Video: The Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race

One of the toughest mountain bike races in the world has been taking place this week in South Africa, where the annual Absa Cape Epic has been unfolding. This 8-day stage race pits teams of two riders against one another on some of the most challenging terrain that the Western Cape has to offer.

Just how difficult is this event? It is so tough that the Union Cycliste Internationale has rated is as "hors categorie" – or beyond category – a status that is held by such other cycling events as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. In other words, it ranks right up there with the three cycling classics.

But don't just take my word for it. Check out the two-minute video below from Stage 4 of the race. It'll give you a true sense of just how challenging the Cape Epic can be. This stage was more than 111 km (69 miles) in length, and feature over 2000 meters (6561 ft) of climbing. That's a tough day in the saddle, but imagine doing that for over a week. My legs are tired just thinking about it.


Absa Cape Epic 2015 - Stage 4 - The Race from world of freesports on Vimeo.

Video: 100-Year Old Grandma Goes Skydiving

Who says that just because you get a few birthdays under you belt you need to stop pursuing a life of adventure? Take Georgina Harwood for example. This South African grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday this past weekend by going skydiving, something she first did when she turned 92. And if jumping out of a perfectly good airplane isn't wild enough for you, next she intends to go diving with great white sharks near Cape Town. She's a good inspiration to us all, and we should all be so luck to reach 100 and still enjoy these pursuits.

Video: Mountain Biking Cape Town, South Africa

As if you needed further proof that Cape Town, South Africa is an adventure destination of epic proportions, this video gives us another brief glimpse of some of the outdoor activities that are available near the city. It was put together by the team at Bike Life, who specialize in highlighting the great mountain biking opportunities that can be had in South Africa, and it provides viewers with a tantalizing look at some of the amazing trails that are available near Cape Town.

Video: Bouldering in Swaziland

South Africa is an amazing country for climbers, and over the past decade or so has become well known for its bouldering too. Apparently that reputation extends into nearby Swaziland as well, as this video takes us there to show us its amazing potential. The video was shot in the summer of 2014, when climbers Nalle Hukkataival and Jimmy Webb went to Swaziland to explore its climbing options for themselves. What they found was very impressive indeed.

Video: Free Soloing Table Mountain in South Africa with Matt Bush

This video takes us to South Africa to follow free soloist Matt Bush as he climbs some of the iconic rock faces of Table Mountain in Cape Town. EpicTV calls Matt the "Alex Honnold of South Africa," and it's hard to argue with that moniker. Over the past few years, Matt has been free-soloing some of the toughest routes in his home country, and he is now working on a film project to document the amazing climbing opportunities that exist there.

This video will on reaffirm South Africa's reputation for being one of the best destinations for adventure on the entire planet.

Video: Wildlife Photographer Goes To Great Lengths To Get The Perfect Shot

Wildlife photographer Aaron Gekoski is use to spending days in the wild to try to capture unforgettable images of some of the world's most amazing wildlife. But what does he have to do to capture the annual sardine migration off the coast of South Africa? Just plunge into shark-infested waters to shoot an iconic image that will be good enough to make the cover of a magazine. Unfortunately, that proves much more difficult that he imagined, and we get an inside look at what these photographers must go through to get the photos they need.

This video kicks off an interesting new series called Fish 'n Tings at EpicTV and it promises to be a fascinating one to follow. The highlight of this clip is an impressive encounter with a massive whale.

Video: Running the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k Race

A few weeks back the inaugural Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100 km race took place in South Africa, drawing top endurance runners from across the planet. The event challenged those athletes to not only cover that daunting distance, but deal with more than 4400 meters (14,435 ft) of elevation gain along the way. The stunning South African landscapes made for a dramatic backdrop, to this grueling race, which looks to be a fantastic new event.

The video below is a ten-minute short film that gives viewers a glimpse of what the Ultra-Trail Cape Town is all about. It is a great piece of work that not only shows off the event, but also some of the fantastic adventure opportunities that South Africa has to offer. Registration for this year's event opens on January 27.

Video: Reconsider South Africa

South Africa is one of my favorite places that I've ever visited. It has just about everything a traveler could ask for, including very metropolitan cities that offer plenty of great places to eat, a jumping nightlife, and an amazing cultural and art scene. But of course, the country has a wild side too, with great hiking, surfing, scuba diving, and safari destinations that are unmatched. The fantastic video below shares just some of those experiences with us, giving viewers a glimpse of what the country has to offer. You'll have to watch all the way to the end to get the full payoff from the clip, but lets just say it'll give you a new perspective on everything that South Africa has to offer.

And when you're done watching the video, head over to the Discover South Africa website to learn more about the country, and the amazing experiences that can be had there. For instance, did you know that the Eastern Cape is a pristine part of the world that remains largely untouched by man? It is the perfect destination to go in search of the legendary "Big 5" – which consists of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. The wildlife there is some of the most spectacular on the planet, and it is a place that will, without a doubt, leave a lasting impression on all who visit.

If you're considering going to South Africa in the near future, now is a great time to go. As winter arrives here in the Northern Hemisphere, in the southern part of the world summer is in full bloom.

Video: Rock Climbing and Bouldering in South Africa

Earlier this year, rock climber Angy Eiter traveled to South Africa with some friends to check out the rock climbing and bouldering scene. This video shares some of their exploits there, while giving us some nice highlights of the South African landscapes. Make yourself comfortable, and enjoy watching these climbers test their skills on some challenging problems.

South Africa Climbs - Moving Pictures from K3-Climbing.at on Vimeo.

Video: Sean Disney & Vaughan de La Harpe Talk Mountaineering Adventures at FEAT Jo'burg

A few weeks back, the annual FEAT event took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. FEAT stands for Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks, and it is features a number of very interesting men and women who have just seven minutes to share a tale from their adventures. In the video below, climbing partners Sean Disney and Vaughan de la Harpe take to the FEAT stage to introduce some of the interesting people that they have met on their expeditions to climb the Seven Summits, most notably Everest. Their seven-minute presentation is particularly humorous, as they introduce us to a number of unique individuals that they have encountered along the way. There are definitely more than a few laughs to be had over the course of their talk.