Southern Africa is the ideal destination for travellers wanting to satisfy their inner adrenaline junkie. From shark-cage diving to racing ostriches or bungee jumping, we’ve round up Southern Africa’s most popular destinations for adrenaline-packed extreme sports activities.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Operators, including Shearwater Adventures and Livingstone's Adventure and Wild Horizons, offer a broad array of activities, from elephant-back bush tours to aerial sightseeing trips over the Falls via helicopter and bungee jumping.

The mighty Zambezi River also offers a wide variety of extreme sports options. A range of thrilling rafting programmes are available throughout the year. Says Jo Stallmann, Owner of Bundu Adventures: “Rafting on the Zambezi is unique as it offers some of the best rafting on the planet. Nowhere else do you have as many Grade 5 rapids in one day as in the Batoka Gorge of the Zambezi River, just below the Victoria Falls.”

Travellers who want to take it up an extra notch can also try their hand at 'Extreme Fishing' – a combination of white-water rafting and fishing. Says Stallman: “This is a double-dose adrenalin trip. You experience the best rafting on the planet and catch the greatest fighter by weight – the notorious Tiger fish.”

Operators in Victoria Falls are well aware of the destination’s appeal as an extreme sports mecca, and are regularly adding new and original adrenaline activities.  Kayube River Estate recently added a croc-proof pool, a 2.45 sqm plunge pool in the fast-flowing Zambezi River, securely anchored up to 12m off the bank. Spokesperson for Kayube River Estate, Lindy Nauta, says: “It is a huge hit with guests, especially on hot days, adding to the adrenaline mix that the upper Zambezi offers. Splashing in the water attracts curious crocs, including a 5m-long croc named Bismark, so be prepared to be silently observed!”

Garden Route, South Africa

The Garden Route is well known for its spectacular canyoning or kloofing experiences, an adrenaline-filled adventure.

The deep gorges of the Wilderness National Park on the Garden Route are the perfect spot for this adventure. Travellers will wade through fresh mountain pools, clamber over massive boulders and splash through the river.

Chris Leggatt of Eden Adventures says kloofing in the Wilderness National Park will take travellers on an expedition through the indigenous forest and stunning majestic canyons. “They can swim and look up at the towering cliffs rising from the river and, for the more daring, there are a number of jumps from the cliffs into the canyon’s cola-coloured water.”

Travellers can round off their experience with a 45m abseil next to a waterfall, taking the plunge and landing in a boat at the bottom of the waterfall.

The Garden Route is also home to the highest bungee jump in the world – 216m high – at the Bloukrans Bridge, which is operated by Face Adrenalin.

For a truly unique adventure experience, travellers could try riding an ostrich at one of the Ostrich Show Farms in Oudtshoorn or even participate in a true Ostrich Derby.

Cape Town, South Africa

“There is lots of choice when it comes to extreme sports in the Western Cape. Travellers can go diving with Great White sharks in Gansbaai, mountain-biking in the Cedarberg or hiking up Table Mountain,” says Chris Leggatt of Eden Adventures.

Cape Town is very well known for its shark-cage diving. Sharks tend to be very curious, though, and often come close to the cage, to take a good look at the diver. A personal eye-to-eye encounter with a shark is guaranteed to get the adrenaline going.  

Stand up paddle (SUP) surfing or boarding is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. It’s also all the rage in Cape Town and companies such as Extreme Scene in Cape Town, promise travellers to be up and ‘walking on water’ within half an hour.

For travellers who prefer to find their adrenaline fix in the sky, Cape Town offers some of the most amazing paragliding opportunities. Flying or paragliding at Signal Hill is usually smooth and peaceful, what pilots term ‘soaring’. The panoramic view is amazing and travellers will be able to see Robben Island, the Waterfront, Table Mountain and the city from the sky.

Swakopmund, Namibia

One of the best destinations in Southern Africa for extreme sports is undoubtedly Swakopmund in Namibia, according to Christiaan Steyn, Marketing Manager for Drifters Adventours. He says nothing compares with the experience of sky diving over the Namibian desert.

Skydiving clubs in Swakopmund, such as Ground Rush Adventures, offer a professional training service. For travellers who already are experienced skydivers, there is a possibility of arranging scheduled jumps. For novices, a one-day training course is available that will allow them to qualify for a static-line jump on the same day. Jumping with a static line means that when clients jump, they are tied to the aircraft with a special cord that automatically opens their parachute.

Tandem skydiving options are also available. In a tandem jump, participants are strapped to a qualified instructor. They can try to enjoy the breath-taking scenery while they fall towards the ground at about 200kph. After an adrenalin-rushed 30 seconds of freefall, the tandem master will deploy the parachute. A comfortable ride under a fully inflated parachute lowers participants gently down until they touch down safely on the desert floor.

For those who prefer to stay on the ground, the Namibian desert offers adrenaline-filled sandboarding adventures. There are two types of boarding – lie-down and stand-up.

No experience is required for lie-down boarding. Sandboarders lie on their stomach and shoot head first down the dune. These rides can reach speeds of up to 60 kph (37 mph). Stand-up boarding is a bit more challenging, as participants need a sense of balance. It involves riding across or down a dune while standing with both feet strapped to a board. 

Numerous operators provide boarding activities or equipment hire. For those who have no previous experience it is recommended to use a guided activity operator, as boarding, like any other adventure activity, has an element of danger.