More often than note, travelers visiting Victoria Falls already have White Water Rafting on their bucket list of things to do. One of the oldest adrenaline activities in the area, and rated one of the best one day rafting trips in the world!
Still unsure whether this is the adrenaline activity for you? Here’s a few comments to help you out.
To raft or not to raft, that is the question!
This is certainly an activity that is better suited for those with an adventurous nature. If breathtaking scenery fast paced boating skills are something you enjoy, then White Water Rafting the Zambezi River is definitely an adventure for you.
Still not convinced? Here’s some points to consider.
- This activity is open to anyone, no need to be a professional rafter, or even have much experience on the water. You don’t even have to be a great swimmer to still enjoy this activity.
- The minimum age for one to enjoy the White Water Rafting activity is 15 years.
- The Zambezi River White Water Rafting has been classed as a grade 5 experience, being the highest grade a rafting river can achieve. It’s definitely wet and wild
- Contrary to belief, the river is not just one long rapid. There are vast stretches of quiet water for you to catch your breath and have a laugh with fellow rafters.
- There are two distinct season for rafting, high water when the river is at its most mighty, and low water when river levels have dropped. This activity closes for a short time during the peak of high water due to safety reasons.
One thing we can absolutely guarantee is that this activity is one that you will remember for the rest of your life. Packed with incredible rafting and breathtaking scenery!
Booking the White Water Rafting
Being such a popular activity, there are numerous websites and agencies that can book your white water rafting experience for you. By booking through us you can be assured that you will be going with the best. We only use the most reputable white water rafting operators that have impeccable track records in both guest’s safety and enjoyment.
A white water rafting experience costs about $135 per person. This includes transfers to and from your hotel or lodge as well as a light lunch and drinks when you are done.
This is a great activity to do with a group of friends or family. Remember to leave most of the day free as this activity not only takes time, but you are likely to be a little tired after battling the Mighty Zambezi River.
What to expect on the day of your rafting adventure
You will be collected early from your lodge or hotel. Best to have something light to eat as you will need the energy to tackle the might rapids.
There will more than likely be a number of other guests joining you on the trip. On your bus ride around the town collecting other thrill seekers, get to know each other. Chances are you may be teamed up with some of them on your raft and will need to work as a team to take on the river.
Once all guests have been collected you will meet up at a central location to do all the formalities of indemnity forms as well as safety briefings. You will also be introduced to you guides. Each raft will be manned and lead by a very experienced river guide who will guide you through the gauntlet. Don’t worry, you not on your own. Along with your safety briefing you will also be handed some equipment, namely as safety helmet, life jacket and most importantly a paddle to navigate your way through the river.
You will likely be asked about your expectations and what sort of experience you wish to have. Those that are a little more weary and cautious will be teamed together and the guide will ensure that your trip suites your desires. Others that want to throw caution to the wind and blast through each and every rapid they face will be placed together.
High water and Low water rafting and what to expect!
The time of year will determine where you start your white water rafting experience. There are 23 rapids in this stretch of the Zambezi, and not all of them can be rafted throughout the year. The river is just too fast and too powerful.
High Water runs from January through to July and only rapids 11-23 can be rafted safely during these months. Most years rafting is actually suspended for a couple of weeks as the river is just too high and treacherous. This usually happens around April or May.
Low water runs from August through to December. During these months, all rapids are open for rafting, and your experience starts at rapid number 1. Right under the mighty Victoria Falls.
Regardless of the time of year, all white water rafting trips start the same way, climbing in and out of the mighty Batoka Gorge.
Standing on the edge, about to descend!
At this point you will have been fully briefed on what to expect. But rest assured, nothing can prepare you for the moment you find yourself at the edge of the gorge about to start your 250m climb down to the thundering Zambezi River below you.
Be warned that the trip down is steep, with crude steps cut into the sides of the cliff to help you with your decent. As daunting as it may appear, it goes by relatively quickly, spurred on by the excitement of getting started. Stopping every so often to take in the incredible views of your surreal surroundings is a great opportunity to catch your breath.
No matter your level of fitness you will reach the bottom with a serious case of jelly legs. Caused both by the steep climb down and butterflies in your stomach as you come face to face with the turbulent waters of the river before you.
Boarding the raft, there’s no turning back now!
If you had any second thoughts about doing this activity, once you board the raft, any hope of turning back is gone, and you are in it for the long haul.
The starting points are strategically placed in some calmer water to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the raft and the team you are with about to tackle the white waters. And then you are off!
The first 100m or so is always a comedy of errors as you have a group of up to 8 people (often strangers) coming to grips with working as a team and getting the rhythm of paddling together. With a few adjustments and instructions from your guide you now make your way to the first rapid.
A wave of emotions rush over you, fear and trepidation mixed with excitement as the waters start to get rougher and you can see the rapids ahead of you getting closer and closer. A small confidence booster is the individual kayakers there to film your experience and act as extra safety tackle these waters single handed in a small little kayak.
Taking on the Might Zambezi River
Each rapid has a name, and its name is based on how aggressive it is. Names such as Oblivion, Stairway to Heaven, The Terminator, Devils Toilet Bowl, Judgement Day and The Washing Machine give you an idea of what sort of experience you are about to have.
Fortunately, this rafting experience eases you into it. Whether you start at rapid 1 or at rapid 11 the first few are category 3 rapids. Still not to be taken for granted, these rapids are generally fairly straight forward to handle, and give you a taste of what rafting this mighty river is about.
Between rapids there are stretches of calm water for you to catch your breath and have a laugh with your fellow raft mates. Just as you begin to ease, the next rapid emerges up ahead and your raft guide begins shouting instructions of how best to approach this rapid, which angle to take and which side of the raft needs to paddle harder and faster.
Before long, you come face to face with “Gullivers Travels” one of several category 5 rapids along this stretch of the river. One of the more technical rapids during your white water rafting experience, and usually the one that causes the most flips. If you don’t hit the rapid at the correct angle and at the correct speed, there is a 99% chance it will flip your raft sending all its passengers swimming. Fortunately there is a good stretch of calmer water after it to get back to your raft, and compose yourself for the next rapid ahead.
No matter what rapid you attempt or the name that it has, this adrenaline filled, fast paced activity will have you beaming with excitement. Yes you will flip, and yes you will get wet. The river always wins, and there has not been a single rafting team that has made the entire trip without flipping at least once. It’s all part of the excitement
You have conquered the Mighty Zambezi River, now to climb out the gorge!
You end the activity the same way you started, face to face with the cliffs of the Batoka Gorge. Only this time, instead of climbing down, you now need to climb up.
Piece of advice, tackle it quickly whilst the adrenaline is still surging through you. Do not underestimate the climb out. Whilst just as spectacular as the climb down, it always feels like a lot more hard work climbing up, than climbing down. This combined with the fact that you have just had a heated battle with one of the world’s most powerful rivers.
As was the case with climbing down, stop and take in the spectacular views of the gorge and river below you and catch your breath. One of the biggest motivators is having the rafting guides come jogging past you as you ascend this seemingly endless climb. Not only are they barely breaking a sweat, but they are carrying the rafts you have just been in. If they can do that, you can get yourself to the top!
One thing we can guarantee you is that once you are at the top and you turn around and have a final look at the Mighty Zambezi River you have just rafted, you will be filled with self-pride and carry those memories with you for the rest of your life.