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Victoria Falls is a mile long curtain of water that stretches across the glistening basalt rock, erupts into spray, and then thunders into the canyons below. The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi form one of the great river corridors of the world. This is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is the ‘highway’ for our rafts. The gorge is over 100 meters deep at the Falls and increases to over 200 meters by the end of a full day raft trip. Despite this rugged terrain, the gorges below the Falls are thick with vegetation and incredibly spectacular.
Arguably the wildest white water in the world, rafting on the Zambezi River is an adrenaline rush not to be missed. The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union (Grade 6 being commercially un-runnable). Clients should be reasonably fit for this activity, as there is a steep walk into & out of the Batoka Gorge as well as the white water rafting activity itself.
•High Water- Rafting
Dates: 25th Dec – 10th August
Rapids: #11 to #23
Lunch: Lunch is served at the top of the gorge at Rapid #23
Time: 07:30 to 14:00
Duration: 6.5 hrs
•Departures: Rafting trips depart daily, Multi days are booked on request.
•Minimum / Maximum participants
Minimum: 2
Maximum: N/A
•Age Restrictions
Minimum age: 15 years (At management’s discretion younger children may be accepted if the child is of the right maturity, strength and will fit a lifejacket securely.)
Maximum age: There is no maximum age limit; however Wild Horizons retain the right to refuse to take a client who is clearly going to be unable to cope with the rigours of rafting.
•Language: English
Highlights & General Information
Victoria Falls is a mile long curtain of water that stretches across the glistening basalt rock, erupts into spray, and then thunders into the canyons below. The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi form one of the great river corridors of the world. This is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is the ‘highway’ for our rafts. The gorge is over 100 meters deep at the Falls and increases to over 200 meters by the end of a full day raft trip. Despite this rugged terrain, the gorges below the Falls are thick with vegetation and incredibly spectacular.
Arguably the wildest white water in the world, rafting on the Zambezi River is an adrenaline rush not to be missed. The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union (Grade 6 being commercially un-runnable). Clients should be reasonably fit for this activity, as there is a steep walk into & out of the Batoka Gorge as well as the white water rafting activity itself.
All guests will be collected from their respective hotels and taken to The Lookout Café for their briefing. Please bring your vouchers to check in. Do not bring valuables with you. Please leave all valuables, jewelry and passports at your hotel for safekeeping. We provide a safekeeping facility at check-in, where valuables can be left at your own risk.
What to Wear
•Swimsuit and shorts/cycling shorts but nothing that water will suck away
•A way to secure glasses to yourself or they will be lost
•T-shirt or long-sleeved shirt for sun protection
•Sunscreen and lip balm (guides will have dry bag for this)
•Sturdy shoes/trainers or rafting shoes. Your shoes must be securely fitted to your feet (i.e. no flip-flops) or they will be lost!
•A peak cap that will fit comfortably under your helmet.
•Wet Suits will be provided in the winter months.
•Bring as little as possible!
All guests will be collected from their respective hotels and taken to The Lookout Café for their briefing. Please bring your vouchers to check in. Do not bring valuables with you. Please leave all valuables, jewelry and passports at your hotel for safekeeping. We provide a safekeeping facility at check-in, where valuables can be left at your own risk.
•Depart Day 1: 08:00
•Return Day 2: 10:00
•Minimum / Maximum participants
Minimum: 6
Maximum: 21
•Times: Pre-departure briefing at 6.00pm on the night before the trip
•Duration: Between 2 and 5 days long.
•Age Restrictions: Minimum age: 15 years (At management’s discretion younger children may be accepted if the child is of the right maturity, strength and will fit a lifejacket properly.) Maximum age: There is no maximum age limit; however Wild Horizons retain the right to refuse to take a client who is clearly going to be unable to cope with the rigours of rafting.
•Language: Our trips are all conducted in English, and it is therefore required that all participants on the safari have a basic understanding of English and be able to communicate in that language. (French, German, Italian & Spanish available on private tours, at supplement cost –subject to availability)
DAY ONE
You will be collected from your accommodation to meet at The Lookout Cafe situated on the edge of the Batoka gorge at 08:00 am. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served, your guide will give a pre-departure briefing, and you will be asked to sign an indemnity form. We shall then drive to rapid #1 and begin the steep walk into the gorges below.
