Victoria Falls Bridge to close on Saturday for The Grand Tour filming

This Saturday, starting at 10.30 am in Victoria Falls, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond will be filming an episode of The Grand Tour in Zimbabwe for Amazon Productions.

An advertisement published in the local Chronicle newspaper on Thursday revealed that the Victoria Falls Bridge, which connects to Zambia and is well-known for bungee jumping, will be temporarily closed on September 30 for one hour.

The advertisement, placed by Emerged Railway Properties Management, stated that the bridge closure between 10.30 am and 11.30 am is "to facilitate a government-sanctioned filming project at the bridge."

Clarkson, May, and Hammond have recently embarked on filming an episode of The Grand Tour in Zimbabwe. This popular Amazon motoring show is entering its fifth season following a hiatus that began in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Clarkson revealed their presence in Zimbabwe through an Instagram post on Wednesday, where he, May, and Hammond were photographed beneath the iconic Flamboyant Tree in Honde Valley, Manicaland Province. Clarkson captioned the photo with, "Good to be back."

Clarkson has long shown his affinity for Southern Africa, having previously filmed Top Gear episodes in Botswana and Mozambique, as well as The Grand Tour episodes in Namibia and South Africa. In April of this year, he visited a gift shop in Victoria Falls and informed surprised staff that he was looking for a gift for his newborn granddaughter.

For a significant period, an informal ban imposed by the Zimbabwean government prevented Top Gear from being filmed in the country. However, following a military coup in November 2017 that removed the late leader Robert Mugabe, Clarkson expressed his eagerness to produce a program in Zimbabwe during a December 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly.

"I love southern Africa, so filming there is a joy. Now, fingers crossed we'll be able to go film in Zimbabwe next year now that that's become available," Clarkson remarked.

One aspect of filming in Africa that Clarkson particularly appreciates is the relatively relaxed approach to health and safety regulations. "They simply don't understand what you mean by health and safety," he noted. "You can do anything you like. Anything is possible. And it's beautiful, the weather is lovely, and you're uninterrupted by any of the things that plague the western world."

In the Zimbabwean episode, Clarkson, May, and Hammond have taken the wheel of a blue Lancia Montecarlo, a purple 1974 Triumph Stag, and a yellow Ford Capri RS3100.

Online fans have been engaged in lively speculation about the other destinations they may be exploring, with many expressing their desire to see them visit Victoria Falls.

"I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Victoria Falls, but it's located on the far side of the Eastern Highlands. Unfortunately, we have no information about their exact starting point or their final destination," commented @michaelloda9 on Reddit.

Another enthusiastic fan of The Grand Tour was impressed by their choice of the Eastern Highlands as a filming location.

"Nyanga is a breathtaking place, with its mountains, wattle forests, and pristine rivers suitable for drinking. In terms of scenery, I would compare it to Scotland, albeit with less rainfall," added @JimBean.