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Cape Town - Lets face it, South Africa usually invokes images of laid-back, safaris where overseas visitors are more accustomed to checking out the wildlife from the safety and comfort of a 4x4 vehicle.
And while the rugged landscape and sprawling reserves are a definite attraction, South Africa is definitely re-imagining itself in a number of different ways, especially as the concept of Urban experiences and adrenalin infused adventures take hold.
If you happen to be one of those thrill-seekers, you'll find plenty to do for your next adrenaline rush. Check some of these out.
Cage Diving
If you want to get up close and personal with some very dangerous aquatic dwellers then cage diving in South Africa is a must.
Gansbaai was recently voted the most responsible tourism outfit in Africa, which means making this your adrenalin adventure base puts you at the pulse of some pretty inspiring projects - and of course the fact that it's referred to as the shark Cage diving capital of the world should not be overlooked either.
Marine Dynamics provide an all encompassing trip out to Shark Alley, off Gansbaai but if you're thinking you just don't have what it takes, then this 100-year-old granny from Cape Town has just put you to shame, after doing the cage dive in celebration of her centenary birthday.
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And while most people are familiar with shark cage diving, this is not the only type of cage diving you can try out in SA.
Take a trip down to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, which is situated in Oudtshoorn if you want to take a dip with some 4m long Nile crocodiles! Great white sharks are known for their powerful bites, but these crocs blow them out of the water with bite pressure that can exceed two tons per square inch.
The croc cage diving takes place in a special pool which is inhabited by five Nile crocodiles and you are provided with goggles as well as a snorkel. Because of the ferocious biting power of these crocs the cage has been specially designed to withstand their jaws should they decide that you look like a tasty morsel.
Anyone familiar with shark cage diving will know that the sharks are not always particularly interested in checking out the cage, but these crocs are a different matter altogether. They are usually very eager to see what is being lowered into their domain which makes for a very tense experience. You have been warned.
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Helicopter Rides
The best way to see South Africa's amazing cities is undoubtedly from the sky, which means helicopter rides are highly recommended. Although you can opt for the usual sedate private helicopter tours these won’t exactly get the adrenaline flowing. Instead, go for something like the Huey combat flying trips in Cape Town where you are whisked around in a Bell UH1 Huey Helicopter.
It is one of the most famous and widely used military helicopters to date and this series saw a lot of action in Vietnam in particular.
When going for a trip on the Huey you are given a taste of what it would be like to fly through combat zones thanks to some low flying over the beaches. The helicopter also maneuvers through the Blouberg Hills and the simulated combat mission is sure to leave you clinging to your seat. It is quite an authentic experience as the helicopter used actually performed two tours in Vietnam.
Zip Lines
For something a little closer to the ground, but no less thrilling, try out some of the zip lines dotted around the country.
Ceres Zipslide Adventures offers a range of slides from 328 feet to 951 feet in length.
The tour will take you through the Schurweberg Mountains, which you will find about an hour-and-a-half drive away from Cape Town. Since the Town of Ceres is often called the “Eden of The Cape” it is certainly worth the trip.
A new zip line, or foofy-slide, recently opened to the public on the quaint, family-owned Silver Mist Estate in Constantia Nek, Cape Town. Adventure seekers can now glide over the scenic valleys of the beautiful Constantia Nek area on Table Mountain, which also forms part of the Table Mountain Reserve.
However if you want to experience the Zipslide that started it all, you will have to make the journey down to Sun City for the Zip 2000. While no longer the holder of the the longest or highest zip line title, this 2.4km ride has average speeds of 120km per hour and can even reach speeds of up to 160km per hour.
Other zip lines worth checking out are Ballito Zip line Tour, Citrusdal SA Forest Adventure and Lake Eland Zip Line.
Abseiling
With the Atlantic ocean below you and stunning views of Lions Head, Camps Bay and Robben Island around you, it is hard to beat the 112m abseil of Table Mountain. It is one of the largest commercial abseils in the world and a must for adrenaline junkies. Since the overall experience only takes about an hour to complete it still leaves plenty of time in the day to experience the other thrills available in the mother city.
A bit further inland in Gauteng you’ll find the Orlando Towers, which is one of the most distinctive Soweto landmarks. These two cooling towers are pained in brightly colored murals and it offers plenty of extreme sports, including abseiling.
Of course, there are also plenty of skyscrapers in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg that offers abseiling or rapp jumping.
WATCH: Incredible footage as SA duo jump off building in Pretoria
Bungee Jumping / Swing
Want to experience one of the world’s highest bungy bridges? Head to the Garden Route.
You’ll find the Bloukrans Bridge at 216m high worth the trip since it is located in one of South Africa's most naturally beautiful areas.
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Meanwhile in Durban you will find “Big Rush” which is recognized as one of the tallest swings in the world. Situated at the Moses Mabhida Stadium the swing allows you to experience a 196 foot free fall where you accelerate to a speed of more than 74 miles per hour.
We'd love to know where your favourite adventure spot is. Tell us in the comments section below or email us at info@traveller24.com or post them on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts - you could be featured on News24.
