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| Top Bungee Jumping Destinations from Hostelbookers |
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When you think of the word 'Bungee', instantly images of being flung off a bridge with only a single rubber band spring to mind. Sounds crazy? Well that’s half the point. It's all about doing something that you couldn't believe that you could do and overcoming your inner most fears. For sure it's a wild adrenalin rush, but it has also been developed with a series of ropes, and back up ropes which makes it possible to jump off a bridge and still be able to yell "I did it" at the end.
The Bungee concept was derived from 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 developed a tried and tested piece of bungee equipment in the mid 1980's. Testing it himself by jumping off the Eiffel tower, Hackett brought the concept and the company to New Zealand where it is still considered by many the place to bungee, 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 around the world have now capitalised on their beautiful natural surroundings to be immersed in fantastic backdrops while taking the plunge. Below are some of the most popular places to Bungee jump around the world.
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| Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump, Plettenburg Bay, South Africa |
The Bloukrans Bungee jump in South Africa will see you jumping off the Bloukran’s bridge at a staggering 216 metres off the ground. The Bloukrans Bungee has been officially recognised 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. The Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Tsitsikamma Forest right in the heart of the Garden Route.
If the Bloukrans is too much for you, try the Gouritz River Bridge, which offers a more modest 65 metre 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! Bloukrans Bungee is just 40km from Plettenburg Bay.
Book accommodation in Plettenburg Bay, South Africa for The Bloukrans Bungee | See guide to South Africa
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| “007 Goldeneye” Bungee Jump, Ticino, Switzerland |
Emulate James Bond in GoldenEye and take a dive off the wall of the Verzasca dam in the Vezasca valley. The dam measuring 220m in total, takes a full 7.5 seconds to fall, allowing you plenty of time to admire the beautiful and remote 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 accommodation in Locarno, Switzerland for the 007 “GoldenEye” Bungee. | See Guide to Switzerland
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| Kawerau Suspension Bridge Bungee, Queenstown, New Zealand |
Billed as the first commercial bungee site in the world, the Kawarau suspension bridge is just 23kms outside New Zealand's adventure capital of 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 metres high, it is 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 metres. The sites aren’t based in Queenstown itself, but the price for the bungee will include transportation out to the site. AJ Hackett Bungee, now with bungee sites all over the world started in Queenstown, with its creator, the eponymous AJ Hackett.
As the adventure capital of New Zealand, if bungee jumping isn’t your thing, you’ll find plenty more activities in this thriving tourist town to keep your heart pulse racing.
Book accommodation in Queenstown, New Zealand for the Kawerau Suspension Bride | See Guide to Queenstown |
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| The Bhote Khosi Bungee, Kathmandu, Nepal |
Just 3 hours from the capital of Nepal lies a tropical gorge, in the Himilayas of Nepal, along the Tibetan border. The Bhote Khosi river is Nepal’s steepest river, flowing from Tibet, right through to India, and also caters to white water rafting and canyoning, so whatever your fancy, the Bhote Khosi will supply it!
Above the raging rapids of the river, is a specially designed suspension bridge, ideal for bungee jumping. Jumping from this bridge will mean jumping 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 is no need to worry about safety during the jump. The dense jungle and pristine forest surrounding the clifftop gorge offer a spectacular view, which is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world.
Book accommodation in Kathmandu, Nepal for the Bhote Khosi Bungee | See Guide to Kathmandu
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| The Bungee Bullet, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia |
Located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, approximately 80 kilometres north of Brisbane, you will find the Bungee Bullet, for those who feel that they need a bit of variety in their bungee diet. The Bungee Bullet is a reserve bungee, which once strapped into the dual seat contraption, flings you up 50 metres in the air in a single second at speeds of 400 kilometres per second. Once you have had enough of being a human slingshot, there is 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 accommodation in Brisbane, Australia for the The Bungee Bullet
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| Tropical Bungee, Costa Rica |
Tropical Bungee was started in 1991 when its founder Victor Gallo visited California, which has long been known for its adventure sports. The Colorado River Bridge which towers 265 feet above the tropical forests of Costa Rica, will act as the starting point for a jump that will see you plunging your way 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 makes Tropical Bungee the foremost bungee operator in Latin America.
Book accommodation in San Jose, Costa Rica for the Tropical Bungee | Guide for Central America and Caribbean |
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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, and was opened in April 2003. 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 the adrenaline junkies. If you are still hungry for more, and wish to jump from another iconic Auckland structure, try the Sky Tower jump, a cable controlled base jump.
Book accommodation in Auckland for the Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungee, New Zealand | See guide to Auckland |
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| Victoria Falls Bridge, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe |
Victoria Falls, located on the border of Africa’s Zimbabwe and Zambia, is arguably the most spectacular waterfall in the world and the widest curtain of falling water in the world. A Bungee jump in this location, therefore, has to be an experience not to be missed. With a 166 metre drop over the rapids of the Zambesi River, this makes it one of the highest commercial bungee jumps in the world.
You will jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge with the waterfall surrounding you. As the area crosses two country borders, you will need your passport if you wish to view the falls after your jump from the Zambian side (apparently spectacular!)
Book accommodation in Victoria Falls for the Victoria Falls Bridge Bungee, Zimbabwe |
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| World WaterPark Bungee jump, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Canada |
If your adrenaline junkie side is tired of jumping off bridges by this point, try bungee jumping from the inside of a shopping mall! Inside this massive complex is a huge indoor water park, which includes the only indoor bungee jump where you can make your 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 have 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 accommodation in Edmonton for the World Water Park Bungee |
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