Treetops Canopy Tours, South Africa
Canopy tours originated in the lush rainforests of Costa Rica where adventurous biologists, desperate to study the diversity of animal life that habituates the upper canopy level of forests, devised a system of cables and platforms that would allow them to explore this previously inaccessible ecosystem. It wasn’t long before this developed into a breathtaking eco-tourism activity that not only allowed people to enter and experience the upper realm of a rainforest, but raised awareness to the plight and beauty of the world’s endangered indigenous forests.
Construction of the Canopy Tours has been done in accordance with strict civil engineering standards. Each system was designed and constructed by the Tree Top Tours engineer, beginning with a canopy tour in the cloud forests of Costa Rica. This led to the search for South Africa’s largest trees and in 2001 the opening of the internationally acclaimed Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour on the Garden Route. This was followed by the opening of the Karkloof Canopy Tour in 2003 and recently the Magaliesberg Canopy Tour just outside Johannesburg/Pretoria in December 2004.
Environmental impact studies were undertaken to ensure that the canopy tours would not be harming the surrounding forest ecology in any way. Strict environmental management plans have been adhered to and the construction of South Africa’s Canopy Tours have been carried out with the approval of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Safety is paramount and the Canopy Tours use standard climbing and safety equipment. It’s safe, it’s fun and under the watchful eye of our professional guides all that’s left for you to do is enjoy the ride!
For more information please visit - www.canopytour.co.za
