The vividly-painted cooling towers of the decommissioned Orlando Power Station are striking landmarks rising up from the dusty ground of Soweto. While most people admire the towers for their bright paint jobs, thrill-seeker Bob Woods saw an opportunity to turn them into adrenaline-pumping playgrounds. After eight years of hard work, the towers were transformed into what is today one of the world’s must-visit extreme adventure destinations.
Now owned and managed by another thrill-seeker, Nico Myburg, Orlando Towers satisfies the cravings of the most hardened adventure junkie, offering a 100 metre bungee jump, basejumping, abseiling, climbing, a big swing and paintball.
It also boasts the highest SCAD jump in the world – a no strings attached bungee jump which sees you free falling 50 metres inside the western cooling tower before landing softly on a specially-designed net at the bottom.
A suspension bridge runs between the towers, and it is from here that bungee jumpers take their thrilling 100 metre plunge. As if the jump weren’t nutty enough, you can make it even crazier by wearing a straitjacket and squid goggles, the latter of which you can keep once the challenge is complete.
No less exhilarating, the swing sees participants jumping off the top of one tower feet first, free falling for a few seconds before being catapulted towards the other tower. On arrangement, experienced base jumpers can ply their skills at Orlando too.
Those less inclined towards hurling themselves off high buildings can take the lift up to the top of the towers just to admire the views and say ‘I’ve been there’.
One of the best ways to get down from the top is to abseil along the towers’ vivid outside walls, while the truly intrepid tackle the giddying heights head on by rapjumping, abseiling face down. On the ground, the urban nooks and crannies of the Western Tower create the perfect habitat for paintballers.
The climbing wall is 25 metres high, with a variety of angles to test a climber’s skills. It will soon be extended to 100 metres, which will make it far and away the highest climbing wall in the world.
*This story was written by a TWNA journalist, Dale Hes for The Traveller magazine.