Rafting on the Zambezi is a thrill of a lifetime, guaranteed. The Mighty Zambezi river is never short of mesmerising outdoor experiences for its visitors that range from beautiful natural bank sceneries full over different types of wildlife that form part of kits ecosystem to thrilling adrenaline packed sporting activities such as white-water rafting. When you visit Livingstone town in Zambia on your holiday, vacation or work, the fun does not just end at seeing the magnificent Victoria Falls.
Downstream on the Zambezi, immediately after the Victoria Falls plunges into the Batoka Gorge, the river boasts of one of the world’s best white water rafting and kayaking stretches which covers over 40 kilometres (25 miles) with rapids that range from Class 1 to Class 6 rapids as classified on the International Scale of River Difficulty. The Zambezi rapids in the Batoka Gorge are renowned as one of the best spots in the world for white water rafting and kayaking with spectacular natural surroundings and the site is considered by many as one of the world’s wildest white water rafting experiences one can ever run through on a river.
Following the navigation that were done on the Zambezi river in 1981, the rapids of the Batoka Gorge were given fearsome names owing to their differences in nature and experiences they provide when one is travelling downstream. This article highlights some of the most thrilling rapids that start below the Victoria Falls in the Batoka Gorge in Livingstone, Zambia. Some of the interesting names of the rapids are highlighted as follows;
The Boiling Pot
The Boiling Pot, accessible only from the Zambian side, is the first rapid after the Victoria Falls hence its serves as an introduction to the fun filled adventure that awaits you as you run down the river. It is therefore the point at which rafts, and kayaks launched unto the water of the Mighty Zambezi river. The Boiling Pot is the starting point of the Batoka Gorge which lies just below the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi river plunges down a height of over 100 metres into the gorge. The name “Boiling Pot” is derived from the movement that the water from the Falls makes as it enters the narrow entrance of the gorge and hitting the sides of the gorge walls in a circular motion just like water boiling in a pot. Since the Boiling Pot is the launching point for rafting and kayaking on the Zambezi at the Batoka Gorge site, adrenaline enthusiastic visitors at this point given guidance and lessons on how to puddle along the rapids, especially for first timers. Depending on the package you pick for navigating the Batoka Gorge, some packages offer the visitors lunch at a spot located at the foot of the Victoria Falls. The spot offers visitors a rare view of the Falls from the bottom of the 110-metre-high curtain of water falling on the Zambezi. However, this spot is only accessible in at times when the water levels of the Zambezi river are low.
Rapid No. 1: The Wall [Class 4]
The Wall is the first rapid as you exit the Boiling Pot. The wave on the rapid looks quite easy but if you are not careful, this might be your first flipping point of the day.
Rapid No. 2: Between Two Worlds [Class 3]
Rapid Number 2 is situated right below the Vitoria Falls Bridge hence you can enjoy the view of bungee jumpers swinging over head as you ride over the relatively easy rapid. It is called “Between Two Worlds” because its position under the Vitoria Falls Bridge marks the boundary between Southern and South-Central Africa.
Rapid No. 4: Morning Glory [Class 4]
The Morning Glory also known as the Wake-Up Call is the first biggest rapid of the journey down the Zambezi in the Batoka gorge and is considered by many as the starting point of the thrilling adventure across the rapids of the gorge. The rapid varies depending on the water levels but has a big crashing wave at the bottom making it a good introductory point to the exhilarating white-water rafting experience you are going to have for the day.
Rapid No. 5: Stairway to Heaven [Class 5]
Named after Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven”, the river drops over 9 metres (30 feet) at this rapid, which is nearly the height of a two-storey building, making it one of the largest commercially run drops in the world. A first time run through this rapid is unforgettable hence the name Stairway to Heaven, yet others have called it the Highway to Hell.
Rapid No. 6: The Devil’s Toilet Bowl [Class 4]
This rapid is situated on a narrow constriction of the river between the gorge walls and has two large waves which might get challenging if not handled well.
Rapid No. 7: Gulliver’s Travels [Class 5]
The Gulliver’s Travels is the longest of all the rapids in the Batoka Gorge and is a Class 5 rapid. This is one of the most technically challenging rapids on the Zambezi river which requires concentration to navigate through to the other end of the rapid known as the Land of Giants.
Rapid No. 8: The Midnight Diner [Class 5]
The Midnight Diner, featuring the Muncher offers a three-course menu of navigation lines to choose from depending on how you want to go through the rapid. The three available potential lines are the “Kentucky-Fried Chicken”, the “Might Muncher” or the “Star Trek”. The Kentucky-Fried Chicken is on the right side and is a fun filled technical run with large bouncy waves which most people opt to go for to avoid the large waves in the middle hence this line is also referred to as the “Chicken Run” for the faint of heart. In the middle is the Muncher, where the raft will run a large wave with a 50-50 percentage chance of capsizing hence, only the brave dare this line. On the left is the Star Trek which has a big hit from the waves of the rapid. The choices that visitors have on the course of line to take is what rightly gives Rapid No. 8 its suitable name, the Midnight Diner.
Rapid No. 9: Commercial Suicide [Class 6]
This is an aggressive Glass 6 rapid hence all guides and visitors walk through it as it is not commercially viable for rafting due to its many hidden dangers. Occasionally a few brave Kayakers can be seen trying to navigate the rapid.
