Following the immense success of their Africa-first viewing lift, Graskop Gorge Lift Co in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has now launched the Cliff Walk, a groundbreaking adventure that offers a unique and accessible way to experience a stunning landscape.
As a first-of-its-kind in South Africa, the Cliff Walk combines safety and innovation to enable people to access environments normally limited to those with special training and fitness.
With its breathtaking views, immersive experiences and proximity to the Kruger National Park, the Graskop Gorge Lift Co is helping cement the region’s reputation as a premier tourist destination.
Global innovation
The Graskop Cliff Walk has three elements to it – a walkway along the cliff face, two suspension bridges and a zipline.
“The Graskop Gorge Lift Co is unique in that it offers so many activities in one gorge. Where else can you do a cliff walk, dare yourself to do an extreme 70-metre cable swing or zipline across the gorge, cross a 51-metre suspension bridge, ride a viewing lift into the forest below and enjoy an interpretive forest trail – all in one breathtaking gorge?” asks James Sheard, one of the Graskop Gorge Lift Co’s directors.
What participants can expect on the Cliff Walk
Cliff Walk adventurers are connected to a safety line via a harness and begin a slow descent on a short narrow path, before reaching a set of stairs that lead to a walkway about half a metre wide and set above the treetops of the forest below. From there, a series of walkways, stairs and two suspension bridges first follow the contour of the cliff face before crossing to the other side of the gorge.
Thereafter, the walkway continues for a few metres to a bench. Participants can sit in a place normally reserved for birds and take in the spectacular views, before descending a few more steps to a zipline that takes participants back across the gorge to a mid-level viewing deck under a rocky overhang. After enjoying the spectacular rock formations and lush vegetation of this secret world, participants can take the lift to the forest walkway below or travel back to the upper level.
Participants must be over 1.2 metres tall and weigh under 120kg.
Ongoing investment and innovation
It was the same desire to give people access to the natural beauty of Graskop Gorge’s Afromontane forest that drove the initial development of the tourist centre, which opened in December 2017. It boasted a viewing lift that allows people to access the forest, a 600-metre circular walkway in the forest that allows the lush habitat to be explored without negatively affecting the environment, a restaurant, retail outlets and a community craft centre.
Since then, the Big Swing that operated on the other side of the gorge was acquired and revamped; a suspension bridge, a second restaurant, more viewing decks, a double zipline with a launch tower, and an outdoor kiddie play area were built.
In September, the centre celebrated its one-millionth visitor.
