Zambia Whitewater Rafting: Ultimate Adventure Package
Whitewater Rafting in Zambia with Water By Nature Ltd
Highlights
- A superb trip down all the best rapids on the Zambezi River
- Customize your adventure with elephant rides, walking with lions, bungy jumping and more
- Camp on secluded riverside beaches and stay at a gorgeous Waterfront Lodge
Full Description
This incredible Zambia whitewater rafting adventure has something to offer every taste.
No matter whether your idea of being an "adrenaline junkie" is doing a relaxing sunset cruise or doing a bungy jump, this trip has something to offer EVERY taste. In addition to a superb trip down all the best rapids on the Zambezi River and a spectacular helicopter flight back to Livingstone, you'll get to choose from a list of activities to do after your river trip that will make the trip as adrenaline charged or relaxing as YOU choose. With such a wide variety of adventures to choose from including a microlights flight, elephant ride, walking with lions, gorge swing, bungy, tiger fishing or relaxing and taking in the view on Livingstone Island, you'll be spoilt for choice. Come and see why Jack Osbourne and Elijah Wood found this trip so special.
Includes:
- Transfers to and from Livingstone Airport
- Accommodation the night before the rafting begins. After the raft trip, you will be a comfortable hotel for the next three nights.
- All transfers to and from the river
- All meals from breakfast on day two to breakfast day six and breakfasts on day 7 and 8
- All rafting equipment
- Tented accommodation whilst on the river
- Two activities on day six, One activity on day seven (see itinerary)
- All camping equipment
- Qualified and experienced guides and safety kayakers
- All necessary permits and licenses
- A cool Water By Nature T-shirt
Excludes:
- Flights
- Visas
- Departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Innoculations
- Sleeping bags
- Video or dvd of your trip
- Alcohol
- Personal items
- Gratuities
- Meals in town and the post trip meal at the lodge
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
As soon as you land at Livingstone Airport, your African adventure begins. You will be met by one of our guides who will then take you to your hotel. You may wish to relax and refresh after your flight or you could explore this amazing town. Livingstone town is named after missionary and explorer David Livingstone, and is located about 10km from the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The 2km long waterfall drops 100 feet down into the Batoka Gorge creating some of the most exciting white water in the world. For your early evening entertainment we have organized a sunset cruise on the upper section of the Zambezi, a chance to watch the African sun set behind the ancient Baobab trees and a little wildlife spotting as hopefully we will get glimpses of elephants on the banks and pods of hippos relaxing in the water. This is wonderful way to unwind, enjoy a cool drink and get a feel for the delights of the real Africa. Later in the evening we will have a predeparture meeting in order to give you a run down of your next 4 days on the river. Sleep tight for the Mighty Zambezi awaits.
Not Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the Sunset Cruise
Day 2
celebrate your first day on the river. It is nowWe meet for breakfast at the rather leisurely time of 8 am. With all valuables locked up safely in the hotel and all dry bags packed for the days ahead, it is now time to put on your water wings and head to the base of the Falls- and no, we do not start above the Falls, (You would be surprised how often that is asked!!!). The Batoka Gorge provides a magnificent backdrop for our comprehensive safety briefing before we don our high float life jackets and practice our paddling techniques in the warm waters of the river. We will run through all the necessary paddle strokes and explain what will happen if you suddenly decide to "go for a swim". If the water level allows, we'll take you up to the "Boiling Pot", right beneath Victoria Falls, where we'll have lunch in the most amazing place in the world! Our epic river journey begins with "Morning Glory", a real eye opener, before one of the biggest commercially run rapids in the world, "Stairway to Heaven". This is a day ofunparalleled fun with rapids such as ‘Gulliver's Travels' and "Midnight Diner" which features one of the biggest waves you will see on a river. This is expedition rafting at its best and consequently some rapids we are not able to run in a raft, but our kayakers will delight you as they take on the likes of "Commercial Suicide", a great spot for photos. We will transfer the rafts around this rapid before heading on down to our fitting finale, "The Gnashing Jaws of Death". A secluded, sandy beach is our camp for the night where your guides will create a feast upon which you can time to relax, watch the sun disappear behind the basalt cliffs and to enjoy our first night under the stars.
Included: All meals
Day 3
You wake up to the African sunrise and beautiful scenery and after a hearty breakfast, we load all our equipment into the rafts and the fun continues. Our morning's entertainment begins with "Creamy White Buttocks" and "The Mother". Our guides will explain how they got their names, if you don't manage to work it out for yourselves. The highlight today is probably one of the most famous commercially run rapids and one of the most thrilling of rides, Number 18, also called "Oblivion". It isn't the first wave that gets you, nor the second, but the third rather HUGE crashing wave that normally has all the photographers poised, ready to capture your big moment. We strike camp on a gorgeous expanse of sand a little further downstream and prepare dinner whilst admiring the fish eagles gracefully soaring overhead. Dusk falls as we sip our G & T's and look forward to the next day with, yes, can you believe it, even more outstanding white water.
