BEAR GRYLLS: - ADVENTURE ICON IN THE ADVENTURE CAPITAL

Adventure icon Bear Grylls was recently spotted at Vic Falls and took “the leap of faith” by bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge.

He was quoted as saying “I had to come and test this out for myself since your widely publicised incident” and Victoria Falls Bungee were extremely excited to have the "Born Survivor" star giving them his stamp of approval. Of course he survived and described the jump as an “awesome experience” which is a great compliment from the ultimate adventurer.

Bear has been in Zambia for a little family relaxation and will be returning to his day job of extreme adventures shortly. It was fantastic having such an icon testing out the bungee, especially following the recent negative publicity.

The 111m bungee jump is world famous and was recently voted as one of the top 5 bungee jumps on the planet. Not surprising given the magnificent backdrop of our exquisite Victoria Falls - there can be very few settings that rival it.

VICTORIA FALLS BUNGEE TO RECOMMENCE TODAY

Go to Victoria Falls have received the following update from Victoria Falls Bungee:

Further to our previous releases on the incident involving an Australian tourist which occurred on the 31^st December 2011 and whereby the bungee cord she was jumping on broke, we now wish to update you as follows;

Firstly we would like to advise that the lady concerned has recovered very well and has now returned to Australia. We continue to wish her well now that she is back home.

Secondly we are pleased to announce that following a thorough investigation into the incident bungee jumping will recommence on the 2^nd February 2012.

Since the incident a full and thorough investigation into the cause of the bungee cord failure was conducted which amongst other things included;

• A detailed safety audit and inspection of the bungee jumping system at Victoria Falls.

• Subjecting the broken bungee cord to forensic analysis and testing.

During this process of investigation we chose to suspend bungee jumping operations so that the inspectors could carry out their work without interruption and to allow time for the forensic analysis to be carried out. Unfortunately this process took more time than we anticipated due to the availability of the experts..

The international qualified IRATA safety auditors who have audited and inspected our system and equipment, have advised that after inspecting all components of the bungee system they found our safety standards prior the incident to have complied with the international standard ( AS/NZS 5848:2000) for bungee jumping. We have been carrying out bungee jumping in accordance with this code from the Victoria Falls bridge for over 17 years where approximately 150,000 jumps have been done without there ever having been a cord failure. 

As safety is of the utmost concern to us, together with the safety auditors we have developed certain new procedures to improve safety standards. With particular regard to the management and handling of the bungee cords, a safety auditor expressed the opinion that the standards we now apply are unparalleled in the industry in all probability industry leading. We are of the opinion that they set a new standard in terms of safety internationally.

The inspection of the cord which broke was carried out by a team of experts  based in South Africa which was lead by two Professors  in Structural Engineering. In their investigations the team amongst other things, compared the rubber used to make the bungee cord that broke against the latest batch of rubbers we obtained directly from our normal supplier. Our understanding of the investigation findings is that the rubbers from the cord which broke were not as strong as they should have been and were weaker than the newer rubbers.  We will be taking this up with the rubber manufacturers. The newer rubbers which we will now use were found to be far stronger than the “Code of Practice for Bungee Jumping” requires.  To ensure as best as possible the strength and integrity of all rubbers we use, we are arranging to have samples from every future batch of rubber tested before being put into service.

In light of the investigations and the opinions of both the safety auditors and the forensic investigators we are satisfied that the cause of the broken cord has been established and that the new standards, testing and inspection methods we have introduced will prevent a recurrence of the incident.

We are therefore pleased to announce that commercial bungee jumping operations will recommence on the 2^nd February 2012.

VICTORIA FALLS BUNGEE INCIDENT - FOLLOW UP

Go to Victoria Falls have received the following update from Victoria Falls Bungee, in response to the bridge incident on 31 December 2011. This follows the official statement released on 2 January 2012.

We remain in contact with the Australian lady involved in the incident who is recuperating in South Africa where she has received expert medical attention.  We are pleased to advise that she has now been released from hospital and although she remains bruised and sore she will shortly be free to return home to Australia.

As a matter of record we wish to highlight her bravery and survival skills, which contributed significantly to her own rescue and her continued positive disposition and strength of character has been an inspiration to us all.

It goes without saying that we deeply regret the incident, which has come as a huge shock to us.

Despite the experience of the crew and parameters and procedures, which have successfully guided the operation for 17 years and over 150,000 jumpers, we were unable to prevent this accident. We take this exceptionally seriously and our objective now is to learn from this incident and review every component part of our operation to determine where we can further minimize the risk of bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge.

To this effect the following preliminary measures have been implemented:

• We have removed all bungee cords from the system, which were made with the same batch of rubber as that used to make the failed cord. These have been retained for further testing.
• An entirely new set of bungee cords have been installed on the system. These have been extensively load tested and inspected thoroughly and we are satisfied that they are safe to jump on.
• The entire bungee system has been thoroughly inspected and checked and we are fully confident that everything is safe to jump on.
• In addition to our normal checks and procedures we have instigated additional daily and intermittent checks on the bungee cords and we are fully satisfied that these checks and procedures are more than sufficient to ensure our clients safety.
• Our own crew are conducting test jumps before the commencement of daily operations and throughout the day.
• Experts in South Africa have been contacted and we expect them to be on site next week to help us with our ongoing investigations as to the cause of the incident.
• The broken cord has been carefully stored and will shortly be sent to South Africa for forensic testing.
• A qualified river guide with first aid certification and necessary safety and recovery equipment will be positioned in the gorge below the bridge.

In light of the above Victoria Falls Bungee are entirely satisfied that everything humanly possible has been done to ensure the safety of our clients and bungee jumping operations have now recommenced without further incident.

