Ama Zing–Zing Skywalk Trail

The Mini vs Maxi Adventure across the Eastern Cape took Team Mini to Areena Riverside Resort on Day 2 for a quad bike game drive.  When owner Ed Rathbone asked the question "How much time do you have?" we knew though that he had more in mind for us than just quad biking.  We were kitted out in harnesses before our quad ride and on arrival on top of the hill overlooking Areena Valley we were informed that we will be doing Areena's new Ama Zing-Zing zipline experience.

The zipline experience that officially opened a week after our visit, consists of of 10 ziplines up, down and across a couple of valleys with the longest being 153m and the highest 70m.  Once you go on the first zipline you suddenly realise why its called Ama Zing-Zing.  The mechanism go "ziiiiiiinnnnnggggg" as you fly down the cable towards your destination.

Its not easy describing the feeling of ziplining, specially when you, like myself, afraid of heights .  You are slightly nervous when you get clipped onto the first cable.  Your heart starts beating faster and you really only hear the essentials of what the guide tells you before putting your weight onto the cable.  Deep breath... push off... and ... absolute freedom as you glide across the valley.  Once you have done the first one the fear and nervousness are gone and you can't wait to get onto the next slide.  Absolute awesomeness.

Ed showing off a little, but this photo really describes the freedom you experience while ziplining best.

Smack on the lips

On my quad biking experience at Areena Riverside Resort during the Mini vs Maxi experience I met Abby.  Not being very tall myself, I've never really been into tall girls.  Not that I disapprove of their long legs and lanky bodies, just that I always preferred somebody about my length. 

When we encountered Abby she seemed to take a liking in me and immediately came closer.   Ed, Areena's owner, suggested that I blow in her nose and, thinking that its a way to deter her, I did so.  Deter her, it did not. She nuzzled me and planted a kiss smack on my lips.

With her big eyes and sexy eye lashes, who can resist this face?  Her nose is a bit big though, but I'm not judging. 

Quad bike point of view

Quad biking at Areena Riverside Resort.  Not the easiest photo to take I tell you. 

Not while moving anyway.

Quad bike game drive at Areena Resort

One of the activities I looked forward to the most on the Mini vs Maxi adventure was to go on a quad bike game drive at Areena Riverside Resort  outside East London.  Other than going round and round on a little mosquito driven quad bike at the church fate with my son or daughter in front of me, I've never been on a proper quad bike before this.

Areena has three quad bike options with a short 20 minute ride, an one hour rise to the top of the ridge, which we did, or a longer two hour ride taking in the whole property.  After kitting up we went through a quick operational and safety briefing before we went off into the reserve.

The ride itself is not a race and the guide, which in our case was owner Ed Rathbone, leads the way with a steady yet comfortable pace.  The trails aren't too difficult and seeing that I was still learning the quad biking ropes I took it easy up and down the steeper sections.

The game viewing itself ranged from spotting zebra and a couple of antelope species...

... to seeing giraffe.  But to be honost, for me it was more about the quad biking experience than seeing the game.  The problem with this kind of thing is that once you have done it you want to know when you can do it again. Adventure, doesn't matter if its soft, mild or extreme adventures, is addictive.