Wikipedia defines a zip line as “…a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or attaching to the freely moving pulley.” Here are some popular Zip-lining, Canopy Tours in South Africa’s Western Province.
Table of Contents
Description
This is a purely technical description of a sport that’s been gathering momentum in South Africa. Zip-lining is an utterly enjoyable experience, often in beautiful settings where unique views of nature can only be had from a cable suspended midway between two points.
The local Afrikaans name of the activity is “free” sliding. The sport started after scientists who were studying the forests of Costa Rica, were looking for a way to move from one tree to the next without having to climb each one from the ground.
Suggested topic – Top 10 Eco-Friendly Hotels in South Africa
Top 11 Zipline Tours in South Africa
In the Western Cape province of South Africa, a growing number of zip lines are operating.
1. Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour along the Garden Route
Find out the secrets of the spectacular and unique wilderness of the Tsitsikamma Indigenous forest! There are plenty of birds in this forest and you could see some monkeys too! 2 hours of fun in the Outeniqua Yellowwoods give you an entirely new perspective of this wonderful forest and your visit also!
2. Panorama Route Zipline
A 120-meter zipline across Graskop Gorge will make your heart race! For the real adrenaline freaks, there is also the Big Swing, one of the world’s highest cable gorge swings which launches off the top of a waterfall.
Freefall for 70m before the jump rope pulls you into a high-speed arch and they swing from one side of the gorge to the other.
3. Cape Canopy Tour in the Elgin Valley
This is located in the Elgin Valley in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, which has partnered with CapeNature to take you into a previously inaccessible and pristine part of this amazing World Heritage Site. Located only one hour from Cape Town, you can get a complete guided adventure tour. It is available for people between the ages of 5 to 75!
4. Drakensberg Canopy Tour
Experience nature like never before as you slide through the forest canopy and enjoy a unique birds-eye view of the world around you. Set within the magnificent Blue Grotto forest, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour will take your breath away. The forest is home to over 150 species of birds!
5. Magoebaskloof Canopy Tour
The Magoebaskloof Canopy Tour will give you a tour of the inaccessible realm of nature, as you traverse the upper level of indigenous forest and ancient mountain cliffs, overlooking the spectacular Groot Letaba River gorge. The tour includes awe-inspiring slides and platform viewpoints over three giant waterfalls, each tumbling up to 20 metres into the sparkling river below.
6. Magaliesberg Canopy Tour
Go on a journey through the ecology and geology of one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world – estimated to be 2,500 million years old. Located in the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve, the Magaliesberg Canopy Tour is just 1 ½ hours from Joburg and 1 hour from Pretoria.
7. Karkloof Canopy Tour in the Natal Midlands
This tour is created in a spectacular valley of the Karkloof Forest Reserve. This Canopy tour consists of 12 platforms and 10 zip-line slides, the longest of which is 200m! A tour lasts approximately two hours, this is a safe, fun adventure for people between the ages of 6 and 80+
8. Malolotja Canopy Tour in Swaziland
Situated deep within the pristine mountain wilderness of the Malolotja Nature Reserve, the Malolotja Canopy Tour offers some of the most dramatic scenery you will ever encounter with striking rock formations, towering cliff faces and views across the lush forest canopy towards the Malolotja mountain peaks. There are so many games, amazing birdlife and lots of wildflowers in spring This canopy tour consists of eleven elevated forest platforms, ten slides and a 50-metre-long suspension bridge that crosses the Majolomba River
9. SA Forest Adventures Cape Town
The platforms offer visitors the most amazing panoramic views of Cape Town and are situated in the Silvermist Estate in Constantia. From here guests will embark on a hair-raising guided 4 x 4 drive into the mountain high above Constantia with a spectacular view of Cape Town. Cape Town Ziplines borders on the Table Mountain National Park Reserve. You will be surrounded by the natural beauty, fauna and flora while walking and ziplining between the 12 platforms.
See also – Most Beautiful Natural Destinations In South Africa
10. Magical Zip-line Cape Town
This adrenalin-pumping experience is one of the most exciting Cape Town has to offer. We guarantee a wonderful experience with 11 zip lines through the rugged Hottentots Holland mountains. Once at the nature reserve, you’ll be transported 1000m up the mountain via 4×4. You’ll be accompanied by two experienced guides who will be by your side throughout your activity.
11. Zip Line and Wine from Cape Town
Wine fans and thrillseekers—get ready for a day of adventures. Starting with a convenient Cape Town hotel pickup, head off to a nature reserve for a ziplining session with spectacular mountain views. Later, travel seamlessly to a cold climate area of the Cape. Here, you’ll have a special opportunity to try wines with completely different characteristics to wines you might have tried from more touristy warm climate regions.
Zip-lining is highly recommended for the adventurous. Few things compare to that moment when you lift your legs and your body gathers momentum down a cable towards a platform hundreds of meters away. Fear of heights? People suffering from vertigo have reported being “healed” by zip-lining! That’s good value for money – between R200 and R1000!
Final Verdict
Above-listed is some of the most promising and popular zipline and canopy tours in South Africa if you happen to visit this country on your next vacation. You would love to try out these adventures for a lifetime memory.
