Bungi Jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge

Age limits

Minimum:

14 years (children under the age of 18 need an indemnity form signed by their parent.)

Maximum:

There is no maximum age limit. However each client is screened individually and discretion is used by the senior crew in each case. Clients will be asked to declare any relevant medical problems.

Weight limits

Minimum: 40 kilograms / 88 pounds

Maximum:140 kilograms / 308 pounds

Medical People declaring medical conditions which may be adversely affected by the jump are not permitted to jump. The medical conditions include, but are not limited to: Pregnancy High Blood Pressure Heart conditions Neurological disorders Epilepsy Acute or chronic knee or back disorders. Any person with handicaps or medical conditions wishing to jump needs to provide a medical certificate approving the jump signed within the previous thirty (30) days and a copy of this certificate must be handed in on the BRIDGE when registering for the jump. A medical kit is kept on the bridge. Staff trained in first-aid are on hand on the bridge during operations. Photo on the right: Solid ground in sight!

Photo above: Preparing for the jump	Photo above: The jump!

Borders

The Victoria Falls bridge lies in "no mans land" between the Zimbabwean and Zambian border posts.

Jumpers and spectators must indicate to the immigration officials that they are only proceeding onto the bridge and then returning through the same border post. Immigration officials will then issue a GATE PASS that must be retained for re-entry through the same border post. Jumpers must take their PASSPORTS with them and allow 45mins for walking time and customs formalities.

Operation

Photo below: Anticipation before the jump

No previous experience is necessary. No special clothing or equipment is necessary. Jumpers are advised to remove any jewellery and accessories. Operational times are 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours, these times are subject to change and should be confirmed with the Shearwater office in Victoria Falls. Clients who have pre-booked through Shearwater Adventures need to present their voucher at registration on the bridge. The registration area is set up adjacent to the bridge on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River. On arrival at the registration area, (prospective) clients are screened, weighed and registered for the jump. Registering includes the signing of an indemnity form and payment (or presentation of a voucher). The jump number and weight is clearly written on the back of the jumpers hand.

The jump Picture on the left: Thumbs up Prior to jumping, clients are briefed individually. This briefing includes: How the harness system works; The final jump procedure to be followed on the platform; What to expect during the jump; The recovery procedure.

The client is then harnessed up for the jump. All connections to the bungi cord are made before the jumper moves on to the platform. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, B U N G I....!!!!!!!

The cords we use are stretched out to almost three times their original length. This elongation provides a gradual deceleration of the jumpers freefall, without placing any sudden or stressful forces on the jumper. Clients can decide at any stage not to jump. At no stage is anybody forced to jump. Once registered, refunds are not given. The bridge at 111 metres above the water level makes this the World's highest commercial bungi jump.

Harness system

Picture on the right: Towelling around the ankles!

• The ankle harness has two components:

• Towelling to provide padded protection to the ankles; Mountaineering webbing (3000kg working load)

• The webbing is secured over the towels and around both legs just above the ankles, binding both legs firmly together. The knot used is a self loading knot which is cannot slip or come undone during the jump. There have been over 500 000 jumps worldwide using this particular ankle tie without an incidence of it slipping or coming undone.

• Jumpers are also placed in a mountaineering harness with a separate attachment to the bungi cord.

• The weight of the jump is transmitted through the ankle harness, with the mountaineering harness as a backup system.

Recovery sytem

After the client has jumped, a recovery operator is lowered down to the jumper. The operator attaches a line to the mountaineering harness of the jumper, and the client then assumes an upright sitting position.

Both jumper and operator are then hoisted back up onto the catwalk below the bridge.

Clients are attached to a safety line on the catwalk and checked by a senior jumpmaster before being escorted to the top of the bridge.

Clients then return to the registration area to record their comments on the jump. A video recording of the jump can be seen immediately. Photographs of every jump are also available.

Product	Description	Departs	Price
Victoria Falls Bridge	0900-1700	Every Day/All year	US$ 90-00

Product	Description	Departs	Price
Victoria Falls Bridge	0900-1700	Every Day/All year	US$ 90-00

contents - new - itinerary - namibia - bungi - falls - animals - lp - tribal - money - links < HOME > See Neil Bungi jump!