Garden Route Offers Ultimate Adventure Tourism
The Western Cape Coastline is a Haven for Thrill Seekers
Nov 23, 2008
Not only is there ample bird and whale watching for a more relaxed holiday, but tourists can have a go at: Blackwater tubing; bungee jumping; scuba diving; elephant encounters; abseiling a waterfall and skydiving. A condensed area of activities, accommodation and entertainment hugs this pristine coastline.
Blackwater Tubing at Storms River
A good place to start is Storms River, a few hours drive form the Port Elizabeth airport in the Eastern Cape. The Storms River Adventure Village is an assortment of backpackers and over night accommodation each offering a taste of adventure. The Tube ‘n Axe Backpackers Lodge offers Blackwater tubing. Their available kit includes wetsuits, helmets and tube. This is the ultimate kloofing experience with a bit of boulder hopping and gliding down the frequent rapids.
Get That Free Fall Feeling
With the taste for adventure all warmed up, it's time to head to the Bloukrans bridge for the highest bungee jump in the world. At 216m, it doesn’t get scarier than this. This single span arch bridge is above the Bloukrans River. Experienced and trained professionals give a few last instructions as they strap up the harness. Then it’s 3...2...1...BUNGEE! The bridge is open for bungee jumping daily between 9am and 5pm.
A Different Kind of Going Down
Next stop is Plettenberg Bay for a bit of scuba diving along this beautiful coastline. Excellent diving facilities and service are available at the Beacon Isle Hotel. Short boat trips from the beach cover all of the scenic dive sites. Plettenberg Bay was named "Baia Formosa" (Beautiful Bay) by the early Portuguese explorers. Sandy white beaches and clear water make this a beach-lovers paradise and a playground for all people.
Close Encounters with Elephants
After Plettenberg Bay, a stop over in Knysna is a good idea before heading to Wilderness for the next adventure activity. Knsyna is ideal for regrouping and recharging. Chilled is one of the most apt adjectives to describe this seaside town. Knysna is central to rivers, beaches and mountains. Its deep forests were once home to many of the Knysna elephants.
Now, only three are believed to be living in the forests. The Knysna Elephant Park aims to create awareness about these gentle giants through an interactive experience. Whether it’s an elephant back ride or a feeding time with them; the heart rate is sure to increase.
Cruising Alongside a Waterfall
At the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains lies the pretty seaside town of Wilderness. Abseil down the Kaaimans Gorge with two 45 metre descents next to a magnificent waterfall. This makes for an exhilarating experience. Eden Adventures not only offers this abseiling experience, but they will also have a canoe waiting on the natural rock pool below.
Get Ready to Jump
The final stop on this adventure packed holiday is Mossel Bay which maintains that ‘saving the best for last’ theory. There’s nothing quite like going up by one means of transport and coming back down with, well, no transport at all. Sky diving Mossel Bay is the cherry on top of the perfect end to an extreme holiday.
Tandem skydive offers excellent deals and packages as well as training. Their experience and expertise ensures a safe trip both up, and back down. They even offer a DVD of the jump so the experience can be relived, over and over again.
For an area that is so serene and beautiful, the Garden Route is the only place for thrill-seeking connoisseur.
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