Cape Town - When you get an e-mail with the subject line “Throw Bianca Coleman off Table Mountain”, should you be worried?
Not really. This is obviously abseil humour, because no one is literally thrown anywhere. That would just be silly. Going over the edge of Table Mountain in a harness attached to some ropes is actually very safe, even if a sheer drop of more than 100m down a rock face is, maybe, a little bit scary at first.
If you can face your fears, or have none to begin with, this is without a doubt one of the most exhilarating things you’ll ever do in your life, with the added advantage of it taking place on Cape Town’s most famous landmark.
Adventure company Abseil Africa operates daily from 10am till 3pm (weather permitting) from just outside the upper cable station. The abseil is down the Camps Bay side of the mountain, along two flat walls of rock with a ledge between them, like a step. The total height of the abseil is 112m, but your starting point is just over 1 000m above sea level, so the view is breathtaking.
There is a “surprise” halfway down the abseil which the guides only hint at beforehand, so I’ll keep that under my little plastic helmet and say only that it is quite awesome.
First things first: an indemnity form has to be signed, after which a guide straps you securely into a full-body or half-body harness.
One of the questions I heard asked was: “What happens if you tip upside down?” If you follow the instructions to keep your legs at a 45 degree angle to your body, this is highly unlikely.
But if you do manage to overturn you won’t fall out the harness. Plus the guides at the top have you on a safety line which also means they can slow you down if you let go of your rope and go into a freefall. So again, all very safe
For me – and I’ve done it twice, it’s that good – the worst part is stepping off the edge of the mountain to clamber down to the launch pad.
It’s a rock-hugging meander, during which you are attached to a safety rope which is securely anchored. But there’s a lot of world out there, and with a brisk north-westerly wind… well, that’s my personal challenge.
The guides are all very reassuring. You’re given a full briefing, and encouraged to put your trust in the rope system.
Once you’ve allowed that, and do what they tell you, it’s all good. The helmet is to protect your noggin from falling stones, or if you swing on to the rock face, and thick leather gloves prevent rope burn.
The abseil can take anything from three to eight minutes, or longer if you hang around to enjoy the view. Even so, it feels like it’s over way too soon as you lower yourself gently to the ground and into the waiting arms of another guide.
There are usually two abseilers at a time, so you can go down with a friend, or a guide, depending on your confidence.
I was put in the care of Abseil Africa’s Kevin Sheehan, who is quite possibly the sweetest man in the world. Although he advised me several times on the way down to adjust the angle of my legs, he told me afterwards I had done very well.
He also encouraged me all the way back to the top of the mountain, which is a rather strenuous hike. I couldn’t have done it without him.
l The Table Mountain abseil costs R750 (excluding cable car ticket). Anyone who weighs 40kg or more can do it, irrespective of age, and a fair level of fitness is required. For information or to book (walk-ins also welcome depending on demand) call 021 424 4760, or go to abseilafrica.co.za.
Weekend Argus