Adventure Trails & Thrills

The best way to settle into being on our awesome river is to sit back and relax on one of our evening sunset cruises. Take binoculars and camera with because you never know what you might see as the boat drifts quietly along. The helmsman has eagle-eyes on the look-out for anything and everything that may be moving on or in the water or on the river bank. The south bank is in fact the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe which teems with all sorts of wildlife. The birdlife is pretty amazing too! Sunset cruises come with snacks and house-brand drinks included.

Just half an hour’s drive from The River Club are the mighty Victoria Falls. Known by the locals as ‘Mosi–oa-Tunya’ (meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’) as the spray and the sound of the Falls can be seen and heard from many miles away.

The Zambian side of the falls provides a completely different vantage from that of the Zimbabwean side, and during high water levels is certainly the best place to be.

For those of us who live here and love our very own Natural Wonder, it’s not possible to say WHEN the best time of year to see the waterfall is because it changes with seasonal Zambezi River levels and is magnificent whenever you come: April / May to sometime in July or August – is when Victoria Falls lives up to its local name and the smoke truly thunders because its high water. January to March / April and again some-time in July / August to late September is Medium Water and the smoke is still thundering but not quite as much. September / October to mid-December is low water and the gorge itself is a beautiful sight to see, not to mention the availability of the adrenalin-pumping activities available at this time.

The River Club has been involved with the local community since 2000, helping improve the lives of the people who live in our area. Join us for a visit to a nearby village to see our initiatives in action, to spend quality time in the environment of these traditional African settlements and to immerse yourself in the local culture of our beautiful land.

Take a short drive in our Game Viewer into this nearby park. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is the smallest in the country but the most visited due to its proximity to Victoria Falls. It is home to a good number of plains game such as buffalo, giraffe and zebra, and various species of antelope like impala and waterbuck (to name two), other interesting inhabitants range from small to large such as warthog and elephant (who pass through whenever they feel like it). This park is also home to several white rhino – the only ones in Zambia. However you need to do a Game Walk to see those. This park is too close to town to allow for large predators to live there so don’t look for lions and leopards! For game drives don’t forget your binoculars, cameras, hats and insect repellent.

The sport-fish the Zambezi River is most famous for is the Tigerfish. With its propensity to fight and it’s razor sharp teeth, it’s easy to see why the Tigerfish is related to the equally famous Piranha of the Amazon! The upper Zambezi has around 200-species of fish but the other famous family is the Bream, or Tilapia – these are a favourite eating-species. Fishing with The River Club is catch and release only but we do have indigenous Zambezi Bream on our menu procured from a professional fish-farm not far upstream. Fishing is not available during the breeding season December to March each year.

People travel to Africa from all over the world to see the Schalow’s Loerie and the African Finfoot, residents at The Club. Other birds to try and spot in the area include the African Skimmer and native Fish Eagle whilst the Taita Falcon and Black Eagle can be found in the gorges below the Victoria Falls.

Send the children on a KIDS @ THE CLUB guided walk with a knowledgeable staff member. They will receive an adventure bag which contains an Activity Book. The guide will help children look for interesting insect and animal signs and show them how to build a toy raft from scratch.

In your choice of Microlight or Helicopter, get a bird's eye view of this expansive natural wonder as you fly over Victoria Falls. This experience is known as the 'Flight of Angels' through the 'smoke that thunders' and is an opportunity not to be missed as this is the ONLY way to see the entire falls formation in one view.

This is an Elephant Interaction as well as a very special dining experience. Enjoy a scenic boat ride through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, jumping rapids and game viewing along the way. Disembark at Ele-Café’s jetty in the national park, and then enjoy an astonishing and highly educational elephant interaction with a group of rescue elephants. Complimentary photos and videos will be taken during the interaction which will be e-mailed to you afterwards. After all this excitement, sit down at the Café right on the rivers’ edge and enjoy a unique award winning African-Indigenous-Fusion meal.

Minimum age for elephant interaction is 10-years.

Children of any age may enjoy the other aspects of this activity (full price)

Dine the luxurious comfort of an air-conditioned vintage, dinner steam train as you travel along this section of the famed “Cape to Cairo” route. Your journey takes you to the bridge at Victoria Falls to gaze upon the Falls in the evening before your five-course dinner is served.

Dinner on the Royal Livingstone Express Train - Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Enjoy a slow run from the siding in town down to the Railway Bridge; disembark to enjoy the sunset, then the slow ride back while dinner is served. Dinner is a five-course affair served with beer, wine, soft-drinks and still water

For guests 4-years or older (full price)

The most scenic bridge dive in the world, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls is high on our list of adventure activities in Livingstone. Take the leap and see the gorge from a different angle.

*Bridge swing and zipline also available.

For guests 14-years or older

Take a trip back in time with a historic tour of the bridge at the Falls. There is 100 years of Victorian engineering to uncover and insight into the heart of Cecil John Rhodes’ vision of a Cape to Cairo railway.

Get the adrenaline pumping while surfing the rapids of the Zambezi. White water rafting at Victoria Falls is sure to get the heart racing in this unrivalled setting.

*Available from July - January for guests 15yrs and older.

Sign up for exciting grade-5 rafting in the famous Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls. This activity is not for the faint-hearted or the unfit although no previous experience is necessary. Minimum age is strictly 15 (accompanied by an adult).

This is not a strenuous activity and no previous canoeing experience is required. The guides will give you lessons on how to guide your craft before you set off. Hard-body Canadian-type canoes are used and it is a great game and bird viewing experience while drifting down the river

For guests 12-years or older

Walking safaris can be arranged on request, allowing guests to explore as much of this prolific region of the Luangwa Valley as possible.

The game-viewing potential at Mfuwe Lodge and the surrounding area is second-to-none. Drives are led by our experienced team of guides, setting out at first light, and then again in the late afternoon when the wildlife is at its most active. After sundowners, spotlights are used to pick out a new cast of nocturnal creatures.

Discover the beautiful birds of this area. Plus (upon request).

Discover the true meaning of relaxation at Mfuwe Lodge’s BushSpa, a calm sanctuary in the heart of the Zambian wilderness, perfect for anyone seeking rejuvenation of mind, body and soul while on safari. Our award-winning Bush Spa offers a contemporary range of eastern and western treatments, each one adapted to suit the surroundings and leave you feeling revitalized.

From the Spa’s private deck, with its views over a wildlife-rich lagoon, you can continue your game-viewing in style as you sink into a heavenly herbal Jacuzzi or enjoy a Zambian reflexology foot massage. Indulge each of your senses at the Bush Spa with its classic design and spectacular views, the sounds of the surrounding bush, a refreshing herbal drink, exotic aromas and, most importantly, the skilled hands of our highly trained local massage therapists.

Cultural visits to the local village, school and textiles/handicraft market.

Get out into the bush and explore the rich diversity of the surrounding area on guided morning and afternoon walks. On special occasions we can also arrange an afternoon wading through the cool waters of the Kapamba where a scenic sundowner or special meal will be waiting for you.

Get out into the bush and explore the rich diversity of the surrounding area by jumping into a Land Rover for a driving safari (day or night). On special occasions we can also arrange an afternoon wading through the cool waters of the Kapamba where a scenic sundowner or special meal will be waiting for you.

Whether you are in the mood for intrepid exploration or perhaps some more sedentary wildlife viewing, Chindeni will deliver. Avid game viewers and birdwatchers can set out on superb walking safaris in the surrounding area.

Whether you are in the mood for intrepid exploration or perhaps some more sedentary wildlife viewing, Chindeni will deliver. Avid game viewers and birdwatchers can set out on superb game drive in the surrounding area.