Whitewater Rafting on the Zambezi River from Victoria Falls
Description
White-water rafting on the mighty Zambezi river in Zimbabwe: the heart of Africa. This is rafting at its very best, with the original pioneer if this activity: over 19 rapids, most of which are grade 4 or 5, covering a 23km distance. This is the ultimate African adventure activity and easily the most value for money and memorable experience you could wish for. Starting right at the boiling pot, immediately underneath the magnificent Victoria Falls, enjoy an adrenaline pumping ride through the stunning and primeval Batoka Gorge. This is the greatest one day white water rafting experience in the world!! Water levels (not fixed dates), will determine whether you do low or High water rafting, and levels depending - rafting may close April-May.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The high water run operates as Zambezi river rises following the early rains and subsides as the dry season commences. The journey begins 10km downstream of the Victoria Falls starting at the Overland Truck-eater (Rapid 11) through to The End (Rapid 24) and includes the Mother (Rapid 13) at its brooding best. The Zambezi river Journey is about 15km. Our experienced guides will steer you on an unforgettable ride through the formidable rapids of the mighty Zambezi. This is the greatest one day white water rafting experience in the world!!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is from your accommodation in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe approximately 30-minutes prior. Please be advised that the booked activity is done in Zimbabwe and ONLY includes transfer pickup from Hotels and Lodges around Victoria Falls town.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Lunch, cold beers and soft drinks are served at the end of the trip at the top of the gorge.
- Rafting is done in 8-man inflatable rafts captained by an experienced qualified river guide. All guides are First Aid qualified. You are going to get wet so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.
- Cost of trip excludes National Park fees of USD 10 per person to be paid locally.
- Videos and photos are taken of all rafting trips and are made available for viewing and purchase.
- The minimum age is 15 years but persons under the age of 18 years need to have signed authorisation from a parent or guardian.
Reviews(18)
This was such a fun experience! I felt like I was in safe hands with the Shearwater team. Everything was explained very clearly - both on land and again once we took to the water. The hike into and out of the gorge was challenging but also exciting - a reasonable fitness level is required for this.
We were ask to write a review. So here we go: Rafting itself was fun, scenery is stunning and our safety kayak person was amazing. BUT: sexist comments from the tour guide and we only got 0,5 liter water for the whole day… we were told not bring our own water bottles and left them behind. So be prepared to be dehydrated by the time you have to hike up back the canyon! One team member had a really really hard time to make it back up. Plus: We were also told that our shoes we needed for the walk down and up would be put in a dry bag, but it was not provided. So travelling only with flip flops now as there is no chance in rain season for the shoes to dry in a decent time. Some people had their flight next day, so not very nice situation for them with soaking wet shoes either. A lot of little things that could be solved easily in terms of communication and organization.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're delighted that you enjoyed the rafting adventure, the spectacular scenery of the Batoka Gorge, and the support of our safety kayaker. At the same time, we're very sorry to hear that other aspects of the day left you feeling disappointed. Your comments regarding the guide's remarks are concerning, and we appreciate you bringing them to our attention. We strive to create an environment where all guests feel comfortable and respected throughout their experience. We also understand your frustration regarding the water supply and the confusion around footwear storage. Clear communication is essential, particularly on a physically demanding activity such as white-water rafting, and we regret that this was not your experience. Your feedback will be shared with our management team for review with the relevant teams. Thank you again for bringing these matters to our attention. Feedback such as yours helps us identify opportunities to improve both communication and guest experience.
Thank you Shearwatwr for one off the most incredible experiences my daughter and I will never forget. Special thanks to Zee and M for taking such good care off us in the water and back up the gorge.
It was lot's of fun, good hard work, with the guides and information they gave being exceptional and safety a top priority.
A thrilling experience whilst always feeling in the safe hands of the Shearwater team who were cognisant of the varying confidence levels in the boat
Thank you for your continued support and for rafting with us for the third time! We’re thrilled to hear you had another exciting experience and felt safe and well looked after by the team. We truly appreciate your trust and look forward to welcoming you back on the Zambezi again!
This was the penultimate adventure for our family trip. I was initially concerned that my wife and younger daughter may find the experience scary. The Shearwater guides were truly remarkable safety was such a big focus and they made our our experience so fun if you visiting Vic Falls this is an experience not to be left out. Yes, the hike in and out I’m not easy but definitely worthwhile.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad our guides made you and your family feel safe and helped turn the adventure into a fun and memorable part of your trip. The hike can be challenging, but as you said, it’s definitely worth it! We hope to welcome you all back to Victoria Falls for more unforgettable adventures.
I can highly recommend the Whitewater Rafting with Shearwater Victoria Falls! It is such an exciting experience and the view in the gorge is just epic! Captain Wilson and the others are doing such a great job! Thank you very much for this awesome experience of a life time!
Thank you for the amazing review! We're thrilled you had such an exciting time whitewater rafting with us. The Batoka Gorge truly is epic, and we're so glad Captain Wilson and the team made it an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you back for another adventure soon!
The rafting experience was no better or no worse than other whitewater rafting I have undertaken: It was exciting and wet. The scenery from the raft in the Zambezi River was beautiful and amazing and the Shearwater crew was friendly and extremely helpful. However, the huge drawback to the experience was getting down to and up from the river. The gorge is around 450 feet deep and the slope of the land to the river is very steep. The descending and ascending trails are primitive and difficult. The skill and energy required to deal with these trails takes away from the rafting experience itself. I believe only young, athletic, adventurous people should engage in this experience.
It sounds like the rafting itself was exciting and beautiful, especially with those amazing views of the Zambezi River! 🌊 The Shearwater crew being friendly and helpful is a big plus too. However, I completely understand your point about the difficulty of the hike to and from the river. The steep, primitive trails definitely take a lot of energy and skill, which can make it challenging for some. It’s definitely a more intense adventure, so I agree that it’s best suited for those who are physically prepared for it. Still, it’s great to hear that the rafting experience was exciting and worthwhile overall! 🌟
"Absolutely incredible experience! The rafting adventure was hands down the best and most exciting activity I’ve ever done. The adrenaline rush, the stunning scenery, and the professional shearwater guides made it unforgettable. My legs are still shaking just thinking about it! If you’re looking for a thrilling and well-organized adventure, this is it. Highly recommend!" Chris and team you are the best.!
Thank you so much for the amazing review, and we're thrilled to hear you had such an adrenaline-packed adventure! We’re so glad that our guides and the stunning scenery made your rafting experience unforgettable. Chris and the team will be thrilled to hear your kind words. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another thrilling adventure soon!
Thrilling & exciting moment! Shoutout to MQ and Shearwaters for an unforgettable experience!", i really enjoyed a lot
We love hearing about your thrilling experience! MQ and the Shearwater team work hard to create memorable adventures, and we’re so glad you enjoyed every moment. Thank you for sharing your experience with us—we’d love to see you again!
