Should I Bungee Jump from Victoria Falls?

Published June 30, 2010 at 7:00 am |

[Update 1/8/12 - There was an accident at this Bungee Jump a few days ago. Here's my opinion on it and extreme sports in general.]

Should I Bungee Jump from Victoria Falls?

That’s the question I asked myself over and over again.

That gorge is a long way down! 111 meters to be exact (364 feet).

Bungee Jumping has always been on My Adventure List. There are lots of places one can go bungee jumping in the world. But the ONLY place you should consider doing it is Victoria Falls. Except for one thing, it’s incredibly terrifying to think about it, look at it and make the decision to sign the legal paperwork to do it.

Every person I spoke with said I had to jump. I knew I had to do it, but saying it and doing it are two very different actions. Plus, it’s easy for them to say I should jump when they’re not the ones going to strap a bungee cord around their ankles, leap from a platform and hurtle down to the rocky waters below.

On my way from Zambia into Zimbabwe I had the opportunity to jump. I said no. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Then on the return from Zimbabwe to Zambia I had another opportunity, which would also be my last. On the way back through “No Man’s Land” (the territory between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Victoria Falls Bridge), I started vocalizing all the reasons why I should not jump. Take a look in this YouTube video:

There’s only 1 reason why I should jump: Because this is the only place in the world to do it and I’m not coming back. If you can think of any others, comment.

So 14 reasons not to jump, and only 1 reason to jump.

What happened? Find out later this week – or you can visit me on Facebook for a preview!

I’ll see you out there…! Maybe on the way down.