Thomas van Tonder Completes World-First Crossing Beneath Bloukrans Bridge

Last Updated:October 28, 2026, 12:11 IST

Thomas van Tonder completed a world-first crossing beneath Bloukrans Bridge, traversing 600 suspended monkey bars over 280 metres in 47 minutes and 37 sec.

News18

South African obstacle course racing world champion Thomas van Tonder has completed a world-first crossing beneath the arch of Bloukrans Bridge, traversing 600 suspended monkey bars over more than 280 metres in 47 minutes and 37 seconds.

He completed the challenge, known as Red Bull Bridge Bars, beneath the 216-metre-high bridge linking the Western Cape and Eastern Cape along the N2 highway.

The purpose-built course followed the bridge’s arch, beginning with a 45-degree ascent before reaching a short, level section near the crown and descending towards the opposite side.

It’s claimed to be the longest monkey-bar course ever built.

Van Tonder began the crossing at 10:21, facing the steepest section first. The sustained incline forced him to pull himself upwards while facing away from his direction of travel, placing prolonged strain on the same muscle groups.

“It over-delivered,” Van Tonder said. “We simulated and trained as much as we could, but nothing can really compare to just the continuous beating that that incline puts on the same muscle group.”

By the time he reached the flatter section, fatigue had begun to affect his grip and rhythm. He broke the remaining distance into smaller targets, communicating his progress to Richard Lievaart, the project’s head of rigging and safety director.

The descent presented a different challenge, with gravity increasing his speed between bars. Van Tonder had to control his momentum while maintaining his grip as fatigue intensified and the protective tape around his fingers began to wear through.

The crossing required a specialised rigging system designed to avoid permanent alterations to the bridge. Lievaart and his team at Vertical Safety Systems constructed the course using two independent safety points, without drilling into or bolting equipment onto the structure.

Bloukrans Bridge is also known for hosting Africa’s highest bridge bungee jump and one of the highest commercially operated bridge jumps in the world.

Van Tonder completed all 600 bars to reach the opposite side, finishing the crossing in 47 minutes and 37 seconds.

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What is the Red Bull Bridge Bars challenge completed by Thomas van Tonder?

The Red Bull Bridge Bars challenge is a world-first obstacle course featuring 600 suspended monkey bars spanning over 280 metres beneath the arch of the Bloukrans Bridge, which Thomas van Tonder completed in 47 minutes and 37 seconds.

How was the specialized rigging system built for the Bloukrans Bridge crossing?

Richard Lievaart and his team at Vertical Safety Systems constructed the course using a specialised rigging system with two independent safety points, ensuring no permanent alterations, drilling, or bolting were done to the bridge structure.

What challenges did Thomas van Tonder face during the monkey bar crossing?

He faced a steep 45-degree initial ascent that put prolonged strain on his muscles, followed by fatigue affecting his grip on the level section, and gravity accelerating his speed during the descent while his finger tape wore through.

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