SCARY EXPERIENCES TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR HALLOWEEN...

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought we’d take the opportunity to talk about some of our favourite spooky, spine-tingling, hair-raising experience days. Experience days are all about getting out of your comfort zone, and trying your (possibly a little shaky) hand at something you’d usually never even consider! Whether it’s facing your fear of heights by abseiling from a mountain, diving with sharks, or shooting zombies, everyone has their own version of ‘scary’ – and who are we to stand in the way of you facing your fears? Read on to find out our scariest experiences… 

Zombie Shooting Experience in Cape Town - R 1030

How would you fare in the zombie apocalypse? If you’re paranoid about an undead uprising, steer your attention away from stockpiling canned goods and focus on the task at hand: killing zombies.

This themed shooting day in Cape Town is a great way to let off some steam, and the perfect practice for when you are eventually faced with a supernatural nemesis and have to take them out! Your experience begins at the shooting range, where you’ll meet your instructor. They’ll show you how to safely hold and use your zombie-obliterating weapon (safety comes first in the apocalypse, after all!) They’ll also demonstrate how to load, aim and fire each gun. You’ll have three guns to test out: an MP5 9mm, a glock pistol, and finally an M4 carbine. Those zombies don’t stand a chance… 

112 Metre Abseil from Table Mountain - R 1195

We have it on fairly good authority (we asked around the office) that when it comes to phobias, heights are a pretty common one. It’s understandable; we humans were really just designed to bumble about on the ground with smart phones in our hands, drinking coffee and getting into arguments on Twitter. We’re not, traditionally, supposed to fly or be suspended from great heights. However here we are, pushing ourselves outside our comfort zones to conquer our fears and ultimately grow as people. Ugh, humans. I’d much rather be a bird – you know where you are with a bird.

This 112 metre abseil from Table Mountain is the ultimate experience for acrophobics (Googled it) looking to face their fears head-on, and achieve something they never thought possible! C’mon, spooky Halloween-ness aside, that sounds pretty good, right?During this breath-taking 1-hour experience, participants will abseil, hike, and absorb breath-taking views of Cape Town. The experience begins with a welcome to the group and safety demonstration – then comes the heart-pounding cable car journey to the location of your abseil. From there, you’ll begin your 112 metre descent down the picturesque Table Mountain. Take a moment to absorb your surroundings, as you’ll have an incredible view at 1067 metres above sea level (acrophobics, don’t think about that part too much…) 

Your professional guides will help you every step of the way as you make your way down the mountainside, and when you’ve completed your abseil, you’ll begin a short hike up the mountain to once again enjoy the views. 

Underground Ghost Tour at Fort Wynard - R 350

Three words: Underground. Ghost. Tour. Could anything be more spine-chilling than venturing into the darkest depths to hunt for spectres? We think not! 

Whether you’re a sceptic or a believer, this guided Fort Wynard underground ghost tour will give you an appropriately Halloween-y fright. Discover the paranormal secrets that lurk underground as your guide leads you underneath a historic fort, built over 200 years ago. There, you’ll explore haunted hidden tunnels and bunkers, while learning about the site’s history. You’ll even discover an abandoned underground museum and former interrogation chamber (c’mon, even if you’re not scared of the dark or freaked out by the idea of ghosts, that is pretty creepy…) 

Your spooky excursion will do more than just convince you of the existence of ghosts (pssh, small potatoes). You’ll also take in beautiful views of Table Bay and Table Mountain from the upper levels – mixing the scary with the scenic, our favourite combination! Once you’re appropriately freaked, stop for a refreshment in the Sergeant’s Den to decompress. You can ask as many questions as you like and gain a whole new perspective on the city’s past. 

Rally Driving Experience in Pretoria - R 3395

This experience errs less on the ‘spooky’ side of scary and more towards the adrenaline-fuelled…
You’ll meet your instructors at South Africa’s one and only authentic rally school. They’ll teach you the fundamentals of rally driving, and how it differs from what you’re used to. Once you’ve covered the general rules of the road, you’ll learn how professional drivers get the best lap times. Next, you’ll head to the track for a walk-through. Once you’re comfortable, you’ll get in the driver’s seat to familiarise yourself with the vehicle and the way it moves on gravel. Then it’s time to put the pedal to the metal, and test what these cars are really made of! If the instructor is happy with your progress, you’ll move onto the ‘special’ stage, to see how you fare in unknown territory. Finally, you’ll finish in the passenger seat for a high speed ride! Your experience comes with a certificate, T-shirt and hamburger. We’ll admit there’s nothing scary about a cool T-shirt that celebrates your achievements or a free lunch, but surely whizzing around the track in a rally car is suitably scary experience… 

Lion's Head or Signal Hill Tandem Paragliding Flight - R 1300

This Lion’s Head / Signal Hill Tandem Paragliding Flight is another terrifying experience for the acrophobics out there, or anyone who feels their feet belong on solid ground.

