Yes, my dear friends. You read that right. Only a few days ago I wrote about my panic attack in Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn and now the title of my new blog is about a bungee jump on my trip to South Africa in 2011.

Bloukrans Bridge

It’s not just about any bungee jump, it’s about the world’s highest commercial bungee bridge. It’s located in Tsitsikamma National Park and it was “convenient” since it was on the way from J-bay to the next location on the Garden Route.

Now, let me tell you how I came to know about this bridge. When I travelled from Costa Rica to Panama the year before, I overheard a girl telling a story about how another girl was scared to jump off Bloukrans bridge. When she was pushed by the instructors, she pulled one of them along with her. He subsequently fell to his death. I can tell you, this story gave me nightmares. Now whether it’s true or not is another story, because I cannot find any articles of this online. I heard the bridge was closed and then reopened and all the instructors are now securely tightened to the railings of the bridge.

So, this was my introduction to the bridge. Now, why did I, who is slightly afraid of heights and is prone to breaking out in tears when she is mentally unable to do something, decide to jump of this monstrosity which is 216m above Bloukrans River? I’m afraid it was the YOLO frame-of-mind before the phrase became famous.

I was watching people jumping from the monitors in the restaurant next to the bridge (of course I had watched a lot of bungee jumps on YouTube from home trying to decide whether I wanted to do it). Before I arrived, I had already made up my mind not to do it. Maybe that’s why I so easily convinced myself to at least go out to the platform to have a look.

I was regretting it fiercely, but at the same time I figured it wouldn’t hurt to just have a look.

And let me tell you, it did hurt…

The moment I walked on the platform I knew I didn’t want to do it. I would be fourth in line and I told the instructors straightaway that I didn’t want to do it anymore. They tried to convince me to jump and I was adamant. I told them to appreciate the free money and the fact they had one less jumper to worry about.

So when the first person jumped (my friend), they told me they just wanted the take a picture of me with all the stuff attached to me. So I complied.

Then they told me they might as well carry me to the platform for the jump.

That’s when I froze. I didn’t argue anymore, I just let them lift me to the platform while my brain was switched-off.

They stood next to me, told me to move my toes over the edge. And I just complied… Normally I would struggle, complain, cry, shout, but I did everything they told me. I was numb.

They didn’t give me an opportunity to think during the count either. For everyone the count goes 3…2…1… BUNGEE! For me it when 3…2…. *push*.

They were doing their jobs of course. If I really didn’t want to do it, I shouldn’t have just taken the picture and complied with having the chord attached to me.

But wow, my jump must have been the worst jump in bungee history.I literally look as if I’ve just been pushed off a building. I didn’t dive downward, I just fell.

Now this wasn’t actually the scariest part, even waiting for 7 seconds to feel the elastic pull you back after the free fall wasn’t that scary. What’s scary is when you’re done with the jump and the river is still very far below you and you look around and there’s nothing to hold on to.. You look up and the bridge is so far away… You have nowhere to put your hands.. You’re only attached to the chord with your feet and waist… That’s scary! I started shaking like a leaf.

I was so relieved when the “Spider-man” (the guy who picks people up from the bungee jump) came down to pick me up. He told me I didn’t need to grab on to him like I did; but I didn’t listen. I just held on to him for dear life.

Conclusion

I’m all about doing things to push yourself and to push your boundaries. In the case of the bungee jump I think I have over-pushed my boundary and not in a good way. I didn’t feel the adrenaline rush through my body, I just felt like I was going to die. That having been said the guy from Face Adrenalin were very professional. They managed to put all the stressed faces at ease by being playful and making fun. The DJ was playing very uplifting music, which is a great soundtrack to your jump if you choose to buy the DVD. All in all the experience is good value for money. If you are a daredevil, you should go for it! It’s the highest commercial jump in the world after all! If you’re not a daredevil, think about it. And even if you accidentally jump like I did, you will survive!