This post contains affiliate links. If you click on any of these links Reason2Roam *may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls

It all started over a couple of beers in the bar, with some testosterone and peer pressure thrown in for good measure.

We met a bunch of other travellers – most much younger than I and the discussion turned to what to do the next day. I bantered with the group, and it appeared everyone was keen to leap off a perfectly good bridge with a piece of elastic strapped to their legs. I put aside the internal unease, and suggested that I could probably make myself do that, as bungee jumping at Victoria Falls was on my bucket list.

Jump to Practical Tips To Plan Your Bungee Jumping Experience at Victoria Falls

Old Guy Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls

The morning after the bravado discussed above, we all brushed off the hangovers (some easier then others) and took the bus from the hostel to the famous Victoria Bridge over the Zambezi river. The gentleman from the adventure company was easygoing, and did not have difficulty suggesting we were all capable of this – even the old guy. I enthusiastically (stupidly?) agreed, and whipped out my wallet to confirm the transaction.They scribbled our weight on our arms, and I noticed mine was 10Kg heavier than most of our group. I figured 10+ years, and 10+ kg should be no problem for a 100 year old bridge, in Zimbabwe!

I was not brave enough to go first!

I had no problem letting a young woman 10+ years younger than I test the engineering of the elastic/towel combo. Clearly chivalry isn’t dead. Soon it was my turn to leap from the comfort and safety of the bridge.

The view looking downstream of the Zambezi River from the edge of the jumping platform was magnificent. Unfortunately, I could only focus upon what would certainly be the last few moments of my existence on this planet. The man told me to “Jump for the cable as hard as you can” and I sprang into action like a cannon ball. I fired off the platform, and managed to keep my arms in ‘flying’ position while these thoughts flew through my brain:

“What the hell are you doing? Are you aware that you just leapt off a perfectly good bridge with an elastic tied to your ankles? You have done some really dumb things in your life, but this takes the cake!”

Moments later I felt the gentle tug of the bungee and was shooting back ‘up’ towards the bridge. It was at this moment when I recall my voice working. I would like to believe it was the triumphant yell of conquering my inner fears but in all probability it was likely terrified screaming!

All too soon, I was being winched up to the bridge and I am sure my grin was wider than my face.The experience reinforced for me that you don’t teach old dogs new tricks, you just have the old dogs do the tricks!

Read about Soaring over the Serengeti in a Hot Air Balloon

Check out the kind of luggage we took on this trip

Get travelling tips and tricks delivered to your inbox

Practical Advice for Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls

Victoria falls is a spectacular waterfall on the Zambezi River that straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The area is a host of many adventure activities including white water rafting and bungee jumping . You can access the falls and the bungee jumping from either country as they are connected via the bridge you leap off! You can choose to do a bungee jump only, or a few other options. I opted for the Big Air Experience which included bungee jumping, a giant swing, and the bridge slide - all were super fun.

There are airports in both Livingston and Victoria Falls you can fly into if you are short on time. For those with more time you might find it cheaper to fly into Lusaka (Zambia) or Harare (Zimbabwe) and travel overland to the falls.

Get our tips to save you money and time when you are booking any flights here.

Do I need to book before hand?

I just walked into the office, signed up and was on the bridge getting the safety briefing within the hour. If you choose not to book ahead, just go to the bridge and do the same. There is only one company (Shearwater Bungee) that provides this experience and you can't miss them.

If you would prefer to book ahead, I would recommend booking through the company website directly rather than using a tour operator. Any tour operator will simply sub contract Shearwater Bungee anyway!

Where to stay

The closest town to the falls in Zambia is Livingston. Victoria Falls is the name of the town on the Zimbabwe side. We have stayed in both towns recommend Livingston . It is closer to the bridge where you go bungee jumping., and the best hostel we have ever stayed at is there! The road from the town to the bridge can be a bit sketchy for walking, so check with your hotel or hostel to see if they provide transportation to the bridge. Here are some options for staying in Livingston:

Jolly Boys Hostel - This is by far the BEST Hostel we have EVER stayed in. There are private rooms and dorms available. There is also a bar and a pool which creates great opportunities to meet other travellers. In fact, it was at the bar that our hairbrained scheme to go bungee jumping was hatched! They provide a shuttle to the bridge. Book ahead it is popular.
The top rated hotel on trip advisor is the Tongabezi Hotel
The top rated hotel on Hotels.com is the Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara
If you choose to stay in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, check out the Victoria Falls Hotel for some history and high tea. We found our room to be nice-ish if a little dated, but it was a historic hotel with a great view!

Just hanging out on the bridge slide!

What else is there to do in the area?

The falls are an incredible tourist attraction in and of themselves. The river, falls and surrounding country side also provide a tonne of adventure opportunities!

Go White Water Rafting on the Zambezi. We went with SAFPAR and they were professional and safety conscious. This is BIG white water, and super fun. There are rumours of a damn being built as soon as 2019, so go while you still can.
Walk the paths in the park around the falls - dry season, rainy season, it doesn't matter - they are spectacular! Check this website for useful information regarding entrance fees and operating hours.
Get up close and personal with the falls by swimming in the Devil's Pool. We have not done this adventure, but have heard great stories about it. Check out this link for a good guide on how to visit the Devil's Pool.
Go for High Tea at Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe. Cucumber sandwiches with the crust cut off - who can resist that?!

What should I pack?

A camera and a Go Pro. Have one of the people take your picture while you are leaping (like Heather did for me). You might also want to film from a POV perspective with your go pro
A Steri-pen to treat your water. Avoid contributing to the landfills with more single use plastic water bottles and use this toy to keep you healthy at the same time.
Travel Insurance! Make sure your insurance includes higher risk activities like bungee jumping.
Your passport - the bridge is on a border between two countries and you will want to check out both Zambia and Zimbawe.
A Scrubba Bag. That way you can keep your electronics dry when you are walking near the falls in the rainy season, and you can clean the underwear you were wearing when you went bungee jumping!
US Dollars. Crisp, clean and new and in small denominations ($20 is the perfect bill). You might be able to use a credit card, but US cash will get you out of many issues while you are travelling around either country.
Your Vaccinations and documentation! Don't travel anywhere without your Hep A,B and C vaccinations. You may also need malaria medication and a Typhoid Vaccine. You might need proof of a yellow fever vaccination depending on where else you have been. Check with your doctor to be sure. The US Center for Disease Control is another great resource.