Wild 5 Adventures

Oribi Gorge is as famous for its dramatic scenery as it is for its exhilarating wilderness activities. If you’re in KwaZulu-Natal and you’re not only craving adventure, but all the beautiful scenery that comes with it too, then you need to go to Oribi Gorge. Forget the Big Five; here you can push yourself to the limits with South Africa’s Wild Five. 

Whether you’re an adventurer, bird lover, photographer, nature-lover, a solo traveller or a family trekker, Oribi Gorge, on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, has something for everyone. Wild 5 Adventures offers a range of extreme (and milder) adventures in a setting of phenomenal natural beauty: 

Suspension Bridge.

Starting with my favourite… The 80 meter suspension bridge stretches across the Gorge from a viewing area on the one side to the open rondavel (grass roofed) viewing spot on the other side. The narrow bridge is nerve-wracking walk and the views from there over the dramatic Oribi Gorge are spectacular. If you have a fear of heights – don’t look down but rather focus on what you can see at eye level.

Zipline 

At 4, 5 kilometres long, this is the longest Zip line tour in Africa. The 14 slides start at the top of the Oribi Gorge and winds down to Lake Eland from where you will be transported back. There is an exhilarating section of 680 meters long and 300 meters high above the Gorge. The Zip extreme is a 1 km downhill exciting ride that will reach speeds of up to 160 km per hour. Besides the rush and exhilaration of these rides you can expect to see spectacular views as you go down.

Wild Abseiling 

This is one of the highest commercial abseils in the world at 110 meters. The first 45 m is down the side of the cliff next to Lehr’s waterfall and the last 65 m is free abseiling until you reach the floor of the Gorge. Don’t worry if this is your first time. 80% of the abseilers going down this cliff are first timers. The very knowledgeable and friendly staff will teach you everything you need to know beforehand and will only then allow you to tackle this exciting adventure.

Wild Swing 

This is the highest swing of its kind in the world and jumping 165m, equivalent to 55 storeys, from the top of the Lehr’s waterfall into the belly of the Gorge is truly exhilarating. You are securely strapped into a full-body harness and swing instead of bounce when bungee jumping. The acceleration is from 0 to 120 km in 2.3 seconds. It takes about 10 minutes to be towed back in and allows you plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular views. And for those who prefer to sit and watch as their friends and family take on their bucket lists, there’s a pretty magnificent view to accompany you while you do so.