Paddling the Zambezi

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‘The Zambezi’

In 1855 Dr. David Livingstone hired natives to paddle his canoe to the brink of mile-wide, 364-foot-high Victoria Falls, billed as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. Modern-day river runners can do the same both above and below the falls. Above the falls are miles and miles of tranquil canoeing waters inhabited by everything from elephants to hippopotami. Below lies the infamous Batoka Gorge, creating the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and offering some of the best Class IV-V, big-water whitewater in the world. The stretch has so many rapids they aren't even named...just numbered. Day trips are offered on the first 23 rapids, or you can go for an extended stay in the bush--a la Livingstone--for up to seven days. Mountain Travel/Sobek (Coruh, Zambezi, Bio Bio), (800) 282-8747

5 / 5 Review by expert member Eugene Buchanan

‘Difficult and Beautiful’

I've never done this one, but it is known as a very difficult and beautiful river. It begins below the famous Victoria Falls in Africa and is full of big Class IV and V rapids.

5 / 5 Review by expert member Zach Collier

‘Navigate the Zambezi’

In 1855 the famous missionary, David Livingstone came upon Mosi-oa-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders” and promptly named them Victoria Falls. These falls are 1.5 km wide and the Zambezi River drops 100m into the gorge below. It is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and it is here that the fun really starts for rafters and kayakers alike.

Famed for it’s huge whitewater and world class rapids the Zambezi is Africa’s most well know river. Rafters putting on below Victoria Falls are in for one of the best single day rafting trips in the world, with over 20 huge rapids in a single day. The immense, jade green waters and enormous rapids will engulf, challenge, scare and excite all at once!

For kayakers the river is mecca for river running and playboating. The river alters throughout the year depending on the water levels with certain rapids becoming ideal playspots as other die away. But all year round kayakers will have to run the big lines and huge crashing whitewater between the more friendly rapids.

Putting in at rapid number one, directly below the bridge that forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, rafters and kayakers have a unique opportunity to cross the river and then head upstream to stand beneath the mighty falls to a place where few people on this earth have ever stood or had access to – it truly is an experience not to be missed.

From then on it’s a headlong dive down from rapids number 1 to 25.

5 / 5 Review by expert member Ben Mason

‘Adventure and then some’

The rafting company we went with was very helpful and fun. The experience was amazing. We went during the low flow, big rapid season. I have rafted a number of times in the US, and you would never be allowed to run rapids of this class in the US as an amateur. I highly suggest paying the extra for the helicopter ride out of the gorge. After the shooting the rapids, you do not feel like climbing out of a 700ft gorge, believe me. My husband and I climbed out and it is the one thing I will never forget, absolutely grueling.

4 / 5 Review by member yinandyang