers tours up the Sani Pass into Lesotho. Any of the fine Drakensberg Accommodation will be able to put you in touch with the expert companies that offer guided pony treks in the Drakensberg.

The Laingsburg area of the Great Karoo is the ideal stop for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to experience magnificent views. There are many trails within a short drive from town. The Anysberg Nature Reserve offers a two-day pony trail into the mystical mountains.

South Africa boasts magnificent terrains with picturesque scenery. Go pony trekking in South Africa and experience all the treasures this beautiful country has to offer.

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Ostrich Ride in South Africa

How many people can say they've ridden an ostrich? If you visit Oudtshoorn in the Karoo, South Africa, and if you dare, you could try to sit on an ostrich, ride the ostrich and perhaps even take part in an "Ostrich Derby" (not for the faint hearted)!

Oudtshoorn is famous for its huge ostrich population, which thrive in the semi-desert conditions. Ostriches are the tallest living birds on the planet. The Ostrich is a large, flightless bird - the largest living bird on earth. When fully grown it weighs over 120kg pounds. Ostrich have long necks, small heads, large eyes, long, powerful legs, and two toes on each foot. Ostriches have great vision and because of their strong legs can run at 70 km per hour.

Acknowledgement:

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Ostriches are inquisitive birds that will peck anyone or anything. You will certainly feel the peck but it doesn't hurt. But, be cautioned, beware of their claws! They kick forward, not backward, and their claws are sharp enough to inflict wounds. Especially the males who become aggressive as they get older. (The males are black with white plumes while the females are brown).

To ride an Ostrich, visit one of the Ostrich Show Farms in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Here you can observe large flocks of Ostriches at different stages of development.

There are petting areas where you can cuddle the chicks or feed an ostrich by hand, watch how feather dusters and boas are made.

The race is on!!

Professional multilingual guides take you on a conducted tour where you will learn about the birds surrounded by thousands of ostriches. Visit the Restaurant where you can try an Ostrich Steak or the Ostrich egg (which feeds 20 people), can be tasted together with Ostrich Paté and Biltong. You can also visit the shop on site and purchase exclusive leather handbags and feather boas and a variety of decorated and plain Ostrich eggshells, Ostrich paté's and biltong (traditional dried meat) and other delicatessen are available at these shops.

And then if you feel really brave you can try to sit on an ostrich or you can actually try to ride an ostrich (at your own risk!).

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Scuba Diving at Thonga Beach Lodge

Mabibi lies adjacent to Africa’s southern-most coral reefs making it the only tropical dive site in South Africa. In global terms, Mabibi offers some of the best diving in the world, but it has gone largely unnoticed because of its remoteness. Even in South Africa it has remained secluded and so divers are guaranteed an exciting underwater experience.

More than 1,200 species of fish are found on the reefs off Mabibi, including Moorish idols, parrot fish, blue surgeons and marble and manta rays. The warm Indian Ocean waters also attract huge schools of bottlenose dolphin as well as sharks, whale sharks and turtles. Thonga Beach Lodge, which is part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, falls within a protected marine reserve. Because of its protected status, the reefs boast shoals of fish that don’t panic when divers approach and are ideal subjects for photographers. The reefs offer a diversity of underwater seascapes including amazing flora, branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Conditions are good throughout the year and on a brilliant day visibility can reach up to 40m. The weather is typically subtropical so the water temperature is usually above 20C and in summer can reach 29C. Thonga Beach Lodge has the exclusive right to launch a boat from its private beach - a mere 75m from the lodge.

Address: Thonga Beach Lodge, Mabibi / Lake Sibaya, Elephant Coast, KwaZulu Natal.

Scuba Diving in South Africa

Scuba Diving in South Africa - There is nothing quite like the absolute beauty of scuba diving in South Africa. The sea life and intricate reefs you’ll observe when scuba diving in South Africa will leave you reeling in disbelief. South Africa is an ideal location for some spectacular scuba diving as it has an extensive coastline with widely varied conditions and water temperatures.

The Mozambiquan current that flows down the eastern side of South Africa brings a warm current down this coastline and therefore makes the waters ideal to spot great white sharks, whales, whale sharks, dolphins, turtles, manta and eagle rays, and naturally beautiful coral reefs too.

There are so many places to enjoy scuba diving in South Africa. There are dive schools in almost every city in South Africa providing all the efficient training and equipment you need. Cape Town’s water is extremely cold but do not let that deter you. Cape Town oceans contain the most beautiful kelp forests. There are three main types of kelp known to man and this part of the Western Cape coast is the only place in the world that they all grow together. Diving in kelp is like walking in a forest. You float beneath the canopy and admire the astonishingly colourful reef life.

Just off Cape Town, divers regularly see anemones in colours ranging from electric blue or deep red to pale pink, as well as nudibranchs of all sorts of radiant colours and a whole assortment of small creatures in and around the bright orange and sulphur yellow sponges.

Near Johannesburg and in Mpumalanga there are inland dive resorts where students have the opportunity to do dive training in an abandoned quarry. There are also a wide variety of scuba diving resorts in South Africa like Rocktail Bay and Sodwana Bay.

Dive South Africa offers numerous scuba diving adventures and safaris. The safaris are run from the dive lodge and offer comfortable and great quality accommodation and scrumptious food. You will have fantastic opportunities to see the wrecks and caves of South Africa and go diving with sharks. Dive South Africa even offers tailor-made safari’s to suit your time and budget. Adventure Diving Safari’s offer awesome scuba diving safari’s and holidays to South Africa and Mozambique. Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu Natal operate a dive camp and offer numerous dive packages, equipment hire, as well as various PADI dive courses. Dive the Big Five offer tour packages and safaris that put forward all kinds of diving around South Africa, from reef to wreck, shark and cage diving.

No matter where you choose to scuba dive in South Africa, we guarantee an unforgettable time. An underwater camera is a definite so you can capture the astonishingly beautiful marine life in South African waters.

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Take a Train Trip with Friends of the Rail (Pretoria)

Friends of the Rail offers fun vintage steam train outings for the entire family. Friends of The Rail brings the old SA railway history and technology alive in a living museum that is located in a real working railway environment. Ride our train: we promise an absorbing educational and entertaining experience.

We provide a variety of destination choices. Our regular vintage steam train trips run in and around Pretoria-Tshwane as well as to Rayton, Cullinan and Bela Bela. An ideal outing for families, birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate functions and more. Friends of The Rail itself is a non-profit heritage club that comprises a group of willing members who voluntarily tackle jobs, both large and small, to preserve and keep our heritage steam trains running for the education and enjoyment of future generations. We are also always welcome new members.

Address: Friends of the Rail Depot, Just off Van der Hoff Road, Hermanstadt North Pretoria.

Telephone: +27 (0)12 548-4090 or +27 (0)82 293-4616

Source: SA Venues.com