Karkloof Canopy Tour, KwaZulu-Natal

The Karkloof Canopy tour

© South African Tourism

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When you take the three-hour Karkloof Canopy Tour, located in the Karkloof Forest Reserve in the scenic KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, you’ll swing through tall trees along a series of zip lines – beating your chest and hollering like Tarzan, is optional.

The experience starts with a comprehensive safety briefing from your knowledgeable guides, after which you’ll be suitably 'outfitted' before driving to the top of the Karkloof Valley in a 4x4 vehicle.

Then it’s up to the launch platform from where, strapped into your secure harness, you’ll zip over valleys more than 30m below you. Some sections of the Karkloof Canopy Tour are over 170m long, but you have plenty of time to rest between each section while equipment is readjusted.

On your Karkloof Canopy Tour you’ll visit seven wooden platforms and swing along eight zip slides. You may also know a zip slide as a zip line or flying fox, but whatever you call it the experience is fun, fast and memorable.

You’ll be given thick gloves – your only form of brake during the zip line descent. But don’t worry, there’ll be a qualified guide at the end of each section to ensure that you stop safely on your feet.

Take the opportunity at these stops to listen to the guides talk about the forest ecology, the bird and mammal life, so that on the next stage when you zip past the arresting green and red bird you’ll recognise the elusive Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina).

Bring your own camera for happy snaps, but there is a professional photographer on hand to capture that action shot.

The Karkloof Canopy Tour is a wonderful way to experience nature at her best, so have a swinging time!