Click Here To Solve ShynessI’ve lived in South Africa since I was just six years old and I must say that it’s an absolutely beautiful country.
There’s so much nature, so much wildlife and so many things to do. For example, within just a few hours drive from Cape Town (where I live) you can be whitewater rafting along the West Coast, quad-biking the dunes near Saldhana Bay or even doing the highest bungee jump in the world at Bloukrans bridge.
I recently did the latter on the above list, and I thought I’d share the experience of diving head-first off an enormous bridge for a 216m (708 foot) drop, 5 second total free-fall while reaching a speed of 120kmh (75mph) and having only the faith in the bungee cord attached to my feet to keep me from turning into a pancake if I were to hit the ground below.
Why The Decision To Go Bungee Jumping?
Besides the fact that bungee jumping is on my list of 100 crazy things to do before you die, I was hanging out with a friend of mine and we were talking about travel and all sorts of crazy adventures. Somehow the topic of bungee jumping came up, and since the highest bungee jump in the world was just a couple of hours drive away, we decided to make it a mission to go for the weekend and do it. Very much a spontaneous, in the moment and “why not?” kinda vibe.
There’s not much to pack for this kind of trip, so we simply put some clothes and toiletries in an overnight bag, got in my car and started driving. We left at 5am on Saturday morning to beat any kind of traffic and get to our destination in a reasonable amount of time. After all…it was a 500km (310 mile) drive.
We decided to drive to the nearest town to the Bloukrans bungee location (a small beach town called Plettenberg bay), stay there for the night and then do the bungee jump the next day. Reasons being that the accommodation at the bungee jump wasn’t very good and it would be nice to take the day and relax after the long drive. (And I had what is definitely one of the best sleeps of my life)
Plettenberg Bay is actually very popular holiday destination for the summer where thousands of youngsters head over there to enjoy the beach, weather and good food. Currently it’s winter so when I was there recently the town was very quiet and peaceful. Just perfect for a relaxing getaway.
The drive from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay is a very beautiful one. It’s a distance of around 500km (310 miles) on one of the national highways of South Africa, the N2. The highway is nice and wide and the road surface is of good quality, so it’s an absolute pleasure to drive (especially in a decent car).
The benefit of driving so early in the morning is not only that you have open roads without much traffic, but you also get to watch the sun rise and appreciate the real beauty of South Africa.
I mean, take a look at the nature and scenery that’s around you on the entire drive from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay. Mountains, forests, grassy fields, beautiful skies.
With open roads like these, it’s hard to resist putting your foot down on the accelerator.
And then you get closer to Plettenberg Bay, close to the beaches and the ocean. When you open your window while driving, you can smell the fresh sea air and you just can’t wait to sink your bare feet into the sand.
A picture is worth a thousand words…but if that’s true, how much is a video worth? Here’s a short video I made of the drive from Cape Town to Plettenberg bay so you can get an even better idea of how beautiful South Africa really is, and how you should grab the chance to visit it with both hands when you get the chance.
How Much Did My Bungee Jumping Trip Cost?
Before I show you what you’ve been waiting to see the whole time (me shitting my pants and jumping off Bloukrans bridge), I thought that some of you might be interested to know what a weekend trip like this cost me.
All in all I spent about $500 on the trip. It’s broken down into:
Petrol: $150
1 Night Accommodation: $50
Food (I ate like a pig): $150
Bungee Jump + Dvd: $150
If you’re wondering why I spent $150 on food in 2 days (most of it just for myself), it’s really because I ate like a pig. I stuffed myself with all the great seafood that they have in Plettenberg Bay, and trust me, it’s awesome. Check it out.
Bloukrans: The Highest Bungee Jump In The World
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for all the time, my actual experience of doing the highest bungee jump in the world at Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa.
I actually watched the DVD of my friend who did the jump a few years back, so I kind of had an idea what I was in for before I arrived at the bungee jump location. I can honestly tell you that there were only 2 moments when I almost shat my pants. The first time was when I was all strapped up to the bungee cord and I had to stand on the edge before jumping. Looking down at the ground hundreds of feet below me and realizing that I had to jump off the ledge made me feel all kinds of nauseous. The second time that I felt totally scared was just after the bungee when I was hanging upside down, 216m below the bridge, staring down at the ground beneath me. I just wanted to get the heck back on solid ground again.
Besides those 2 moments, the entire experience was mindblowing, and I recommend that you do it at least once in your lifetime.
The drive from Plettenberg Bay to Bloukrans Bridge was about 20 minutes. The picture above shows the last little bit of the drive through the Tsitsikama Reserve up to the actual bungee jump.
Face Adrenalin is the company doing the bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge…a fitting name I must say. It’s the right place to go to if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush.
When you’re driving over Bloukrans Bridge it doesn’t seem that scary. It just seems like a normal bridge…right?
Well, this is what Bloukrans Bridge looks like from a distance…
And I’m about to jump from it…OMG!
Here’s a closeup of the platform under the center of the bridge where all the idiots thrill-seekers jump into the abyss with nothing but an elastic cord attached to their feet.
Yeah…I’m one of those idiots thrill-seekers. Getting strapped up in my harness before heading down to the center of the bridge where I’ll bungee.
Unfortunately I was not allowed to take a camera with me to the center of the bridge so I wasn’t able to take photo’s of the walk there nor of the staff strapping the bungee cord to my feet. Fortunately… I have it on video!
Watch Me Do The Highest Bungee In The World
What do you think…am I crazy? Would you do the bungee? What do you think of South Africa?
Please let me know in the comment section below!