Within minutes we are a world away from the buzz of Victoria Falls town. At the base of the trail, our rafts await us in a large pool on the Zambezi, and it is here that you will be given a safety talk. The first part of any rafting experience is very much a learning exercise and after a few practice runs we nudge our boats into the current and drift down-stream to challenge the legendary rapids of the Zambezi. There is no gradual build up! The 23 km you will raft today includes renowned rapids such as ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and ‘Oblivion’. This is the wildest section of the Zambezi river.
A cold buffet lunch will be served on the banks of the river in the gorge on our way downstream. We will reach our beach campsite at rapid #21 at about 15:30 pm. Camp is set up on the white sandy beach overlooking the river.
DAY TWO
We rise as the sun illuminates the towering walls above, to the smell of bacon and eggs on the fire. You will burn off any calories you consume on the steep hike out of the gorge where refreshing drinks will await you. A short drive back and you will arrive in town between 09:00 and 10:00.
•Depart Day 1: 08:00
•Return Day 2: 12:00
•Minimum / Maximum participants
Minimum: 6
Maximum: 21
•Times: Pre-departure briefing at 6.00pm on the night before the trip
•Duration: Between 2 and 5 days long.
•Age Restrictions: Minimum age: 15 years (At management’s discretion younger children may be accepted if the child is of the right maturity, strength and will fit a lifejacket properly.) Maximum age: There is no maximum age limit; however Wild Horizons retain the right to refuse to take a client who is clearly going to be unable to cope with the rigours of rafting.
•Language: Our trips are all conducted in English, and it is therefore required that all participants on the safari have a basic understanding of English and be able to communicate in that language. (French, German, Italian & Spanish available on private tours, at supplement cost –subject to availability)
DAY ONE
You will be collected from your accommodation to meet at The Lookout Cafe situated on the edge of the Batoka gorge at 08:00 am. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served, your guide will give a pre-departure briefing, and you will be asked to sign an indemnity form. We shall then drive to rapid #1 and begin the steep walk into the gorges below.
Within minutes we are a world away from the buzz of Victoria Falls town. At the base of the trail, our rafts await us in a large pool on the Zambezi, and it is here that you will be given a safety talk.
The first part of any rafting experience is very much a learning exercise and after a few practice runs we nudge our boats into the current and drift down-stream to challenge the legendary rapids of the Zambezi. There is no gradual build up! The 23 km you will raft today includes renowned rapids such as ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and ‘Oblivion’. This is the wildest section of the Zambezi river.
A cold buffet lunch will be served on the banks of the river in the gorge on our way downstream. We will reach our beach campsite at rapid #21 at about 15:30 pm. Camp is set up on the white sandy beach overlooking the river.
DAY TWO
We rise as the sun illuminates the towering walls above, to the smell of bacon and eggs on the fire. Camp is packed up and all the equipment is harnessed down tightly for the voyage downstream; a long day lies ahead. Our world will become one of exhilarating action and scenes of remarkable beauty. The Songwe gorges, home to the threatened Taita falcons, are spectacular.
There is now more time between major rapids than on day one, a chance to relax in the sun as we drift down calmer stretches. On day two we shall negotiate rapids such as ‘The Narrows’ and ‘Let’s make a Deal’ to arrive at ‘Upper Moemba’ rapids.
‘Upper Moemba’ rapids are one of the most spectacular on the river and as with so many of these rapids it has a perfect platform for photographers who can stand within meters of the action. Our rafts slide over the lip and drop into several huge crashing waves that appear to swallow them completely. The entire Zambezi is squeezed into a narrow cataract at this point. We run the ‘Upper Moemba’ rapids and portage ‘Lower Moemba’ Falls arriving at the beach camp for the second night.
DAY THREE
After a good hot cooked breakfast we raft down to the proposed Batoka Gorge dam site. From here guests take the 45 minute walk out of the Zambezi gorge and are met by our vehicles for the transfer back to Victoria Falls. This is a three-hour journey on a dirt road through the Hwange Communal Lands, and several African villages. We will arrive back in Victoria Falls between 12:00 and 13:00 hrs.
•Depart Day 1: 08:00
•Return Day 5: 14:00 to 15:00
•Minimum / Maximum participants
Minimum: 6
Maximum: 21
•Times: Pre-departure briefing at 6.00pm on the night before the trip
•Duration: Between 2 and 5 days long.
