Ever since the first time you snuck your mum?s umbrella from the hat rack in the hall and tried to jump off the garage roof, you?ve been fascinated by that vertiginous pull of the edge ? that need to throw caution to the wind ? and jump!Well... Go on... Jump!

High Wire Adrenalin, Vic Falls, Zimbabwe
If you thought Zambezi Swing?s playground on the Zambian side of the Batoka Gorge was scary just wait until you see the new kid on the block just below Vic Falls at rapid number Four. Adrift?s High Wire Adrenalin products are licenced to thrill. Email them at adrift@africaonline.co.zw.

The Gorge Swing offers "total sensory overload", with a 70m free-fall into a 95m long swing over the Zambezi. On the Flying Fox, fly across a 200m wide gorge suspended from a static wire. Take it easy and abseil or 'rapp' jump 120m down a sheer rock face over the Zambezi, or simply slide down one of the longest foefie slides in the world.

Rossing Flying Fox, Nambia
If you?re up for the big one, try Dare Devil Adventures? (daredadv@iafrica.com.na) ''Flying Fox'', the world's longest (1100 m) and highest (200 m) cable slide. A 4x4 takes you to the top of Rossing mountain where you can enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding plains as you psyche yourself up. Once clipped in, gravity does the rest.

The Fan jump, Gauteng
I haven?t done this one ? and I must admit that I?m not totally sure how it works ? but Living on the Edge (083 344 1924) is a reputable company so I am risking including it without inspection.

Kitted out in a full body harness, you climb onto a platform 55m above the ground. Static cables are attached, and you leap after the usual countdown. Then a mechanical fan attached to the bridge acts as a hydraulic brake to your fall ? stopping you between one and three metres from the ground. Sound like madness? Apparently this is what paratroopers have been doing for years!

Canopy Tours


This article is published courtesy of the 2003 Out There Adventure Guide
Following on the success of the Tsitsikamma Tree Top Canopy Tour, South Africa now has a second such tour, the three-hour Karkloof Canopy Tour in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Sliding from platform to platform, 35m above the forest floor, on a series of foefie slides is exhilarating stuff, but this is as much about appreciating the birdlife and the magnificent forest as it is an adrenalin rush.

Seal Adventures of Knysna is in the process of developing a canopy tour through coastal forest, which will be called the Flight of the Loerie. You?ll fly above the forests at Featherbed, amongst the foliage of giant Milkwood trees, and across inlets of the Knysna Lagoon. It's due to open in the second half of 2004.

Lesotho Abseil
Semonkong Lodge has branched out and added a list of new adventures to their usual programme. Check out their massive new 200m abseil off the Maletsunyane waterfall.

Robberg Abseil, Western Cape
The view and sound of the crashing waves will inspire you as you abseil 47m off magnificent cliffs on the Robberg Peninsula. A highlight of this trip is the opportunity to check out the small, but fascinating field museum in Nelson?s cave on the short walk back to the top. Book through Heads Adventure Centre (044 384 831).

Bungee Trampoline, Bassonia, Gauteng
It?s a bit of a mouthful, but Liquidblue?s Water Touch Bungee Jump is the first in Africa. The company?s bungee trampolines have been around a while, usually on show at big events or tourist hubs, but this permanent site will also have a climbing, abseiling and rapp jumping wall as well as other adventure activities in the area.

Usutu Xtreme
Why spend a whole day on one adventure sport when you can do three in a row? Swazi Trails (tours@swazitrails.co.sz) are offering a new adventure excursion, called Usutu Xtreme, which offers adventurers a taste of three different extreme sports, packed into one day. The adventure begins with a morning of tubing the rapids of Swaziland?s largest river, the Great Usutu, followed by an abseil down a 15m cliff beside the Holomi Falls ? not for the faint of heart. And finally, for those who like quick thrills, a 10m cliff jump close to the Falls.

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