| Extreme or not? | | | | managed by Garth Fowler, is a wonderful place to |
| From recent experience we would say "DEFINITELY | | | | bungee jump. It has a 100% safety record - and is |
| EXTREME." There is nothing more terrifying than | | | | open 365 days per year. There is a rigorous |
| standing on a seemingly fragile platform 111m above | | | | adherence to safety standards. You may be |
| the gorge at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, staring down (I | | | | confident in the knowledge that you are always in a |
| know I know - you should NEVER look down, but try | | | | safe, professional and controlled environment - even |
| remembering that when you have just realised what | | | | though you appear to be surrounded by a bunch of |
| you have signed yourself up for!) at raging waters | | | | humorists! The joking, joshing and general pulling of |
| way way below whilst the realisation of what you | | | | one's leg never ends and certainly makes the leap |
| have committed yourself to slowly sinks in. | | | | easier. |
| Now this sounds like I did the bungee jump doesn't | | | | Waiting on the bridge with you are several other |
| it? I didn't. Fortunately, and here I heaved an | | | | about to be jumpers - whether it's bungee or the |
| ENORMOUS sigh of relief, you are advised not to | | | | swing. Some don't look so keen, but others are |
| jump if you suffer from a weak shoulder, weak | | | | already zinging with anticipation. |
| knee, a heart condition or any neurological problem. I, | | | | The guys preparing you for the jump are fantastic. |
| happily, suffer from a dislocating shoulder caused by | | | | There is a lot of banter, a lot of jokes, some |
| a body-surfing accident some years ago. Phew! But I | | | | extremely black humour as you can imagine... "when |
| had guinea-pigs in our party who were prepared, not | | | | you get back, IF...." and "do you trust me? - how can |
| necessarily willingly, to have the experience for me. | | | | you trust me if you don't know me?"; or "do you |
| Nothing like sharing a pleasure vicariously... | | | | want to know my name? I'll tell you if you get back. |
| The Victoria Falls Bungee jump, at 111m, used to be | | | | Oh, you want to know now incase you don't get |
| the highest commercial bungee jump in the world, but | | | | back? OK, it's Junior Mugabe - NOW do you trust |
| it now takes second place behind Bloukrans River | | | | me?" !!! etc. But at no time do they push you into |
| Bridge in South Africa which is a 160m bungee, | | | | doing something that you don't want to do. If you |
| though the gorge itself is 216m! However, and here I | | | | get to the edge, toes gripping the platform, |
| may be a little biased, the Vic Falls jump is still the | | | | shoulders hunched and the whole body straining |
| most spectacular and is probably (almost definitely!) | | | | away from the drop, they talk calmly and |
| the most superb setting in the world. | | | | encouragingly to you and allow you to step away |
| The bridge lies in "no mans land" between the | | | | from the breach without losing face. |
| Zimbabwean and Zambian Border Posts. To one side | | | | Would my guinea pig do it again? I think not... Did he |
| are the Falls themselves - one of the Seven | | | | enjoy it? Hmmmm, Im not so sure! But even though |
| Wonders of the World and a Unesco World Heritage | | | | he hated every single moment of it (my |
| Site, on the other side is the turbulent Zambezi | | | | interpretation) he was 'zinging' with adrenaline when |
| constricted within the narrow walls of the gorge. | | | | he got back up to the bridge. |
| The Big Air Company at Victoria Falls, ably run and | | | | |