Awesome, bungee jumping here!
Apr 11, 2003
Prepare to be very afraid! Are you brave enough to stand on top of the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and leap off it –– 44 metres (over 11 stories)?
By Cam Mcleay
Prepare to be very afraid! Are you brave enough to stand on top of the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and leap off it –– 44 metres (over 11 stories)?
On Sunday April 27 at the Source of the Nile in Jinja, the boys will be separated from the men and girls from the women.
Why? Because, at long last bungee jumping is here and now we can hurtle the height of Sheraton Kampala Hotel and hand suspended a few metres above the Nile!
Since the mid 1980’s thousands of people have flung themselves into thin air with nothing but an elastic rubber (or bungee) cord to prevent them from slamming into the ground.
The first sighting of ‘bungee jumping’ occurred on the island of Pentecost in the South Pacific Ocean. Writers from National Geographic landed on the island in 1954 and reported on the ‘South Seas Incredible Land Divers’ who would throw themselves off a high tower made of logs and branches.
The first outsider to attempt the jump was Kal Muller who, in 1970, jumped 83 feet with a vine tied around his feet.
In 1987, a New Zealander, A.J. Hackett, made a famous bungee jump from the Eiffel Tower in Paris (he was arrested when he got back to solid ground!). Soon, others followed his lead in America and Europe, and bungee jumping took off!
Today, it’s estimated that at least 10 million people world-wide have bungee jumped, most from a tower or bridge, some from a hot-air balloon.
The record for the world’s highest bungee jump goes to Doug Hase who jumped from a balloon 2,400 feet off the ground. That is more than half a mile!
Now, in Uganda, a bungee tower has been built atop a cliff overhanging the Source of the Nile at Jinja Nile Resort.
The best view is reserved for the spectators who watch the jumpers rebound to within metres of where they stand against the stunning backdrop of the source of the Nile.
The cord is made from the highest quality 100% latex rubber grown in Malaysia. The rubber is commonly known as hat elastic and is most commonly used to suspend women’s underwear.
The completed bungee cord is expertly assembled and designed to slow down the jumper as they near the water then accelerate them rapidly back skyward on each bounce.
This is how it happens: Bungee jumpers must climb eight flights of stairs to reach the top of the bungee platform –– the view over the source of the Nile is incredible.
Jumpers then walk the bridge to the platform suspended on a staggering 145 feet above the river.
Each jumper is carefully weighed, asked to empty their pockets and then to decide whether or not to take the plunge –– dip their heads into the river.
Bungee jumpers then sit in a Congolese King’s chair while their ankles are bound together with a towel, nylon webbing with the bungee cord is attached by two karibeanas.
Are you nervous yet? The bungee jumpmaster then looks you directly in the eye and explains how you should jump.
Because your ankles are tied together, you must hop to the edge of the platform until your toes are overhanging. Don’t look down!
The jumpmaster will encourage you to look at the horizon and dive out toward it. One, two, three –– jump! See how much fun it can be?
Prepare to be very afraid! Are you brave enough to stand on top of the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and leap off it –– 44 metres (over 11 stories)?
On Sunday April 27 at the Source of the Nile in Jinja, the boys will be separated from the men and girls from the women.
Why? Because, at long last bungee jumping is here and now we can hurtle the height of Sheraton Kampala Hotel and hand suspended a few metres above the Nile!
Since the mid 1980’s thousands of people have flung themselves into thin air with nothing but an elastic rubber (or bungee) cord to prevent them from slamming into the ground.
The first sighting of ‘bungee jumping’ occurred on the island of Pentecost in the South Pacific Ocean. Writers from National Geographic landed on the island in 1954 and reported on the ‘South Seas Incredible Land Divers’ who would throw themselves off a high tower made of logs and branches.
The first outsider to attempt the jump was Kal Muller who, in 1970, jumped 83 feet with a vine tied around his feet.
In 1987, a New Zealander, A.J. Hackett, made a famous bungee jump from the Eiffel Tower in Paris (he was arrested when he got back to solid ground!). Soon, others followed his lead in America and Europe, and bungee jumping took off!
Today, it’s estimated that at least 10 million people world-wide have bungee jumped, most from a tower or bridge, some from a hot-air balloon.
The record for the world’s highest bungee jump goes to Doug Hase who jumped from a balloon 2,400 feet off the ground. That is more than half a mile!
Now, in Uganda, a bungee tower has been built atop a cliff overhanging the Source of the Nile at Jinja Nile Resort.
The best view is reserved for the spectators who watch the jumpers rebound to within metres of where they stand against the stunning backdrop of the source of the Nile.
The cord is made from the highest quality 100% latex rubber grown in Malaysia. The rubber is commonly known as hat elastic and is most commonly used to suspend women’s underwear.
The completed bungee cord is expertly assembled and designed to slow down the jumper as they near the water then accelerate them rapidly back skyward on each bounce.
This is how it happens: Bungee jumpers must climb eight flights of stairs to reach the top of the bungee platform –– the view over the source of the Nile is incredible.
Jumpers then walk the bridge to the platform suspended on a staggering 145 feet above the river.
Each jumper is carefully weighed, asked to empty their pockets and then to decide whether or not to take the plunge –– dip their heads into the river.
Bungee jumpers then sit in a Congolese King’s chair while their ankles are bound together with a towel, nylon webbing with the bungee cord is attached by two karibeanas.
Are you nervous yet? The bungee jumpmaster then looks you directly in the eye and explains how you should jump.
Because your ankles are tied together, you must hop to the edge of the platform until your toes are overhanging. Don’t look down!
The jumpmaster will encourage you to look at the horizon and dive out toward it. One, two, three –– jump! See how much fun it can be?