Face Adrenalin Bungee Jumping, That Time I Fell Off A Bridge

Tabel of Contents

1 3-2-1 Bungee!

3-2-1 Bungee!

I reluctantly stepped off the bridge, concluding on a whim that pencil diving to my death was the best method to meet my maker. After coming out of my adrenaline coma I found myself free-falling some 700 feet in the air, staring at the sky with my hands firmly clasped around the rope.

Let’s rewind a bit here…

I like to think that I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but with a healthy full-functioning amygdala. However, I am almost always more confident than I should be about adventurous activities. I often pump myself up before doing something crazy and then mentally poop myself when I come face to face with said activity.

This mental seesaw game of pure anxiety and fickle elation has been taking place since 1995. At the ripe age of 4 years old I decided that I wanted to get my ears pierced, nothing too serious, just some cartilage. On 3 different occasions, I talked my mom into driving me to the mall to do the deed. Only to back out last minute when faced with that insidious needle gun. To give myself some credit I did eventually face the needle and have been pierced for a solid 21 years. Holla!

My appetite for heart racing activities has escalated.

These days I actually look forward to riding in cars with my husband and bungee jumping naturally seemed to be next on the spectrum of fear-inducing activities. When I discovered that I would have the opportunity to bungee jump off the highest commercial bridge in South Africa I visualized myself fearlessly swan diving into the sky.

A few days before bungee jumping we indulged ourselves in horror stories of past study abroad groups making the jump. We were even told a horrifying tale of a girl bungee jumping off the bridge over Victoria Falls. Her rope broke and she fell into the crocodile-ridden river below. She managed to swim out with nothing but a broken collar bone.

We were grateful to hear that Face Adrenalin Bungee has a 100% safety rate. We were also grateful for the knowledge that if our rope broke we would be met with a swift death of pancaking on the rocks below. Still better than crocodile teeth.

The day has finally arrived

My confidence is bristling as I encourage and comfort my peers about their fear of heights. After we arrive they outfit me with a helmet, harness, and write my weight on my hand in permanent marker (rude). The next step is the bridge walk, where you can’t help but stare at the rocky cliffs through the grated metal floor. Once you made it to the middle of the bridge they explain a few of the rules if you can manage to focus.

“Emmah” they call my name.

Well, actually they called my weight because that’s not awkward. Like I need another thing to stress about right now. Thankfully it’s in kilograms and I have no idea of the exact amount. The only time that the USA’s decision to not use the metric system has benefitted me.

The fear inducing bridge walk before bungee jumping

After calling my name I had entered into a stage of shock.

I looked drugged in that picture, don’t I? I was drugged on fear.

Everything happened so quickly after that. They preceded to tie a rope around my feet and clip my harness in. I suddenly started to feel panicky. “Am I going to be hanging from my feet? That doesn’t seem safe.” As though they can hear my thoughts, they quickly reassure me “You are 100% safe.” They hoist me unto my feet and I hop over to the edge. Staring down at the tiny little ravine 708 feet below. 3-2-1 bungee and I step off the bridge.

Blue sky seems like an accurate picture one would see if they were a talented skydiver. I am not a skydiver and I quickly became aware that I am supposed to be looking at earthly things like rocks, ravines, or grass as I plummet towards the ground. After jumping off the bridge I had frantically grabbed the rope out of sheer panic. Realizing my mistake I immediately let go and tried to turn myself around to avoid deathly scenarios like tangling myself in the rope.

Following my minor freak out, I found that dangling in the air was quite peaceful. The descent was so smooth that I couldn’t even differentiate between falling and recoiling.

After my rope stopped swaying, a happy and dancing South African man descended on a platform. He hooked up my harness to his platform and just like that we were on our way back up.

Let’s just say that my jump didn’t make it to Facebook. I really didn’t want to talk about why I agreed to get pushed off a bridge over Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe next time… just kidding there will never be a next time when it comes to bungee jumping. Cheers to all you real adrenaline junkies out there! Check out the whole video of me bungee jumping here.

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Who else has been bungee jumping?

What was your experience like?

Would you do it again?

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3 Comments

Viktoria
February 1, 2026

I went bungee jumping in Cancun a couple of years ago. I hated it. I love skydiving, but I truly hate bungee jumping. I have to admit that they had to push me. Not a good feeling. Ahhh!

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February 1, 2026

I kind of wish they would of pushed me so I didn’t look like such an idiot. lol