Ultimate Adventure Guide eBook_Monica

Ultimate Adventure Guide
Take the plunge
Compiled by
Chrysalis Nature College

River Rafting, Canoeing, Kayaking
‘‘The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten.’’
-Sigurd F. Olson
Grab a canoe and a friend!
Some essential basic skills:
Before trying anything in a canoe, make sure you know how to get out of it!
You will of course need to know how to steer!
Then learn how to brace by using your paddle to prevent you from falling over.
More advanced skills include the Eskimo roll that is best practiced in a swimming pool before venturing into a river…..

Rapid jargon:
When we talk about rapids, we refer to them in grades, from one to six.
Grade one is water moving with no obstacles
Grade two is a little bit bigger with some rocks and trees which is easily avoided.
Grade one and two are suitable for inexperienced rafters.
Grade three with a higher drop, more volume and some more tricky turns and
obstacles,
Grade four rapids need to be accurately read as it has a much greater drop, big
water and much more difficult turns and obstacles.
Grade five gets much more technical as there is a very small margin for error.
Grade six rapids are for extreme thrill-seeking daredevils only!
Will I need any special equipment?
NO -
your tour operator and guide will supply it all:
The canoe or raft
Paddles- of course!
All safety equipment

Take a Hike:
Getting Started:
• The best thing about hiking is that you do
not need any special skills!
• Start off by hiking once a week at your
local park before attempting a multi day hike
but if you are fittish you shouldn’t have a
problem. Learn to hydrate properly. Find a
friend or club to hike with your first couple of
times but if you stick to the designated hiking
trail you are unlikely to get lost.
• Novice hikers usually make the mistake of
packing too much, but learn more about the
10 most essential items to pack and how to
use them https://sectionhiker.com/dayhikers-ten-essentials-guide/

Tips on how to fit a backpack in 7 seven steps:
1. Put weight in your backpack
2. Loosen all your belts and straps before putting your
backpack on
3. Hoist your backpack on your back
4. Fasten the Hip belt first
5. Tighten the shoulder straps by pulling down on both
ends of the straps. The straps should be wrapped
snugly around your shoulder.
6. Tighten the short straps on top of your shoulder straps
(Your shoulders should not be carrying any weight at
this point. If you feel your backpack pull on your
shoulders, your hip belt isn’t tight enough!)
1. The last step is to fasten the sternum strap- this strap
will give provide extra balance on trail.
It is very important to carry a well- fitted backpack, so you
don’t get shoulder and back pains.

Kloofing:
What is Kloofing?
Canyoning as called in most of the other
parts in the world, is called Kloofing in South-
Africa.
Kloofing is an extreme sport or some calling
it an art in which they follow a mountain
stream down its course by floating, jumping
and swimming. This would entails following a
watercourse through the mountains;
scrambling or abseiling down small cliffs and
waterfalls, and, sometimes, compulsory
swims through deep pools.
Kloofing in South Africa is a sizzling favorite
and very popular amongst thrill seekers.
This adventure activity is mostly for those
junkies who wants to jump off the highest
cliff into icy water.
Abseiling is also part of Kloofing which we
will cover a bit later in the book.
Getting Started:
Always take a friend with! Kloofing can be very dangerous and even more
dangerous if you do not know the area. With Kloofing you do not need any
special skills, even if you cannot swim you can always use a lifejacket.
All you need for Kloofing is some stamina and nerve!
‘’While they’re still in the mountains, rivers
are young and exuberant. They hop, they
skip, they jump. They leap over cliffs, sending
spray skyward. They sulk in deep defiles like
moody teenagers. They’re not forthcoming,
not easily approached, ridden and harnessed,
like they are on the plains. But they’re worth
getting to know. It’s a wild ride.’’
-Jennifer Stern

