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whitewater rafting facts & tips

Victoria falls offers the best adventure vacation rafting with the wildest warm water trip in the world

The 23 rapids are run in large rubber rafts launched from the boiling pot.

General Information

All the trips are influenced by water levels and it is important to be aware of the seasonal nature of these products

Low water is July to December - When the rafting is at it's best.

High Water is January to June

Options

# Full Day whitewater rafting

For one of the most intense thrills imaginable try whitewater rafting on the premier rafting river inthe world - the zambezi river at Victoria Falls

# Half Day white water rafting - only at low water [app July to Dec]

The problem with this shortened rafting trip is that most clients have so much fun that they wish to extend it to the full day

# Multi-Day white water rafting

This is for the adventure enthusiast! It combines the thrills and spills of rafting with the Great Outdoors.
As you float past rapid 23, the majesty of the Batoka Gorgehits you with all its wondrous intensity.

# Full Day Rafting & Overnight - Low water only [end July to Dec]

Overnight camping along sandy beaches between the sheer black cliffs echoing the roar of the zambezi river, will leave you with an unforgettable African experience.

2 day & 2 night white water rafting
5 day & 4 night white water rafting
7 night 8 day white water rafting river expeditions

The ultimate in whitewater exploration! As you move down the river into rarely chartered waters you will get as close to nature as you dare, with hippos and crocs just a stones throw away!

At Victoria Falls the Zambezi River plummets into a basalt gorge which is over 100 meters deep at the Falls increasing to over 200 meters by the end of a full day raft trip.

Spectacular rapids, warm water, beautiful scenery make it "A MUST DO"

Maps

Batoka Gorge | Victoria Falls | Livingstone | Livingstone and Falls

Facts full day rafting

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE - A day you will cherish for the rest of your life

MEETING PLACE

- A cup of coffee/tea and biscuits at 08h00 where you meet all your fellow adventure seekers from around the world
- Briefing, sign an indemnity form and a choice of whether to paddle or not

(there are two types of rafts, the one where you can paddle or the other where the guide has oars and you can just sit and hang on for dear life)

INTO BATOKA GORGE WALKED THE BRAVE TWENTY

At the top of the gorge you get a detailed briefing of all the procedures for falling out of a raft, especially on how to get a person double your size back into the raft.
To do this you dunk the person first and then pull them up.

The reasons for this are: firstly -

because they deserve to be dunked for falling out and
secondly - because the buoyancy pushes them up for re-embarkation

You will also get advised on precautionry measures [just in case.]

At the top of Batoka Gorge you are equipped with all your kit including paddle, helmet and life jacket If it is cold you can get a thermal vest. [Rare in the tropics]

You then take the steep yet simple walk down to the awaiting raft with juice and water onboard. One raft in the party will carry a medical supply box.

DOWN THE ZAMBEZI RIVER WITH A PADDLE AND A LAUGH

You then spend some time in the pool area going through some simple commands with your guide such as bracing yourselves and steering.
The rapids go from classes 1 - 5 in terms of size of the rapid.
There is a class 6 but you are not permitted to do a class 6 commercially hence the class 6 one is called "commercial suicide" and you walk around it.

You start with a class 5 rapid called "Morning Glory". where you get a rude awakening [In high water you will only start at rapid number 11.]
Now that you are wide awake Nyaminyami,[ the Zambezi river god] permits you to enter "Stairway to Heaven" a 16 foot drop into a class 5 rapid

Through-out the morning session you will either proudly conquer rapids such as "devils toilet bowl" and "gullivers travels"or be flipped and gurgled
at, by them. You notice that there are hellicopter landings marked along the river- [just in case] ADRIFT is covered by MARS [medical aid rescue service]
but not all companies are You rest for lunch by taking a little hike up the gorge to the lunch depot where salads, meats , bread and some fruit are served as well as coffee, tea, water and juice.

After lunch the joyful shreiks and laughter resumes with "overland truck eater" The afternoon leg is a bit more relaxing but with a series of rapids such as "The Sisters", "Terminator 1 and 2 and Judgement day" you find yourself in the water more often than not. When this happens you quickly get rescued by the kayaks that film / photo shoot you as well Also other rafts will pick you out of the water.

Uprighting your toppled raft is sometimes even more fun than the toppling was

There is a two kilometre stretch where you just sit back and take in this magnificent river and chat with your guide who tells you all about the gorge and the area as well as the legends that go with it.

After a few more class 3 & 4 rapids you finish the day

WALK OUT

The walk out is hard and hot, but guides are there to escourt guests up,lending a hand, or a tissue!
The walk is straight up and takes at most about 20 minutes [record is 6 mins]
There is no rush and orange juice is offered, at a number of points on the way up.
There is ice cold beer and drinks at the top.
Clients will carry their buoyancy aids and helmets.
That evening you meet to view and purchase your videos and photos.
Truly a great experience that you have to do

HALF DAY RAFTING

This product runs during the Low Water season only,approximately August to January, and clients have the option of participating either

in the morning section (rapids #4 - #11) or
the afternoon section (rapids #11 - #19).

Most clients enjoy themselves so much that at the end of a 1/2 raft they then try to extend the trip. It's wiser just to book for the full day rafting

MULTI-DAY RAFTING TRIPS

Overnight , 2½ Day and 5 Day options are available.
These trips are a wilderness experience and run on a self contained basis with overnight camping on soft sandy beaches at the river edge.
These trips only run at Low Water - approximately August to January.

