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.

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.