Why not face your fear this Halloween by giving this sPoOoOoOky experience a try? (Sorry, we’re really squeezing every last drop out of this spurious Halloween theme and we hope you’ll bear with us.)  

In all seriousness, anyone who has a go at this tandem paragliding flight in Cape Town will be glad they did, even if their legs resemble jelly beforehand. Taking off from either Lion’s Head or Signal Hill, you’ll take in a stunning aerial view of the city below. Your instructor will be harnessed to you the entire time, so all you need to do is relax and enjoy the weightless sensation of flight. As you glide through the air, you can admire the scenery below and even capture some of it on camera – just keep a tight hold on it! 

Tandem Skydive with Video and Photo Package - Parys - R 2650

Possibly the very first thing that comes into most peoples’ heads when they think ‘scary experience’ is skydiving!

Take the leap, and enjoy this exhilarating skydive experience in Parys. Whether you want to face your fear of heights or just simply fancy a thrill, this experience is guaranteed to get your heart racing… You’ll meet your skydiving instructors at the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Area, the centre of the world’s largest asteroid crater. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a safety briefing and get fitted with your tandem harness, jump suit and goggles. As you make your ascent, your heart will begin to race as you wonder why you ever agreed to do this! Don’t worry, your (perfectly natural) nerves will be calmed by the professionalism of your assigned tandem master, who will be attached to you for the duration of the dive. Once you’ve reached the necessary height, the two of you will exit the aircraft and begin your utterly exhilarating free fall, reaching speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. Absorb the gorgeous scenery below you as the wind rushes up into your face and you enjoy this indescribable feeling! Once you’re back on solid ground, you’ll receive a certificate and a CD/DVD documenting your experience. (You’ll want to prove that you went through with it, after all…)

Shark Cage Diving Experience in Durban - R 1100

An appropriately terrifying experience for those who are scared of sharks… but a great excuse to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’! After all, what is life for if not getting out of your comfort zone? This shark cage diving experience in Durban is perfect for people who wish to push their own boundaries, or even marine-enthusiasts looking to examine fascinating marine life up close. This experience will allow you to spend 30 minutes with dusky, black tip and spinner sharks from inside a cage. No previous diving experience is necessary, just a good helping of courage and enthusiasm! This experience is perfect for those interested in marine life, as your experienced instructors will take the time to speak to you about conservation, the sharks you’ll be hanging out with, and the equipment you’ll be using for the dive. As you head out to sea, your instructors will point out the sharks swimming around the boat, which can be anything from five to twenty. Next, it’s time to dive in! You’ll be supplied with top of the range, brand new dive gear, and helped into the cage ready for your underwater adventure. As you descend into the shark-filled depths, you won’t believe how magical it feels to observe these creatures going about their underwater business. You’ll get to watch them for a spellbinding 30 minutes before heading back to dry land. 

Snorkelling with Sharks Experience in Durban - R 1300

Yes, another shark experience – the activity so spooky we listed it twice! This shark snorkelling experience differs from the cage diving, as it gives participants the ability to swim with sharks without the restriction of a cage (unless they’d very much prefer that restriction, in which case, go with the cage diving.)

Again, sharks spotted on this experience include spinner, black tip and dusky sharks, so shark-enthusiasts are sure to feel a thrill at the opportunity to spot them off the coast of Park Rynie, right in their natural habitat! This excursion is led by professional divers with years of experience, so you know you’re in safe hands. They’ll provide you with top of the range equipment whilst on the water, as well as filming and photographing your entire experience. There are few better diving experiences in South Africa, purely due to the sheer number of sharks you have the opportunity to see – between five and twenty! These imposing creatures are unafraid of visitors and will swim beside you as you float at the surface – giving you a truly once-in-a-lifetime, up close and personal experience! It’s possible that your friends won’t believe you did this, but luckily you’ll have the video footage to prove them wrong… 

Thanks for reading...

... That concludes our list of scary experience days to get you in the mood for Halloween! We hope you've found something here to push your own boundaries - or perhaps you're purchasing a spooky experience gift for a loved one. Of course, everyone has their own definition of 'scary' and our adrenaline-fuelled activities are covered by rigorous safety procedures to ensure that the only thing the participants need to worry about is having fun - plus feeling the fear and doing it anyway! If you're still looking, we've got hundreds of experiences available, from scary skydives to tranquil spa days. Browse the full range of activity gifts and experience days here. If you have any questions about our experience days, please feel free to comment under this post - we'd love to hear from you!