* The Trip

Both multi-day trips continue downstream of the normal Full Day Rafting trip. Nights are spent camping on soft sandy beaches at the
river edge and the scenery is stunning. Each day brings the challenge of new and exciting rapids. 2½ Day trips cover approximately 60kms and 5
Day trips cover approximately 120kms. Trips return to Victoria Falls by lunch time on the last day.

* Accommodation

Clients stay at the camp for the first night and thereafter camp on sandy beaches at the river edge. Tents, bedding and mosquito nets are provided.

* Ablutions

Portable toilets are carried on all multi-day trips and are discreetly positioned to provide a "loo with a view". Bucket showers are available.

* Food & Drinks

Lunch consists of cold meats and salads, dinners are a two course meal which is cooked by the guides and a full breakfast is provided each
morning. Orange juice is supplied on the river during the day and a limited supply of alcohol is supplied for the evenings. Clients should
advise their guide at the pre-trip briefing should they have further alcoholic requirements. These will be to the clients own account - cans
and plastic bottles are recommended.

GENERAL INFORMATION

courtesy shuttle service, please confirm your pick up location and time.
Transport to and from the river is provided
Rafting is suitable for most clients. The ability to swim is not essential,however non-swimmers should inform the Trip Leader at the briefing.

Age Restrictions

Minimum : 15 years - Proof of age may be requested.
Maximum : There is no maximum age limit
Adrift is a member of MARS [medical air rescue service]
ensures medical backup in the event of an emergency

What to bring/wear

* Swimming costume
* Shorts and T-shirt or similar
* Rafting sandals or running shoes or similar shoes
* Hat (baseball hat to fit under helmet)
* Sunscreen lotion
* Spectacles/sunglasses need to be fitted with appropriate straps, if they are not - string is provided at check in.
Contact lenses are not recommended as they can get washed-out, however there is no danger to wearing contact lenses and the choice is yours.
* Additional clothes left for safe keeping will be available at the top of the gorge at the end of the days rafting.
* All valuables, jewellery and passports must be left at the hotel for safekeeping.
Oar Boat / Paddle Boat

At certain water levels clients are given the option between
an "oar boat" and a "paddle boat". An "oar boat" is controlled by the guide using oars Clients are seated in the front of the raft and hold on to the safety line around the perimeter of the raft.
A "paddle boat" requires the clients to actively assist in maneuvering the raft through the rapids and calm stretches.

MINIMUM PASSENGERS -
All Rafting trips - 1 passenger
Private trips - 20 passengers [ 2 free tickets]
River Boarding trips - 2 passengers
Overnights - 4 passengers

Equipment

All rafting and river boarding clients are issued with an adjustable buoyancy aid and helmet at the beginning of the trip. String is available for tieing on sunglasses and paddles are given to those rafting clients who will be "paddle boating". Wet suit tops are available for rafting clients during the colder months.
All Adrift guides are first aid qualified and there is a minimum of two Trip Leaders on every trip who hold both Advanced First Aid and Swift Water Rescue certification.

Medical Air Rescue Service (M.A.R.S.)

All clients are covered by MARS and in the event of an accident, helicopter evacuations are carried out should they be necessary.
Every trip carries a comprehensive First Aid Kit with oxygen.

Health

Clients will be asked to declare any illnesses, injuries or ailments that may affect them during the trip.

Communications

A radio is carried on every Adrift trip, enabling us to have radio communication with our rafting base and MARS.

Video's & Photos

Videos & photos are taken on all Full Day and Half Day rafting trips.
Videos and photos can be arranged on request, and depending on passenger volumes, for Multi-Day trips and River Boarding trips. All videos and
photos are displayed at 20hr00 in the evening and can be ordered and purchased from the sales desk

No previous rafting experience is required and clients need not be proficient swimmers. At the beginning and at the end of the half, one and 2.5 day raft trip clie`nts have to negotiate a steep path in and out of the gorge. The walk out is 750 vertical feet up a gradient of 1 in 3, and a person of average fitness can mange this in about 20 minutes.

RAFTS AND EQUIPMENT
The company uses some of the finest equipment on the market to ensure that the trip is a safe and enjoyable one.

Rafts are purchased from Ark in South Africa and are the tried and tested river rafts required for the Zambezi River. America’s Cup high flotation life jackets and Protec safety helmets are issued to clients before the day’s rafting. Wet suits are provided and usually used by clients during the colder months (June / July).

We supply all camping equipment, tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, dry bags, etc. on our overnight and 2.5 day trips. Clients need to bring shorts, T-Shirts, costume, shoes, towel and tracksuit for the evenings, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen and toiletries.

Guides are fully trained professionals and all hold valid advanced first aid certificates. Whilst every precaution is taken, it is essential that agents make clients aware that there is a risk of injury associated with the activity of rafting on the Zambezi. A comprehensive first aid kit and skid stretcher are carried on each trip. Each client is required to sign the Safari Par Excellence White Water Rafting indemnity form prior to departure. Each trip leader is in radio contact with our bases in Victoria Falls and Livingstone and direct with M.A.R.S. (Medical Air Rescue Service).

VISA / CLIENT REQUIREMENTS
Passports are required to cross the Zambian border for clients from Zimbabwe. The cost of day visitors visas for clients from Zimbabwe are included in the rate.

INSURANCE
All clients are covered by Medical Air Rescue Services (MARS), however this only covers them for emergency evacuation in life threatening situations. It does not cover their hospitalisation and medication. As such travel and medical insurance is compulsory for all clients. Please ensure all clients bring the details of their insurance policy with them. SafPar will not cover clients should they not have insurance.
SafPar has US$1.5 million public and passenger liability cover