If you have ever struggled to complete a standard set of monkey bars at your local playground or gym, spare a thought for South African obstacle course athlete Thomas van Tonder. The 34-year-old Red Bull-sponsored thrill-seeker has just completed a challenge that defies conventional limits, executing a feat of upper-body endurance that truly needs to be seen to be believed: scaling Africa’s highest bridge entirely by hand.
The remarkable undertaking saw van Tonder tackle a staggering 600 monkey bars fixed securely beneath the towering arch of the Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa. In doing so, he successfully conquered the longest set of monkey bars ever built. However, simply crossing a massive distance suspended in mid-air was only part of the equation. Because van Tonder was forced to follow the natural upward and downward curve of the bridge’s massive steel arch, he had to contend with continuous changes in elevation and descent while his muscles flooded with lactic acid, testing his physical and mental resilience to absolute exhaustion.
At its highest peak, the Bloukrans Bridge towers a dizzying 216 meters—approximately 709 feet—above the ground level below. Van Tonder navigated a total distance of 280 meters along the suspended bars. On October 26, 2026, the elite athlete officially completed his perilous journey across the gorge, clocking a final time of 47 minutes and 37 seconds.
Taking on the highest, longest, and most intense set of monkey bars ever constructed was an ordeal that pushed van Tonder into moments of profound self-doubt. Despite his extensive background as a premier obstacle course racing specialist, the sheer duration and physical cost of the suspension began to weigh heavily on him mid-way through the challenge. Reflecting on the grueling ordeal after safely returning to solid ground, van Tonder admitted that certainty of success was a luxury he did not have for most of the climb. From the middle segment all the way through to the final stretch, he genuinely questioned whether he possessed enough physical reserves to actually make it to the other side.
To complete the unprecedented distance, van Tonder had to incorporate strategic breaks into his ascent, pausing to rest his legs directly on the bars to relieve his overburdened forearms and grip. Yet, even these tactical pauses introduced a fresh set of hazards and complications. Maneuvering his lower body up to rest on the overhead apparatus while hanging hundreds of feet in the air required immense core strength and precision. There were numerous critical points during the climb where he found himself teetering on the edge of failure, struggling simply to lift his legs into position, meaning success was never a given.
By the time he finally reached the finish line, van Tonder was completely spent. The immense friction and prolonged pressure left him suffering from severe skin loss and blistering on his hands, a stark physical reminder of the brutal demands of the challenge. Yet, making history has never been an easy path. Upon completing the descent and taking stock of the physical toll, van Tonder concluded that it was undoubtedly one of the hardest things he has ever done in his athletic career.
The feat offers a completely new perspective on a piece of equipment as ordinary as playground monkey bars, transforming a childhood staple into an instrument of extreme endurance athletics. The entire jaw-dropping journey was documented and broadcast, allowing fans and fitness enthusiasts worldwide to witness the historic climb unfold in real time. For those looking to follow Thomas van Tonder and his future extreme obstacle course endeavors, updates and athletic content remain accessible through his official social media channels, including his Instagram profile.