•Age Restrictions: Minimum age: 15 years (At management’s discretion younger children may be accepted if the child is of the right maturity, strength and will fit a lifejacket properly.) Maximum age: There is no maximum age limit; however Wild Horizons retain the right to refuse to take a client who is clearly going to be unable to cope with the rigours of rafting.
•Language: Our trips are all conducted in English, and it is therefore required that all participants on the safari have a basic understanding of English and be able to communicate in that language. (French, German, Italian & Spanish available on private tours, at supplement cost –subject to availability)
DAY ONE
You will be collected from your accommodation to meet at The Lookout Cafe situated on the edge of the Batoka gorge at 08:00 am. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served, your guide will give a pre-departure briefing, and you will be asked to sign an indemnity form. We shall then drive to rapid #1 and begin the steep walk into the gorges below.
Within minutes we are a world away from the buzz of Victoria Falls town. At the base of the trail, our rafts await us in a large pool on the Zambezi, and it is here that you will be given a safety talk. The first part of any rafting experience is very much a learning exercise and after a few practice runs we nudge our boats into the current and drift down-stream to challenge the legendary rapids of the Zambezi. There is no gradual build up! The 23 km you will raft today includes renowned rapids such as ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and ‘Oblivion’. This is the wildest section of the Zambezi river.
A cold buffet lunch will be served on the banks of the river in the gorge on our way downstream. We will reach our beach campsite at rapid #21 at about 15:30 pm. Camp is set up on the white sandy beach overlooking the river.
DAY TWO
We rise as the sun illuminates the towering walls above, to the smell of bacon and eggs on the fire. Camp is packed up and all the equipment is harnessed down tightly for the voyage downstream; a long day lies ahead. Our world will become one of exhilarating action and scenes of remarkable beauty. The Songwe gorges, home to the threatened Taita falcons, are spectacular.
There is now more time between major rapids than on day one, a chance to relax in the sun as we drift down calmer stretches. On day two we shall negotiate rapids such as ‘The Narrows’ and ‘Let’s make a Deal’ to arrive at ‘Upper Moemba’ rapids.
‘Upper Moemba’ rapids are one of the most spectacular on the river and as with so many of these rapids it has a perfect platform for photographers who can stand within meters of the action. Our rafts slide over the lip and drop into several huge crashing waves that appear to swallow them completely. The entire Zambezi is squeezed into a narrow cataract at this point. We run the ‘Upper Moemba’ rapids and portage ‘Lower Moemba’ Falls arriving at the beach camp for the second night.
DAY THREE
Day three is another hard working day. We paddle 2km of flat water before we arrive at the proposed Batoka Gorge dam site called the ‘Chibonga Falls’ which we will portage.
Downstream awaits the towering waves of ‘Ghost rider’, the biggest commercially run-able roller coaster wave train in the world. In the original exploratory trip on the Zambezi one of the rafters opted not to run the rapid and pushed his empty boat off into the current. The sight of the empty raft successfully running the rapid in the twilight (after two others had flipped) inspired him to name the rapid Ghost rider. An option will be given to portage this rapid.
After a short distance we will arrive at ‘Deep Throat’ where the river is very narrow. We will walk around the rapid and the boats are pushed through. After all this we paddle downstream past a set of small rapids before negotiating a more technical rapid named ‘Asleep At The Wheel’ and then drift into camp exhausted and accomplished!
DAY FOUR
After departing camp we drift past Fish Eagle’s nests, and negotiate ‘Wave Train’, ‘J-Bay’ (similar to Jeffrey’s Bay a popular surfing place) and Bismark’s Territory (home to a particularly large crocodile named Bismark!). We see the biggest fisherman’s village encountered during the 5 day trip and this offers us a glimpse at an astonishingly uncomplicated and simple lifestyle, totally free from the modern, urban world we left behind some days ago. We proceed down the river through class #2 rapids and arrive at our base for the night ‘Hippo camp’.
DAY FIVE
The river really changes character. Basalt rocks give way to grassy banks and the grunts of hippopotamus carry across the water. Our rafts drift past islands in the river, havens for Egyptian Geese and basking crocodiles. A relaxing couple of hours later, we rendezvous with our vehicles near the Matetsi River mouth. After packing up and deflating the rafts we head back to Victoria Falls by road, having lunch en-route. The journey back takes 3 to 3 and a half housr and we will arrive back in Victoria Falls between 14:00 and 15:00 pm.