GO TO VICTORIA FALLS MEMBERS ARE TOP TOURISM EXPORTERS IN MATABELELAND NORTH

Three Go to Victoria Falls members came out tops as tourism Exporters of the Year in an awards ceremony honouring Matabeleland North’s Outstanding Businesses. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was named Exporter of the Year at the ceremony held at Elephant Hills on Friday 16 December 2011. 

The inaugural regional awards were launched by the Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce and have been introduced as a way of recognizing outstanding businesses and leadership, who excelled during the year and should be awarded for helping to revive the economy.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge now goes through to the Regional semis in March 2012 to be held in Bulawayo, and from there to the Finals in Harare in mid-2012.

Other Go to Victoria Falls members came in as runners up, with The Victoria Falls Hotel as first and Wild Horizons as second.

Members of the Victoria Falls community were obviously clear favourites as another five were also recognized for their outstanding achievements:

Manager of the Year went to Trythings (GM of Ele Hills)

Entrepreneur of the Year went to Geoff Gover (Seven to Eleven Superette)

Woman of the year went to Mrs Mhlanga - Vic Falls Education Centre – for consistency of her duties over the last 5 years.

Exporter Agriculture – Spencers Creek Victoria Falls

New Business of the year – Comoil Lupane

It is once again evident that members of this amazing community are succeeding in bringing tourism back to Zimbabwe and it is wonderful that they are being recognized for their achievements.

ENJOY AN AFRICAN SUN DOWNER

Summer is here and what better way to enjoy those hot Zimbabwean afternoons than sipping on a cocktail, overlooking a magnificent waterhole. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has to have one of the most spectacular settings to enjoy a sun downer, while at the same time witnessing elephant, buffalo and other wildlife coming to drink at the waterhole.

The new cocktail menu at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge offers all the classic options such as a Mojito, Pina Colada or Margarita as well as those with an African twist, perfect for the hot summer in Vic Falls. Why not try a Victoria Falls Ice Tea, African Sunset, Summer Fruit G & T or one of the other tasty options.

The lodge is also proud to present its summer menus at both the Buffalo Bar and the Makuwa Kuwa restaurants. Offering a wide variety of dishes to suit even the most conservative of diners, you’ll find everything from light snacks to more elaborate meals. The more adventurous diners, looking for a taste of Africa can try out the warthog, impala or crocodile.

After a day of activities in Africa’s adventure capital, guests will be spoilt for choice at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, as they enjoy the warm summer evening and take in the beauty of this spectacular area.

DISCOVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF THE VICTORIA FALLS BRIDGE

The Victoria Falls Bridge Tour is an alternative bridge activity, available to those visitors who don’t quite have the nerve (or stomach) to jump off the famous bridge. The activity, organised by Shearwater Victoria Falls, has become a popular alternative to the bungi, bridge swing or slide but is also becoming a “must see” for those adrenalin junkies wanting to know more about the bridge they’re jumping off.

Guests are taken on a journey, as an actor playing the part of Georges Imbault (chief construction engineer of the bridge) gives a history of the bridge and explains how it came to be the magnificent structure is today. Participants discover Cecil John Rhodes plans for his Cape to Cairo Railway, learn how the bridge was constructed and understand how and why a full locomotive was transported across the gorge before the actual completion of the bridge.

After the historical introduction, guests are strapped into harnesses and taken under the remarkable piece of engineering to enjoy a walking tour of the bridge, while taking in spectacular views of the Falls and the Batoka Gorge below. Why walk over the bridge when you can walk under it? Tour guide “Georges Imbault” will elaborate on the construction while at the same time describing the surroundings and points of interesting around the bridge. All the while the highly trained and experienced guides will ensure a safe and informative 2½ hours on and around the bridge.

To learn more about the one hundred years of Victorian Engineering, a book entitled “Sun, Steel & Spray: A history of the Victoria Falls Bridge” written by Peter Roberts, was published this year and is now available to purchase.

So why not try a bridge activity with a difference and take part in one of Shearwater Victoria Falls' Bridge Tours. Come away having learnt more about this magnificent bridge that has become an icon of grandeur throughout the world.

BRING IN THE NEW YEAR AT VIC FALLS

With only a month until Falls Fest, the town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is gearing up for an influx of local and international visitors, set to celebrate New Year in style.

Now in its third year, Falls Fest will be taking place on 30 and 31 December 2011, to tie in with the New Year festivities. The two day festival was introduced as a way to increase the number of visitors to Victoria Falls and last year saw over 4000 people attending each day. This year has already seen overwhelming support for Falls Fest and organisers hope to see the destination boosted even further.

The headline act at this year’s festival is South African Music Award (SAMA) nominated and winners in the "NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR" category, Locnville. This Cape Town based electro hop music duo will be joined on stage by a number of support acts from South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Roddy Meiring, General Manager of Ilala Lodge, one of the primary sponsors of Falls Fest and a Go To Victoria Falls member, believes that the positive outcome of the music festival is undeniable. “Hotels and local adventure companies had their best season in several years and business in the falls is booming,” says Meiring.

Travellers visiting the Falls will of course be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities and day trips outside of the music festival. Go To Victoria Falls’ tour operators and adventure companies, will be offering white water rafting, river cruises, high wire activities, safari activities and lots more, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience Africa’s adventure capital at its best. Booking in advance will be necessary, as last year rafting companies saw their busiest day ever with over 600 people rafting in 1 single day.

The increase in visitors last year was not only seen in Vic Falls but throughout the country. “It got people travelling through Zimbabwe and received great international exposure, as people from all over the world came to experience the area and the country as a whole. It showed that Zim is still a safe destination and what better way to spend New Year than seeing one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and making a holiday of it,” concluded Meiring.

Following on from the success of 2010, this year’s Falls Fest and New Year period is set to be another excellent one for Victoria Falls.