Activity Travel

When you think of bungee jumping, images of being flung off a bridge with only a single rubber band between you and death may spring to mind. Sounds crazy? Well that’s half the point.

The bungee concept originated in the South Pacific, where young men would jump from tall wooden platforms with vines attached to their ankles as a measure of their courage. AJ Hackett, a young entrepreneur from New Zealand improved on this, making it much safer, and by the mid 1980s had developed a tried and tested piece of bungee equipment.

Testing it himself by jumping off the Eiffel Tower, Hackett brought the concept and the company to New Zealand (still considered the place to bungee by many), before developing it in other locations around the world.

Bungee jumping has taken off as an extreme sport that anyone can do, and many places are now capitalizing on their beautiful natural surroundings to provide a fix of excitement against a staggering backdrop. Below are some of the most popular places to bungee jump around the world.

Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump; Plettenburg Bay, South Africa

The Bloukrans Bungee jump in South Africa takes off the Bloukrans bridge – a staggering 216 meters off the ground! The Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Tsitsikamma Forest right in the heart of the Garden Route.The Bloukrans Bungee has been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the highest commercial jump in the world, and to reach the bridge, you’ll be walking along a specially designed catwalk, suspended beneath the road surface.

If the Bloukrans is too much for you, try the Gouritz River Bridge, which offers a more modest 65 meter jump, ideal for beginners or those seeking a slightly less extreme thrill. From the Gouritz, you can try the "bridge swing" (a free-fall followed by a long, high-speed pendulum swing) and tandem jumps. The jumps are operated by the company Kiwi Extreme, who have been jumping off the bridge every day for the last 10 years (so you’re in safe hands!)

Book hostels in Plettenburg Bay for your jump

“007 GoldenEye” Bungee Jump; Locarno, Switzerland

Copy James Bond in GoldenEye and take a dive off the wall of the Verzasca Dam in the Verzasca valley. The dam, measuring 220m in total, takes a full 7.5 seconds to fall, allowing you plenty of time to admire the staggeringly beautiful Swiss scenery... that’s if you can manage to keep your eyes open!

The Ticino Valley in Switzerland offers a varied landscape, with the Alps on one side, a lake on the other, and an emerald green river at the bottom, making your bungee a truly memorable experience.

Book hostels in Locarno for your jump

Kawerau Suspension Bridge Bungee; Queenstown, New Zealand

Billed as the first commercial bungee site in the world, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge is just 23km outside New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown. Although there are plenty of other jumps you can do in Queenstown, this one is the original, which adds a little authenticity to your jump.

At 43 meters high, it’s not the highest jump in the world by any means, and those wanting a slightly higher thrill should try the “Nevis Highwire Bungee” at 134 meters. The sites aren’t based in Queenstown itself, but the price for the bungee will include transportation out to the site.

Book hostels in Queenstown for your jump

The Bhote Khosi Bungee; Kathmandu, Nepal

Just three hours from the capital of Nepal lies a tropical gorge, in the Himalayas of Nepal, along the Tibetan border. The Bhote Khosi River is Nepal’s steepest river, flowing from Tibet right through to India. The river also caters to white water rafting and canyoning, if you fancy it!

Above the raging rapids of the river is a specially designed suspension bridge, one of the highest bungee jumps in the world.

The Swiss-designed bridge can hold up to 4.5 tons of weights, and you’re in good hands with the Ultimate Bungee Company, so there’s no need to worry about safety during the jump. The dense jungle and pristine forest surrounding the cliff top gorge offer arguably one of the most spectacular views of any bungee jump in the world.

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The Bungee Bullet; Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, approximately 80 kilometres north of Brisbane, liesThe Bungee Bullet. The Bungee Bullet is a reserve bungee, which, once strapped into the dual seat contraption, flings you 50 meters into the air in a single second.

Once you’ve had enough of being a human slingshot, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied at Big Kart Track, Australia’s largest and fastest go-kart track, which is situated right next to the Bullet.

Book hostels in Brisbane for your jump

Tropical Bungee; San Jose, Costa Rica

Tropical Bungee was started in 1991 when its founder Victor Gallo visited California, that Mecca of adventure sports fans. The Colorado River Bridge, towering 265 feet above the tropical forests of Costa Rica, acts as the starting point for a jump that plunges over a lush tropical forest and gorge.

If an exhilarating jump isn't enough, Tropical Bungee offers "Adrenaline Tours" for hardcore adrenaline junkies. The package includes a full day of bungee jumping, rock climbing and paragliding, as well as transportation and meals. Incorporating all of this into their company as well as operating under strict safety criteria, Tropical Bungee are the foremost bungee operator in Latin America.

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The Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungee; Auckland, New Zealand

AJ Hackett, founder of the original Bungee experience, has developed Auckland’s first permanent bungee site and the world’s first Harbour Bridge bungee. To get to your bungee, you walk across the harbour bridge to the specially constructed jump-pod, under the deck of the bridge, allowing for the 40metre jump down to sea level.

A number of jump options are available, which can range from splashing the water with your hand, right down to a full body immersion experience. Some see it as the fastest way to see the harbour, and this jump should be enough to satisfy hardcore adrenalin junkies. If you’re still hungry for more,  try the Sky Tower Jump, a cable controlled base jump.

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Victoria Falls Bridge; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the widest curtain of falling water in the world, and a bungee jump here is an experience not to be missed. With a 166 meter drop over the rapids of the Zambezi River, it’s one of the highest commercial bungee jumps in the world.

Jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge with the waterfall surrounding you. As the area crosses two country borders, you’ll need your passport if you wish to view the falls after your jump from the Zambian side (which is even more spectacular!)

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World WaterPark Bungee Jump; West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Canada

If you're  tired of jumping off bridges, try bungee jumping from the inside of a shopping mall! Inside this massive complex is a huge indoor water park, which includes the world's only indoor bungee jump (a considerable 106 foot drop jump).

Entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest mall, West Edmonton Mall has more than enough to keep you occupied, and once you’ve had your fill of extreme sports for the day, you can relax with a spot of shopping, eat some dinner or catch the latest film.

Although perhaps not the most visually stunning jump you can do, nor the highest, this definitely brings its own unique stamp to the bungee jump circuit.

Book hostels in Edmonton for your jump