Lately, I have been seeking out the many thrills that South Africa has to offer! Most recently, I wentngee jumping off the world’s highest commercial bungee jump situated atop the Bloukrans River Bridge that has even made the Guinness Book of World Records. Jumping from it was quite an amazing feat- if I do say so myself!
The bridge is located about 4 hours away from campus, but I went with a group of eager and willing individuals who, like me, were determined to put ourselves to the test. I don’t think that jumping 216 meters into a river really hit me until I was actually falling! Until you feel the resistance of the bungee cord, all you really feel is sheer terror! While dangling from the bridge, I noticed the peaceful scenery I was surrounded by-the Indian ocean to the South, and valley and dense forest to the North. Once I stopped bouncing, I actually found hanging above the river to be very tranquil. It was an amazing experience that can only be likened to a dream and is definitely something that I urge everyone to do.

As part of our Autumn vacation (seasons are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere), a group of us went to the famed Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa. It was an amazing trip, and is definitely something everyone who vists South Africa should see. Although we were there for a short time, we managed to see 4 of the Big 5 on a daytime game drive. Of the Big 5, we saw Rhinos, Elephants, Buffalo, and a Leopard. The 5th that we did not see were Lions.

The Leopard was a rare sighting, since it is nocturnal. We managed to see it in the middle of the day taking a nap on the side of the road, no more than 10 feet away from it! My friend Victoria, who also goes to Wheaton, spotted it on the side of the road, cleverly camoflauged and hiding in the grass. Not only were we able to see most of the Big 5, but we also saw many other animals, such as Hippos, Crocodiles, Tortoises, Giraffes, Kudu, Guinea Fowl, Zebras, Warthogs, Duikers, Impala, Wildebeest, Bats, Baboons, Vervet monkeys, plus many other as well as a variety of birds including Eagles. My numerous pictures surely serve as a testament to
the rich and diverse flora and fauna of South Africa.

The other part of our Autumn Vacation was spent in the wonderful city of Cape Town. I think that part of the allure that drew me to South Africa was what I had heard about Cape Town. It is a diverse city that really lives up to the hype.
I think that as a group, it was a bit of a relief to be in a city, but it really is amazing how different Cape Town is from what I’ve seen of South Africa. It is a really metropolitan city, and I felt that at times I could be in any city in the entire world.
My friends and I stayed at several backpackers around Long Street, which is where most of the nightlife and action is in the city. We spent most of our time just walking around and exploring the different parts of the city and went to several of the tourist attractions, such as the Castle of Good Hope, Stellenbosch (the winelands), Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), and Table Mountain. We enjoyed ourselves at the many restaurants and markets that Cape Town has to offer.
Visiting Robben Island was a very intense excursion. The ferry ride over left many of us feeling quite seasick, but I think that the seals in the harbor, and the whales in the ocean (a rare sighting!) pretty much made up for it. We were taken on a bus and were given a tour of the island. Did you know that Robben Island used to be a Leper Colony? Me neither!
We were given a tour of the prison by a former political prisoner and were even able to see Nelson Mandela’s cell and the mine where he worked. It was great to hear our tour guide speak about his personal experiences, something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I enjoyed Robben Island, but I think my favorite part of the trip was ascending Table Mountain. We tried several times to get to the top, but we were usually held back by the fickle weather, that really can change at any minute. It was the last thing we did in Cape Town, but what a way to end our time in the city! The view from Table Mountain is absolutely breathtaking, and in many ways it was a pinnacle for me because I have never been in such a beautiful country. Even when I step outside my door, I am constantly surrounded by beautiful things, whether I am in Grahamstown or Cape Town.