Go Flying: Take a plunge and get a high

16 September 2015 - 02:07 By Rea Khoabane

High above northern Johannesburg with a view over Montecasino, Play at Height in Fourways calls for fearless adrenaline junkies to come and play. Across the road from the Pineslopes Shopping Centre, Play at Height offers partying in the sky with a good dose of adventure thrown in with bungee jumping, abseiling and wall climbing.The bungee jump is 50m up. The rest of the activities are closer to the ground.I started my adventure by climbing the wall. It was strenuous and required a lot of thinking about where to put my foot next.After starting with the lower levels I committed to conquering my fear of heights by bungee jumping. I climbed tentatively into the lift cage that would take me up to the Skybar, where less extreme personalities can enjoy a drink while watching their friends take the leap.I know it sounds like a cup of tea, but I was terrified and walked back from the edge twice.If it weren't for Sizwe, the bungee instructor, I'd probably tell a different story. He asked me why I was alive if I wasn't prepared to take risks and try out new experiences and pointed out that it would be cheating to write about the experience if I hadn't jumped myself.I could feel the wind blowing through my curled-up toes as I stood on the edge of the precipice . That's when I knew I was at the point of no return. And then I let go ...I flew off the edge with my eyes closed and felt nothing but fresh air rushing up against my face until the rebound jerked me back up into the air.I swung a few times, feeling weightlessness. And then I opened my eyes. I was upside down, facing the ground.That's when fear set in. Moving slowly towards the ground I cried tears of terror mixed with joy at the realisation that I was still alive.Back in my car I sang one of Kanye West's hit songs - Can't Tell Me Nothing - and the lyrics really resonated."I had a dream I can buy my way to heaven, when I awoke, I spent that on a necklace. I told God I'd be back in a second; man it's so hard not to act reckless."As I sang the words it finally hit me that I had done it. I had conquered one of my greatest fears.Play at Height was established by the same people who run the Orlando Towers bungee in Soweto.Owner Nico Myburt said the idea of building a bungee jump in Fourways was to bring adventure to the people of the north."The spot has become popular for bachelor parties."The bachelor takes the big leap and then celebrates with his friends," he said.Myburt reckons more than 600 people have jumped since Play at Height opened four months ago.The Skybar can host up to 60 people and serves a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, but no food.Entrance to the Skybar is R180, which comes with two drinks.Bungee-jumping costs R420 and wall-climbing is R50.Play at Height is open from Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 9pm, playatheight.co.za, 072-534-7911..

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