Midlands Meander Diaries: Karkloof Canopy Tours In Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

They call this an eco-experience. But a Karkloof Canopy Tour on the Midlands Meander in KwaZulu Natal is more than that. This is adventure. This is adrenalin. This is like your first time on a red or a black ski slope. Youre thinking, This is too fast. This is too dangerous. Im gonna die.

So whats the skinny? Using state of the art climbing and safety equipment, they suspend you on a pulley attached to a steel cable 30 metres above the Karkloof indigenous forest floor. And then its Goodnight Vienna.

What and where is the Karkloof Forest? The Karkloof Forest is in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. It is pristine. And when you see the size of the trees, youll know. Theyre old. It is also home to the Karkloof Blue butterfly, which inhabits a few hundred square metres of the forest. And its found nowhere else in the world.

And Karkloof Canopy Tours? Well theyre the psychopaths that make a living out of jumping your adrenalin level to the point where its practically squirting out your ears.

Sure its a big rush. But dont think these guys arent serious about safety. The kit is state of the art. The whole things been designed with the strictest civil engineering standards in mind. You begin with a safety briefing. Your harness and gear are checked and double-checked by the lead guide. And then youre off!

Off means youve managed to screw up your courage, closed your eyes, muttered a prayer, and leapt off the first of seven platforms high up in the trees. Catch your breath, calm your heart rate. Youve got eight slides, the longest of which is 170 metres long as you whiz and zigzag, down the pristine indigenous Karkloof forest valley.

By the way, did I mention that they call this an eco-experience? You did notice the 20-metre waterfall you zoomed over, the river you screamed your way across, the beauty of the forest, the extremely rare bird-life, the Samago monkeys? You did notice these things, didn't you?

No?

Then you'd better go back and do it again tomorrow!

Karkloof Canopy Tours is a member of the Midlands Meander Association which regulates and markets the Midlands Meander the largest arts and crafts ramble in South Africa. Its not only arts and crafts, as youve probably gathered. Its jam-packed with a variety of accommodation establishments and things to see and do. The symbol of Midlands Meander in KwaZulu Natal is the Karkloof Blue butterfly. Bear it in mind, the next time youre travelling to South Africa.

Brian Kemp owns and runs http://www.hallscountryhouse.com a http://www.hallscountryhouse.com/Midlands-Meander.html establishment in the http://www.hallscountryhouse.com/drakensberg.htmlBalraj Blog86080
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