Cape Town - Many South Africans may remember “foefie-slides” from their youth.
The foefie-slide has evolved (in both name and offering) into what is now known as zip-lining, and with zip-lining currently being one of the most popular family friendly activities available, it was an easy decision to rebuild the zip-lining platforms at the Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort after a recent veld fire destroyed all seven of those at the resort.
The first three of the platforms are up and running once again – and are better than ever – with the remaining four expected to be finalised by August. The completed route will take visitors zipping over a dam, tree-tops and down the kloof into the valley – with each zip-line getting longer and more adrenaline-pumping.
To quote Wikipedia, a zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable, mounted on a slope. It is designed to enable the user to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable through gravity.
At Piekenierskloof guests are equipped with a safety harness and helmet and are secured to the twin steel cables at two points – making this a very safe zip-line offering that is available to guests from the age of eight upwards. In fact, according to Natasha van Zyl, the Activities Manager at the resort – the oldest person to try their hand at the zip-lining at Piekenierskloof was 85 years old!
In addition to the zip-lining, which costs R150 per person for three platforms and R250 for all seven, the Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort also offers day visitors target shooting, a health and beauty Spa, a mountain biking route through the picturesque setting, Carmien tea and Darling Brew beer tasting, and the top-class Kloof Restaurant.
For those staying at the resort there is also mini-golf, both an outdoor pool and an indoor heated pool, a games room for the smaller children and a play area with trampolines, jungle gym and a giant chess set.
The Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort is nestled in the mountains at the top of the Piekenierskloof Pass near Citrusdal on the N7 and is part of the West Coast Way Berg Route, a new self-drive sightseeing and tourism route which encompasses some of the most beautiful and interesting outlying towns and locations on the Cape West Coast and surrounding inland areas.
The West Coast Way Berg Route starts in Velddrif and follows a course through Laaiplek, Port Owen, Dwarskersbos, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Elands Bay, Aurora, Redelinghuys and Verlorenvlei, the Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort, Citrusdal, Eendekuil, Porterville, Piketberg, Wittewater and Goedverwacht – covering an area that stretches from the Berg River to the start of the Cederberg Mountains.
For zip-line bookings in the pre-scheduled time slots (and with at least a day’s notice to ensure availability) contact Natasha on 022 9213574. Guests must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to complete an indemnity form at Reception and bookings are weather permitting.
Adapted from a press release for IOL
* For more information on Piekenierskloof and the West Coast Way Berg Route, as well as the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.