Zambia Travel Guide
Zambia Travel Guide
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Victoria Falls town
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Thrills and Spills
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Bungee-jumping
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Zambia Travel Guide

Bungee-jumping



There's only one company organising bungee-jumping – Vic Falls Bungee, an offshoot of the original pioneers from New Zealand, Kiwi Extreme. You jump from the middle of the main bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, where the Zambezi is around 111m below you. It is amongst the highest commercial bungee-jumps in the world, and not for the nervous. Alternatively, 'tandem' bungee-jumps are possible for two people.

You can book in advance, through any of the agencies, or simply turn up at the bridge and pay there. Hours are 9.00 to 17.00, though at high water they begin at 10.00 due to spray from the Falls. Digital pictures (US$10) and videos (US$40) of your jump are available, and there is often a special '2 for 1' promotion whereby clients who purchase video or merchandise to the value of US$40 will automatically qualify for a complimentary second jump and the footage will be added to their tape at no extra cost.

Rates: US$75 for one jump (no refunds if you change your mind); tandem jump US$105. Minimum age is 14, but under 18s require the attendance of a parent or guardian and their signature on the indemnity form. The minimum client weight is 40kg (88lb) and maximum 140kg (308lb)

Abseiling, high-wiring and gorge swing


A very popular addition to the adventure menu is the Zambezi swing, a cable swing set across the gorge which, together with a 90m high cable slide (flying fox), abseiling, and 'rap' jumps (rappelling forwards) down the side of the gorge, offers daring fun for all ages. These are currently offered only by Abseil Zambia at the top of the fifth gorge on the Zambian side. The swing is a fixed 135m cable spanning the gorge. Participants are harnessed to ropes attached to the cable's sliding pulley and, after stepping off the cliff face, experience a heart-stopping 53m, three-second free-fall, followed by an exhilarating pendulum-like swing across the gorge, accelerating up to 140km/h (with a pull of roughly 2.5 times gravity) for some two minutes before being lowered to the ground. Described by participants as 'even more thrilling than bungee-jumping', it's definitely not for the faint-hearted, though participants as young as eight and as old as 76 have braved it. It's even possible to try it out in tandem. A slightly tamer alternative is the high wire or flying fox, set on another static cable stretched across the gorge. With harness and pulley, you leap off a platform and 'fly' (slide) across the gorge some 90m above the ground. It can be done in both a sitting and flying position and is suitable for children. For more thrills, there is abseiling (rapelling), lowering yourself down a cliff face with a rope while facing inwards, or rap-jumping (facing and jumping forwards) down a 45m cliff at the edge of the gorge. Aside from the flying fox, be prepared to hike some 30 minutes out of the gorge after each go.

A full day's activity allows you to go up, down and over the gorge to your heart's content. Lunch, beer and cool drinks are included and sundowners are offered. Videos or floppy disks of your activities are available at extra cost. It's also possible to spend just a half day, or to do any activities on their own. The site is 5km from the Falls. If you're driving yourself, turn off the main road to the Falls just before the Zambezi Sun, and follow the signposts.

Rates: US$95 per person for a full day, US$80 per person half day, inclusive of insurance, transfers, Zambian day visa and meals. Gorge swing only US$60 per person. Open from 08.00


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