Kenyan sets East Africa bungee jumping record

Wanjohi Wachira is the new record holder for the most Bungee Jumps in East Africa after he broke the previous seven jumps and setting 11 jumps in under five hours.

The new record was set at Savage Wilderness Camp after a grueling 4 hours and 48 minutes of adrenaline charged jumps above Sagana River in Murang’a.

Wanjohi, a member of the Kenyan Thrill Seekers, had late last year taken adrenaline junkies for a water rafting expedition at Savage Wilderness when the thought of breaking the jumping record set in Kenya and East Africa popped up.

“I have been a frequent visitor at the Savage Wilderness Camp. Previously, I had four bungee jumps up my sleeve and I decided to inquire from Julius, the bungee instructor, about the highest number jumps attempted in a day. He said 23 jumps in one hour in South Africa and seven jumps in Kenya. It was then I decided to attempt breaking that record,” he says.

“It takes courage ascending 221 steps to the top of the 60-metre steel structure. Once on top you get to see the breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks of Mt Kenya to the north and Aberdare Ranges to the West, then right below your feet is Sagana River which happens to be Kenya’s longest river,” Wanjohi explains.

First step

It was at 11.11am when he made his first step on the steel ladder before Julius fastened the safety cords tightly onto his feet before he assumed the “Jesus crucifix position” and diving 60 metres through the air, plunging into Sagana River.

“The feeling of tearing through the air and the cold waters of the river splashing across my face sent cold shivers down my spine,” he details.

He reveals that every jump was different from the other, but after the eighth jump, he got nervous and anxious after realising that he had already shattered the previous record.

“I had supportive members of the Kenyan Thrill Seeker cheering me on with song and dance. I just could not let them down; setting a new record was our collective achievement. When I plugged into the river for the 10th time, it felt so fulfilling,” says Wanjohi.

But wait, he was not done yet. He elaborates, “In the words of Snoop Dogg, “I want to thank me for believing in me, I want to thank me for doing all this hard work. I wanna thank me for never quitting”. And with eyes wide open, I watched the sun fade into the horizon, as I made one more emotional jump.”

After the 11th jump, Wanjohi had won his bragging rights, and remains hopeful to break the African bungee jumping record and possibly feature in the Guinness Book of World Records in the near future.