Rapid No. 10: The Gnashing Jaws of Death [Class 4]
This is a relatively smooth rapid with shallow rocks at the bottom. The experience on this rapid is not as scary as the name suggests.
Rapid No.11: Creamy White Buttocks [Class 4]
The Creamy White Buttocks also known as Overland Truck Eater is another rapid which changes its nature depending on the water levels of the Zambezi. The wave has stunning scenic views within the Batoka gorge and when the tide is high, it becomes ideal for surfers and kayakers. It is a nice spot in the gorge for taking photographs to keep memories of such a great adventure.
Rapid 12A, B, & C: The 3 Ugly Sisters [Class 4]
The 3 Ugly Sisters lie on a stretch of about one kilometre over a continuous flow of white water with three rapids close to each other. Rapid Number 12 B is the biggest of the three and can be hard to cross especially at high tides.
Rapid No. 13: The Mother [Class 5]
Once you come out from the 3 Ugly Sisters, you run into one of the highlights of Zambezi river rafting, Rapid No. 13, known as the Mother and let not the name deceive you. The Mother has enormous waves that push you to the right side of the river with five continuous rapids which provides a tremendous fun filled experience of white-water rafting.
Rapid No.15: The Washing Machine [Class 5]
The Washing Machine has a series of easy waves which as a result of recirculating of the river’s water form a huge hole in the middle. The hole is un-runnable hence the best way through the rapid is to go down the right side with strong puddling.
Rapid No. 16 A & B: The Terminator I & II [Class 4]
These rapids are famous for their huge waves when the water level is high. Both waves, Terminator I & II, combine to form a large wave train which is relatively easy to run through when the water levels are low but quite challenging when the water levels ae high specifically around the notorious Terminator II which has a reputation of flipping many rafts.
Rapid No. 17: Double Trouble [Class 5]
Rapid No. 17 is known as the Double Trouble as it is like the Washing Machine but in this case, there are two large holes situated at the middle of the river. These can easily be run through the middle when the water levels are high while the middle should be avoided when the levels are low by running through the sides.
Rapid No. 18: Oblivion [Class 5]
The Oblivion is a world famous rapid which is one of the highlights of the Zambezi white water rafting experience. It has three large waves with the third being responsible for many raft flips during the runs down the Zambezi.
The Zambezi river has many more exciting rapids downstream reaching up to approximately 54 kilometres (34 miles) from the Victoria Falls. There are some sandy beaches in selected spots along the banks of the Zambezi where you can camp to take a break from rafting or kayaking and spend some time to enjoy the beautiful Africa sun set and the stars at night.
Navigating the rapids of the Batoka gorge on the Zambezi gives one a thrill of a lifetime and an unforgettable experience because the multiple rapids that are found on the river offer a wide range white water rafting experiences ranging from the simplest rapids rated Class 1 to the most difficult and dangerous rapids rated Class 6, based on the ratings of the International Scale of River Difficulty. The follow is a summary of the classification from the International Scale of River Difficulty of rapids that you need to be aware of if you decide to participate in white water rafting or kayaking:
Class 1: Flat water with small waves with no obstacles that require manoeuvring around. (Skill Level: None)
Class 2: Small to medium waves with little or no obstacles hence might require manoeuvring. Therefore, correct equipment and guides should be used to safely navigate. (Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)
Class 3: Medium waves, dropping between 1 to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet) with most cases some rocks. Careful manoeuvring with experienced guides is required. (Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)
Class 4: Many white-water irregular waves with considerable drops and rocks hence sharp manoeuvres may be needed. An experienced guide required. (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)
Class 5: Large white-water irregular and continuous waves with large rocks and hazards and sometimes a large drop requiring precise manoeuvring. Failure to execute a specific manoeuvre at a specific point may result in serious injury or even death. (Skill Level: Expert)
Class 6: Refers to rapids that are commercially unrunable and any attempt to do so would result in serious injury, near drowning or death. If a rapid is run that was once thought to be impassable, it is typically reclassified as Class 5 Commercially. At such rapids, people portage (carry) or line rafts around these rapids.
What to Prepare
Rafting on the Zambezi is wild and wet hence you need to bring along your swimsuit and/or shorts. As the adventure happens outdoor in the tropical sun, it is highly encouraged that you bring along some sunscreen for protections against the sun’s rays as well as some comfortable walking sandals. A water bottle with its carrier should also be part of the package and if resources allow, you can bring along your Go-pro camera to catch all the action to keep for your memories.
Safety
Even through white water rafting is a dangerous venture, the companies that provide rafting services on the Zambezi do everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone who participates in the adrenaline filled adventures. Safety equipment and tips are provided to everyone participating which makes the trip down the Zambezi relatively safe for both professionals and first timers. Furthermore, even though the Nile Crocodiles are endemic in the Zambezi river, the section where white water rafting, and kayaking is done has no big crocodiles that could pose a threat to the lives of humans. The biggest reason for this is that crocodiles cannot find food in fast moving waters hence they are usually found in areas where the water is calmer. However, occasionally infant crocodiles can be seen in the section and these are probably hatchlings that fall of over the Victoria Falls and survive. As they grow, they move to areas with calmer waters downstream. Therefore, the Zambezi white water adventures are a safe place to have great fun on the river that awaits you to experience it first-hand hence it should be one of the “must do” things on your budget list.