Some rules when go Kloofing:
1. Never dive into a pool
2. Stay with your group, it is
very slippery and if you
are spread out no one will
know if you’ve fallen
3. Be careful where you step,
rocks can be slippery or
move as you step on it.
4. Sunblock is very
important. Most Kloofing
adventures also happens
in the summer months
5. Remember to stay
hydrated
6. Leave a set of dry clothes
in your car, for when
returning home.
Equipment and Clothing:
Kloofing is basically hiking with some adventurous
obstacles. So, you will need shoes you can walk in for
several kilometers, water and food. You will be getting
extremely wet, and once you get wet, it means everything
you have on and with you will also get wet and heavy!
The best advice I can give you is to not hike in hiking boots
as you will not be able to kloof in them, we suggest
amphibious nylon and rubber shoes or shoes that is
designed for these kinds of activity and can get wet. Cotton
clothes also take too long to dry and plus it creates friction,
your best bet will be a thin wetsuit, but if the weather
doesn’t permit then board shorts and a synthetic T-shirt.
After your hike in and you enter the water stream you have
to accept that everything you have can or possibly will get
soaked and thrown over waterfalls. We do not recommend
any electronic equipment. Reception is not really likely so it
is probably better not to bring your cellphone along.
Cameras are also a risk unless they are waterproof and
impact resistant, such as a GoPro.
Everything in your bag must be waterproofed. A hat,
sunscreen, water, snacks and a small first aid kit is essential.

Biking:
Mountain biking are one amazing activity as
it can be very family orientated, as it
combines excitement and fun, while still
being safe enough for even the relatively
young.
There are a number of different ways to
enjoy cycling, you could do a gentle ride
through your local park enjoying some
wildlife, join a mountain biking day with a
cycling club, go on a multi-day trip with all
your worldly goods or even do some serious
off-road mountain biking. We are very
fortunate here in South- Africa as here is a lot
of different cycling routes from routes on
private landowners’ land to various
conservation authorities holding these
events and other local publicity associations
and forestry companies.
The good news is that although there is so
many commercial trips, this is something that
you can quite easily do with a bunch of
friends.
Mountain Bike Tips for beginners:
1. Just go with the flow, it is your bike's job to roll over technical terrain.
2. Maintain Momentum.
3. Shift Your Weight, when you are climbing a heel- move forward.
4. Go Easy on the Brakes.
5. Use All the Gears.
6. Set Your Suspension.
7. Look Where You Want to Go.
When in doubt, Pedal it out.

Getting Started:
Biking is very simple to get
started, if you can ride a bike
then you can do a short trip of
even a multi- day tour. When
you do start thinking of doing
more serious tracks, and you
have no experience, then it will
be good to join a club and go
for some skills clinics.
‘’LIFE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE.
TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE, YOU
MUST KEEP MOVING.’’
-Albert Einstein
The perfect marriage between
technology and conservation –
a bicycle is that magic machine
which efficiently converts
human energy into movement,
into freedom. From the first
time you ventured to the
bottom of the driveway with
training wheels, pedaled to
school on your own, gave in to
gravity and hurtled down a
forest- shaded single- track, or
packed up your panniers and
headed for the horizon – your
bike has been your ticket for
freedom.’’
-Jennifer Stern

Abseiling:
Did you know?
‘’Abseiling was initially a means for hardcore
mountain climbers to descend vertical cliffs but has
now developed into a globally popular activity for
thrill seekers.’’
-SA Venues
Want to overcome your fear of heights?
‣ Prepare yourself for the fact that you will be in a situation where
you will be stepping out in mid- air.
‣ Take it slow.
‣ Visualize success.
‣ Breathe.
‣ Take it easy on yourself.
‣ ABSEIL!!!
Abseiling is an activity of which you are descending a rock face or
other near-vertical surface by using a doubled rope coiled round the
body and fixed at a higher point.
Abseiling usually gets done in areas with beautiful, nature sceneries.
Abseiling in South Africa has only quite recently become one of the
popular Adventure seeking sports.
It is very popular in South- Africa as to having one of the highest
commercial abseil of 112m. This legendary descent can be found at
Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Abseiling attractions is not only about the height but the ability to see
the view from a complete other level.
The most important piece of equipment you need for Abseiling is
Rope!

‘’Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.’’
-J.K. Rowling