Of Chows and Dhows

Updated in August 2024

Hello Friends! I hope you are well. This month I finally decided to take the leap and go bungee jumping in Sagana. It has been high on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. I have been toying with the idea since 2015 but my circumstances have never been quite right.

Bungee jumping is one of those activities that stir up mixed emotions every time it’s mentioned. It either evokes excitement or shock; more often than not the latter, as most do not seem to understand why one would willingly jump out of the elevated ground or a tower only to have their life hanging by a rope – literally.

A Guide to Bungee Jumping in Sagana:

Location

Bungee Jumping in Sagana, Kenya is run by Bungeeinkenya and can be accessed via Savage Wilderness Camp or Rapids Camp, both of which are in Sagana. It’s currently the only company that offers the activity. I decided to access it via Savage Wilderness. Savage Wilderness Camp is located off the Nairobi – Nyeri Highway.

Bungee Jumping Charges

Bungee jumping in Sagana is Kshs 5,950 per person.

The Experience

I first watched the people before me jump to get an idea of what was happening. At this point, I was a bit nervous but what terrified me the most was climbing up the crane. I was ready to go back home.

However, after seeing other people climb up, I got motivated to do it – that’s the beauty of jumping last in my opinion. At first glance, the ladder on the crane seems very narrow and I genuinely thought I would slip and fall to my death. No, seriously!

A harness is attached and if you slip, you will not fall to the ground but will be supported by a rope. The jump team is trained and talks you through the whole process. By the time everyone else was done jumping I was composed and calm.

The climb was more tiring than it was scary. I was also advised to climb at my own pace so I took each step at a time, slow and steady, admiring the view below as I moved higher.

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally got to the top. Here, the bungee cord was attached around my ankles, and Andreas, who runs Bungeeinkenya, explained the jump process and safety precautions. A wrong move could skin you alive! The view from the top was so beautiful and on a good day, you can spot Mt. Kenya in the distance.

The jump

The gate is opened once a person is ready to jump. The team does not rush you and they do not force anyone to jump. If one is unable to jump, one climbs down the crane. Once the gate was opened, I froze. Fear kicked in and suddenly I was questioning why in the world I signed up for the activity.

What ifs circled in my mind but there’s no way I would have climbed down the crane. What motivated me (other than my family’s cheers lol) was that thought. Jumping seemed like the easier way out. It took quite some time and eventually, I asked Andreas to push me. In retrospect, I should have jumped immediately after the cord was attached.

3, 2, 1…I felt a gentle push. The next thing I knew I was free-falling. The wind against my face and the adrenaline rush through my body is the best thing I have ever felt. At that moment, all I could think of was how free I felt. It was almost as though I was flying. This is no doubt the scariest but best decision I have made this year.

After a couple of swings, one of the members of the jump team pulls you towards the river bank where the bungee cord and harness are detached.

The team was incredibly knowledgeable and patient. They also did a great job of calming me down and cracking me up. I felt very safe throughout the whole process.

After the jump, we strolled around Savage Wilderness‘s beautiful grounds.

Savage Wilderness offers other activities as well:

Some things to note about Bungee Jumping in Sagana, Kenya:

• You pay regardless of whether or not you jump so if you are unable to jump from the tower you still have to pay.
• To book the activity, you have to be a minimum of four people. Booking is preferable. You can reach the facility at +254734400547 or reach out to Andreas at +254734819361.
• There is no age restriction however participants must weigh a minimum of 40kg and a maximum of 105 kg. Parental consent is needed for persons under 18.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• The bungee tower is 60m high.
• Bungee jumping is a risky activity, you sign a waiver form before your jump, so bear that in mind and follow instructions to avoid any accidents.
• The jump is a battle of the mind. If you decide to jump you will jump, if you focus on not jumping, you won’t. The only thing that’ll stop you is your fear. The rush you get from it is all worth it though.
• If you can, jump straight away (after having your ankles harnessed and the process explained). Overthinking will make you chicken out.
• If you’re unable to jump but are willing, you can ask the jump team to push you. They will only do this if you’re comfortable with it. Sometimes we need a little push to steer us in the right direction right?

In Conclusion…

Bungee jumping is the perfect celebratory or date activity for thrill seekers.

If you are an adrenaline junkie and are looking for the perfect adventure activity in Kenya, I highly recommend going bungee jumping. Andreas and his team are patient, knowledgeable, fun and most importantly, safety is their highest priority.

Choose to conquer fear in everything you do, and if adventure is more of your style, go bungee jumping!

What’s the scariest thing you’ve done this year? Comment down below…

Catch up on previous posts here and for posts on Sagana click here and here.

Find more information about Savage Wilderness here.

Until next time, Love and Light

and Seek discomfort (as the good people of Yes Theory say! Check out their channel here)

Share this post with an adrenaline junkie 🙂