The setting is impressive, with the Bloukrans River churning far below. The bungee jump is run by Face Adrenaline (00 27 42 281 1458; ) and costs R580 (£49).Victoria Falls offers the continent's second-highest bungee jump, a 111-metre dive from the bridge linking Zambia to Zimbabwe, with views over the winding Zambezi River below. Access is from the Zambia side (passports are necessary to get across the bridge), and jumps are organised by Shearwater Adventures, costing US$85 (£47).. Aqua Africa (00 265 135 2284; ) offers a range of Padi (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses.BUNGEE JUMPINGAt 216m, the Bloukrans River Bridge bungee, on South Africa's Garden Route, claims to be the highest commercial bungee in the world. The cichlid fish are a highlight; over 400 species have evolved here and many boast spectacular colours.
The disease bilharzia is common in the lake, although circulating water reduces the risks of infection. Nkhata Bay, a sleepy town on the east shore, is regarded as bilharzia-free. PADI schools are located in lodges: Benguerra Lodge (00 27 11 452 0641; ), for example, offers a full range of courses and daily dives around Benguerra and other islands.The tropical depths of Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, offer unique diving thanks to its endemic fresh water marine life. Made up of five islands, the archipelago is fringed with reefs, offering calm conditions and a wealth of marine life, including five types of turtle and four dolphin species. Diversity Scuba (00 258 232 9002; ) offers open water and advanced courses. Away from the mainland, the best diving is undoubtedly found around the tropical islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected marine reserve.
February to September is the high season for shark viewing, when operators trundle around Dyer Island (home to a seal colony) and divers take it in turns to watch the 3m- to 6m-long sharks from behind the bars of an underwater cage. White Shark Diving (00 27 283 841 380; ) supports research into sharks and offers five-hour long trips for R1,000 (£84).In Mozambique, the coastline around Tofu offers a wide range of reef dives, as well as encounters with whale sharks and manta rays from April to July. Treks can range from one-hour to week-long trips, with overnight stops in local villages and mountain lodges. Don't expect mad gallops across open spaces - most trails follow steep and rocky mountain passes, where the sure-footed ponies pick out the best route. Malealea (00 27 825 524 215; ), a lodge in the western mountains, organises a range of pony treks led by Basotho guides; prices start at R100 (£8.50) per day.SCUBA DIVINGThe ultimate adrenaline dive - cage diving with great white sharks - is available around Gansbaai in South Africa.
