More than 600 monkey bars. A course that climbs, levels out and drops again. And beneath it all, the Bloukrans River, 216 metres below the bridge.
South African obstacle course racing world champion Thomas van Tonder is preparing for a challenge that would make even a routine dead hang feel considerably more comfortable. On 26 October 2026, he will attempt Red Bull Bridge Bars, crossing a suspended monkey bar course beneath the arch of Bloukrans Bridge in Tsitsikamma.
Billed by organisers as the longest monkey bar course ever built, it will demand strength, endurance and the ability to keep moving when his upper body has every reason to want a break. Even Van Tonder is unsure whether he can finish it. “This is by no means something I know I can do,” he says, “which means it’s the right challenge.”
Why the Shape of the Course Changes Everything
The number of bars is only part of the problem. Rather than following a straight, horizontal route, the course traces the bridge’s arch. Van Tonder will climb the first section, negotiate the flatter crown and descend the far side.
Each stage brings a different demand. The climb calls for pulling strength, the middle tests his endurance and the descent requires control as he works his way down the bars. He could have chosen a more straightforward crossing. Instead, he opted for the route that left a question mark hanging over the entire project. “One version was probably possible,” he says. “The other will push me to my limits, and I don’t know if I can do it.”
Even a World Champion Had Work To Do
Van Tonder began obstacle course racing in 2013 and turned professional within three years. His career has taken him to world championships and earned him multiple national and series titles. In 2020, he also set a Guinness World Record for the fastest 50-metre rope climb during a 90-metre free-hanging ascent between Johannesburg’s Soweto Towers.
Yet preparing for this crossing has exposed a gap in his training. Despite his ability on obstacles, Van Tonder admits he had neglected dedicated upper-body work for years. Months of specialised preparation have proved demanding, with injuries adding another complication.
“It takes far more strength and endurance than I thought,” he says. “I’ve picked up injuries along the way. I still have tendonitis in my elbow and my shoulders are sore. It’s been a reminder of why this sport is hard.” Seeing the bridge in person brought the scale of the task into focus. “The arch looks much bigger in person than on camera,” he says. “It’s like standing at the base of a tall building. I thought, what have we done?”
The Team Making the Attempt Possible
Before Van Tonder can tackle the bars, a team of riggers and safety engineers has to make the crossing possible. Leading that work is Richard Lievaart, head of rigging and safety director from Vertical Safety Systems. One major restriction shaped the build: the installation could not involve drilling into the bridge or leaving permanent alterations.
The safety setup includes two independent systems. One uses a rail strapped to the truss, while a separate line connects directly to Van Tonder without relying on that truss. “If one system ever failed, the other is still there,” Lievaart explains. For Van Tonder, that trust is essential. “Having people I trust enough to build this, and knowing I’ll get home safely, is a big part of why this is possible at all,” he says.
A Challenge His Children Can Learn From
Fatherhood has also shaped what Van Tonder wants to get out of the attempt. Alongside the physical ambition is a desire to show his children what it looks like to commit to something difficult.
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“The people who look up to you learn far more from what you do than from what you say,” he says. “The best way to teach that is to take on something really difficult myself, figure it out and train for it, because the process is where the value is.”
How To Watch Red Bull Bridge Bars
The attempt is scheduled for 26 October 2026 at Bloukrans Bridge in Tsitsikamma, with 27 October reserved as a weather contingency date. The crossing will be livestreamed on YouTube and Red Bull TV. Follow @redbullza for broadcast times and updates, and #RedBullBridgeBars for coverage of the attempt.