Included: All meals
Day 4
To ensure we are all fully awake our first rapid, "Morning Shower" provides us with just that, a invigorating burst of refreshing white water. The river begins to widen today but that doesn't mean that the rapids get any smaller especially with one of the more technical and exhilarating rapids to conquer today, "Open Season"! A huge adrenaline rush is a certain recipe to stimulate our appetites and polish off the fresh salads we have prepared for lunch.The afternoon brings along "Chamamba" and the outstanding ride through "Upper Moemba". After which we will stop at a glorious beach for the night, within sight of the magnificent Lower Moemba Falls where we can sit back and enjoy the beauty of this majestic section of the river whilst sipping our sundowners and recounting the days events.
Included: All meals
Day 5
This morning, we portage the rafts over the Lower Moemba Falls, a rapid that we will not be able to run, and drift downstream for an hour. We will pass the proposed site for the joint Zambia / Zimbabwe power project which threatens the entire section that we have been rafting down the previous three days - food for thought. At Chabango Falls (our final mandatory portage) we will carry our empty rafts around the waterfall and have a tasty lunch in the shade before the final crescendo to our white water trip. With our now empty rafts re-launched on the river we get the chance to run the longest and one of the biggest white water rapids on the Zambezi, "Ghostrider". This adrenaline charged ride provides a fitting climax to our journey. On the riverbank our helicopters are waiting to transport us back to Livingstone. This is an incredible experience. You will be flying back up the magnificent Batoka Gorge with a bird's eye view of all the rapids you have just been down, before arriving at Waterfront lodge on the banks of the river. We have a welcome shower, or a dip in the pool before meeting up to share all our experiences over dinner that evening (maybe the resident hippo will make an appearance). Don't be surprised if you don't recognize each other, after 4 days ofgetting used to unshaven faces and unkempt hair it is quite the shock to see how well people scrub up! We will spend the night at this stunning lodge with its amazing views over the river and enjoy a celebratory night. You have rafted one of the ten classic river journeys, well done. Believe us, you will be feeling exhilarated from an experience that is out of this world!
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 6
Today is your choice to make your trip as leisurely or adrenaline charged as you wish on our "African Experience Day."
Simply choose two of the following activities and we'll schedule them into your day.
- Half Day- Elephant Walk
- Half Day - Lion Encounter
- Livingstone Island - High Tea
- Jet boating
- Half Day - Canoeing
- Half Day - Gorge Swing
- Half Day - Tiger Fishing
Included: Breakfast and two activities.
Day 7
After a hearty breakfast you get to choose another activity on our "African Adrenaline Day" with ONE adventure to choose from the list below.
- Botswana Safari - Day trip
- Inflatable kayaking
- Day Trip Rafting
- Microlight flight - 15 minutes
- Bungy Jump
Included: Breakfast and one activity
Day 8
This morning will see our farewell breakfast on the banks of the Zambezi River. There will be the chance for some last minute shopping before we take you to the airport for your flight home.
Included: Breakfast
About The Operator:
Water By Nature Ltd
Headquarters:
Denver, Colorado
Water By Nature grew out of a passion for running rivers and taking a bunch of like-minded people to remote and exciting parts of the world. It was founded by kiwi, Hamish McMaster, who had spent many years guiding the best rivers around the globe, in such countries as Nepal, Zambia, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, America and Europe. His vision was to start a company dedicated to providing safe, fun, exciting and cultural trips for clients and guides alike. He leads a team of world-renowned river professionals, who have helped him to realize this vision. Water By Nature is now the rafting specialist of the world. Our classic river journeys stand alongside climbing Kilimanjaro and trekking the Inca Trail in their appeal to the most avid adventurers. Our palette of river journeys reflect that we raft the best rivers in the world, and with 80% of our clients returning for a second trip, we must be doing something right! Many clients have expressed their amazement that a river journey entails so much more than just the river. Rafting has long been plagued by the myth that it is dangerous, extreme and only for adrenaline junkies. Rafting is our profession, so we take it seriously. We are serious about safety, about good food, good times and serious about fun! We offer trips to suit all ages and abilities - it is not about fitness, it is about fun. Our youngest client to date was 6 years old, and our most mature was a 73 year old blind chap, who did a 7-day Zambezi trip! (He was not into the scenery, but loved getting wet).
Experience
Our office staff will be able to answer all your questions, whether it be about visas, flights or hippos. Our river crews have a level of experience that is unmatched in the white water industry. They will navigate you safely down the river, and fill you with knowledge of wildlife and local customs. They will also keep you amused with a few river stories from their years exploring the world.