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Rapids of the Batoka Gorge

The Zambezi river itself is of a "pool drop" nature, - large rapids are followed by calmer stretches of water

The distance between rapids allows time to relax and prepare for the next challenge.

The gorge itself varies between approximately 140m and 250m deep making for spectacular scenery.

FEATURES OF THE ZAMBEZI

The Zambezi River is classified as a high volume pool drop river.

This means the huge rapids have very few exposed rocks to cause problems or injury.

Below each rapid is a large section of calm water, which makes any necessary rescues simple.

The river is classified as Grade 5 – “extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas”.

The river drops approximately 100 metres over the 25km distance covered in a one-day trip to over 200 metre climb to the top of the gorge.

During "low water" season, rapids #1 to #18 present a run of approximately 24km
roughly between 10 July to 20 January. - When the rafting is at it's best.

During "high water" season, only rapids #11 to #23 are run (approximately 18km)
roughly between 20 January to 10 July (stopping altogether if river too high).

Maps and Info

Batoko Gorge map | whitewater rafting information | Zambezi Challenge

Batoka Gorge Rapids

# 1: "The Boiling Pot / against the wall" Class 4/5:

The start of the low water trip. From here the river hits a wall forming a wild cushion wave and eddy.

# 2: " The bridge" Class 3:

A wild mixture of waves best in the early part of the low water season. Clearly visible to bungee jumpers and spectators on the Victoria Falls bridge.

# 3: Rapid Class 4:

A steep and radically fast wave with an easily avoidable hole. The second part of this rapid is best in the early part of the season - a small wave train with an excellent pocket on the Zambian side.

# 4: "Morning Glory" Class 4/5:

The first major rapid offering varying lines with an almost river wide hole at the top, followed by a few diagonals off the right hand wall and finally a big hole at the bottom

# 5: "Stairway to Heaven" Class 5:

Best in the early part of the season, with an 8m drop over 10m, very steep and powerful with a heap of massive waves and holes. Although it isn't too technical, it's size and volume make for an amazing spectacle and an even more amazing ride.

Avoid the waterfalls and a hole on the left called the "catcher's mitt" plus a large pourover on the right.

# 6: "Devil's Toilet Bowl" Class 4:

A Short rapid with a deceptively steep and powerful hole on entry followed by some nasty boils and whirlpools.

# 7: "Gullivers Travels" Class 5:

700m of class 5 high volume white water at certain levels. This is the longest and most technical rapid on the one day whitewater trip. The run consists of a main channel with smaller channels feeding into it - includes the "Temple of Doom", "The Crease", "Patella Gap" and "Land of the Giants".

# 8: "Midnight Diner" Class 3/5:

This rapid has 3 runs. On the left is "Star Trek" with a hole of up to 5m reserved for the brave. The "Muncher Run" in the centre takes you through a window of "Star Trek". On the right is the "Chicken Run".

# 9: "Commercial Suicide" Class 5/6:

The Zambezi's most infamous. This is a river-wide pour-over with a very narrow slot of less than a metre on the right - commercial portage!

#10: "Gnashing Jaws of Death" Class 4:

An easy run before lunch

This is the first rapid on the "high water" run.

# 11: "Overland Truck Eater" Class 5:

A big barrel for about two weeks in the year during the transition between high and low water in mid January and early July. Watch out for the hole, eddy line and whirlpool.

#12A,B,C: "Three Sisters" Class 3/4:

12B is the famous Zambezi surfing wave for kayakers - surfs best between August and December with two windows and a massive green shoulder and a big eddy.

Rafters prefer the term "three little pigs"

# 13: "The Mother" Class 4/5:

A massive wave train at its best, first 3 waves super fast.

# 14: Rapid # 14: Class 3:

Big S-bend in the river. Center chute to be avoided at lower water levels.

# 15: "Washing Machine" Class 5:

Simple wave train but unrunnable in the middle because of a huge crashing hole - go left or right into the eddy.

# 16: " The Terminators I and II " Class 4:

A massive wave train and trough at higher levels, not much when low.

# 17: "Double Trouble" Class 5:

A simple wave train but unrunnable because of 2 large holes - also known as "The Bitch".

# 18: "Oblivion" Class 5:

Three waves make up THE rapid on the Zambezi.. The 3rd crashing wave is responsible for more raft flips than any other in the world - only about 1 in 4 attempts succeed!

This rapid marks the end of the "low water" one-day run