The Great Primate Handshake – Volunteer in Africa, working to conserve monkeys and apes through film and educational content production

To conclude our “weekend off”, day 12 witnessed the transformation of the handshake volunteers from hardworking conservationists, whose eyes are rarely distracted from the glow of a laptop screen, into death-defying adrenaline junkies.

Waking in a comfy hostel BED (a bit of a luxury), the handshake day began with a porridge breakfast at 7.30am. After the usual process of plate washing and flapping dry, we began re-locating our sleeping bags and ourselves back onto Nox. Under a sky of heavy grey cloud, Nox’s engine roared to life and the handshake expedition headed toward the breathtaking Graskop falls in Mpumalanga.

After just fifteen minutes of huddling under blankets or climbing back into sleeping bags, in defence against the cool morning breeze we were fully exposed to whilst sitting on Nox, we had arrived at our destination. Greeted by slightly fewer clouds and exiting the truck to the motivational rhythms of Europe’s The Final Countdown, we approached one of the world’s highest cable gorge swings. Many of us (I will shameless admit that I was involved in such behaviour) clung to each other for reassurance as we peeked over the rickety wooden fence and down into vast depths of the gorge itself.

Putting our faith in the hands of the locals who run The Big Swing, we signed our lives away and, having already paired up to do the gorge swing in tandem, each pair handed over 450 rand. Included within the price was a fly across the gorge on a 131 metre highwire (something of a ‘warm up’ to the gorge swing) and so once we had each been dressed in a harness the adventures really began. One by one we took it in turn to clutch the safety rope and run along the short runway of wooden planks, throwing ourselves into the expansive gorge.

Travelling across the gorge at 80 metres above ground zero provided us with incredible views and a definite buzz… but we were there for the swing. A 68 metre freefall in under 3 seconds.

Two by two, this time, we made our way to the edge (the order decided upon rather spontaneously). Putting our arms around our respective partners, each pair was instructed of which ropes to hold and where to place our feet before shuffling gingerly to the edge. Having ominously placed our feet on the blue outlines, we were told to put our heels over the edge of the wooden platform and – facing away from the gorge – fall backwards into the expanse.

I can only explain the descent as I experienced it, the fear of losing contact with the safety of the wooden platform and the movement of my stomach from its usual residence to somewhere nearer my throat, being unique for my body and perspective. As the rope pulled and the fall became a swing back and forth across the gorge, over a beautiful waterfall and lush forest, my friend and tandem partner, Steph and I screamed in relief and excitement and relished the feeling.

All pairs having survived the event, Cheryl was struck by a burst of confidence and a desire for adrenaline and so decided to do the gorge swing alone. Waiting for her in the depths of the gorge we cheered as she bravely fell away from the platform and began the incredibly fast descent toward us all. Reunited we enjoyed a group hug in the forest before climbing the slippery and uneven wooden ladder back up and out of the gorge to our fretting expedition leaders.

Following that high, the handshake then moved on to a location called God’s Window, also in Mpumalanga, where were privileged to witness one of the most breathtaking views I have ever encountered. Rather than attempting to depict the view in a linguistic manner, a photograph will, surely in this case, speak a thousand words.

Arriving at our new campsite in Tzaneen in the early evening, we pitched our tents and enjoyed a dinner of pumpkin soup before finishing off a wonderful day with the screening of a comedy film, projected onto a wall in our work area.

And finally, a Handshake volunteer has created a message for her Dad below after taking a lesson in Adobe Photoshop…