The Bridge Swing

Swing, Rock and Roll off the famous Victoria Falls Bridge. Take a leap of faith before freefalling for up to 70 metres before you fly out over the rapids of the Zambezi River in a huge arc.

You'll be briefed and harnessed as if you were doing a bungee jump except that you're harnessed on your waist and chest (not your ankles).  The swing uses a 65m static line with a short bungee cord to provide a smoother ride.  A washing line system is used for recovery. Minimum age is 14 years, minimum weight is 40kg.  $120 per swing.

The Bridge Slide

This is a "mildly adventurous" slide (zipline) that runs from a point on the Zambian bank of the gorge and ends on the Zimbabwean side of the bridge.  You're harnessed and attached to the slide for the traverse across the gorge.  You arrive slowly on Zimbabwean side where the recovery operator attaches himself to you and together you're retrieved to the safety of the catwalk. Go solo or in tandem with a friend.  Minimum age is 6 years, $35 per slide.

The Bridge Cafe

Offers a selection of light meals and refreshments (including ice cold beers).  You'll have good upstream views of the falls during high water and the Batoka Gorge downstream. 

Bridge Visitor Centre

Entry is free and includes access to some of the historical records from 1904.

Designed by Sir Ralph Freeman, the same engineer who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Victoria Falls Bridge is an engineering feat linking Zimbabwe and Zambia. The bridge was the brainchild of Sir Cecil John Rhodes.  He never visited Victoria Falls and died before construction of the Bridge began. 

Located just below the Falls, and completed in just 14 months, the Bridge made way for modern-day transportation and commerce to reach central Africa. Constructed from steel, the arch spans 156.50 metres, with a height of 128 metres above the valley floor.  

The bridge has also been described as "an ornament rather than a desecration of the scene", and according to the American Society of Civil Engineering, "embodies the best abilities of the engineer to enhance the beauty of nature rather than detract from it".

The Bridge Tour

The Bridge Tour is a wonderful experience for all ages and contains aspects of theatre, history and adventure. It includes a theatrical and entertaining presentation on the history of the Bridge and the men who built it.  Guests over 10 years of age who don't have a fear of heights will have a rare opportunity to walk along the catwalks used during the 1904 construction.  The Bridge Tour $50, with lunch $65.

Background

Victoria Falls Bungee started operating in 1994.  In 2005 the Bridge Swing and Bridge Slide were added to the scope of operations and the "Big Air" trio of activities was created.  The company also operates the Bridge Café, Bridge Tour, Bungee Shop and a visitor centre.

The company has been responsible for over 150000 clients completing successful and safe jumps.  They employ over 30 specially trained experienced crew members to attend to client needs.  Many in the team have over 17 years of safe bungee jump operating experience.

Safety is top priority.  Daily load-testing of the bungee cords is conducted and cords are subject to inspection every 75 jumps.  The operation is subjected to regular independent safety audits and licensed within both Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

Notwithstanding an incident in 2011 during which an Australian tourist's bungee cord snapped, the operation maintains an impeccable safety record.  The media at the time did get some facts wrong when they announced how the tourist had fallen into the "icy and crocodile-infested waters of theZambezi".  Despite the comfortable 24 degree waters crocs don't hang about in that turbulence and nobody plans to have clients test this! 

Some Facts about Victoria Falls bungee jumping

• The jump platform is located near the centre of the Victoria Falls bridge spanning the gorge that separates Zimbabwe from Zimbabwe.  This is like no-man's land with border posts on either side.
• Passports are required to access the bridge.  A gate pass is issued without the passport being stamped thus granting no entitlement to enter the other country.
• The bridge is 111 metres high.  Jumpers drop approximately 70m and reach a velocity of about 120km/hr.
• Minimum age is 14 years.
• Minimum weight is 40 kg, maximum weight is 140kg
• All bungee jumps are done solo
• Jumps take place daily all year round unless interrupted by heavy rain (possible November to April)
• Jumps operate from 09h00-17h00, starting at 10h00 March to June (when early morning spray is most intense).
• Separate ankle and body harnesses are attached to jumpers.
• Jumpers are recovered via a winch system to the catwalk directly beneath the jump platform.
• Photographs and videos of jumps are available for purchase. 

Rates

• Bunjee Jump: $120 
• Bridge Swing: $120 
• Bridge Slide: $35
• Rates apply to the activity only.  Transfers and purchases are excluded.

Restrictions

• Minimum age and weight: 6 years for Slide
• 14 years or 40kg in weight for Bungee & Swing
• Maximum weight: 130 kg for Bungee & Swing, 200kg for Slide
• Health Restrictions: Pregnancy; high blood pressure; heart conditions; neurological disorders; epilepsy; vertigo; previous back, shoulder or knee injuries

The Procedure

Advance booking is required and clients should arrange to be at either the Zimbabwean or Zambian border post an hour in advance of the jump slot.  Clearing Customs and Immigration is a simple formality.  No visa is required and you won't be charged for passing through the post. 

You, together with any spectators must present passports and advise the immigration official that you're visiting the bungee centre.  Your passport won't be stamped and you'll receive a gate pass allowing access to the bridge but no entitlement to cross into the neighbouring country. 

You then report to the registration area on the Zambian end of the bridge.  You'll be screened, weighed and marked up with your jump/slide/swing number and follow instructions from the jump team. 

The Jump

An ankle harness is fitted with padding to protect ankles plus webbing to attach to the bungee cord via a self-loading knot.  Both legs are thus bound.

You're then fitted into a waist harness with a separate attachment to the bungee cord for backup and recovery after the jump.  A separate safety line is attached and only removed after you step onto the jump platform. You'll then receive final instructions and your countdown.

You can decide not to jump at any stage.  Nobody is forced or pushed during the exercise.

As you jump your weight is transmitted through the ankle harness to the bungee cord which stretches around 3 times its original length as you decelerate out of freefall.  You won't come under any sudden stressful loads as your rebound. 

Whilst you settle in mid-air a recovery operator is lowered down to you.  He'll attach a recovery line to the body harness and together you're winched back up to the catwalk just under the bridge.  Your exit back to the bridge is on the Zambian side.

Cecil John Rhodes said  "I should like to have the spray of the water over the carriages". Little did he know that a century later adrenaline junkies would pay to throw themselves off the exact spot!