The 3
"Minus rapids": Occur before the official #1. Minus
#1 and #2 are the only rapids that have been run, minus #3 is
impossible to access because of its proximity to the falls. Rapid
#2 is the biggest and most impressive rapid on the river.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"…against the wall" #
1: Class 4/5: The Boiling Pot, is the start of
the low water trip. From here the river hits a wall forming a wild
cushion wave and eddy.
"…the bridge" #
2: Class 3: A wild mixture of waves best in
the early part of the low water season. Clearly visible to bungee
jumpers and spectators on the Victoria Falls bridge.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
Rapid #
3: Class 4: A steep and radically fast wave
with an easily avoidable hole. The second part of this rapid is
best in the early part of the season - a small wave train with an
excellent pocket on the Zambian side.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Morning Glory" #
4: Class 4/5: The first major rapid
offering varying lines with an almost river-wide hole at the top,
followed by a few diagonals off the right hand wall and finally a
big hole at the bottom.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Stairway to Heaven" #
5: Class 5: Best in the early part
of the season, with an 8m drop over 10m, very steep and powerful
with a heap of massive waves and holes. Although it isn't too
technical, it's size and volume make for an amazing spectacle and
an even more amazing ride. Avoid the waterfalls and a hole on the
left called the "catcher's mitt" plus a large pourover on the
right.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Devil's Toilet Bowl" #
6: Class 4: A Short rapid with a
deceptively steep and powerful hole on entry followed by some nasty
boils and whirlpools.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Gullivers Travels" #
7: Class 5: A very respectful 700m
run of class 5 high volume white water at certain levels. This is
the longest and most technical rapid on the one day whitewater
trip. The run consists of a main channel with smaller
channels feeding into it - includes the "Temple of Doom", "The
Crease", "Patella Gap" and "Land of the Giants".
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Midnight Diner" #
8: Class 3/5: This rapid has 3
runs. On the left is "Star Trek" with a hole of up to 5m
reserved for the brave. The "Muncher Run" in the centre takes
you through a window of "Star Trek". On the right is the
"Chicken Run".
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Commercial Suicide" #
9: Class 5/6: The Zambezi's most
infamous. This is a river-wide pour-over with a very narrow slot of
less than a metre on the right - commercial portage!
(satellite view shows precise spot)
"Overland Truck Eater" #
11: Class 5: A big barrel for about
two weeks in the year during the transition between high and low
water in mid January and early July. Watch out for the hole, eddy
line and whirlpool. This is the first rapid on the "high
water" run.
"Three Sisters"
#12A,B,C: Class 3/4: 12B is the famous
Zambezi surfing wave for kayakers - surfs best between August and
December with two windows and a massive green shoulder and a big
eddy. Rafters prefer the term "three little pigs".
Rapid #
14: Class 3: Big S-bend in the river.
Center chute to be avoided at lower water levels.
"Washing Machine" #
15: Class 5: Simple wave train but
un-runnable in the middle because of a huge crashing hole - go left
or right into the eddy.
Taita Falcon Lodge: Last overnight on the Batoka expedition
rafting trips
"Oblivion" #
18: Class 5: Three waves make up THE
rapid on the Zambezi.. The 3rd crashing wave is responsible for
more raft flips than any other in the world - only about 1 in 4
attempts succeed! This rapid marks the end of the "low water"
one-day run.
Rapids #19 to
#25: Class 2/3: Easy runs at the end of the
day. Rapid 19 is the last on the "low water" one-day run. Rapid #23
is the last on the "high water" run.
Low water take-out and Zim beachcamp #1
Camp Makuni, Zambia: Zambian take-out after rapid #25
Upper Moemba, an outstanding run before the lower Moemba
portage
Lower Moemba, a guaranteed portage
Rafting expediton
campsite: Count yourself lucky if you've had a
hearty breakfast at this little spot on the Zambezi. You'll
never find this one on TripAdvisor!
Matetsi River Mouth, the end of the full rafting expedition
Rapid #10 Helipad
Rapid #22 Helipad
Rapid #25 Helipad
Victoria Falls
Bridge
...where bungee jumpers take their leap of faith over the
Zambezi River! Also site of the Bridge Swing, Bridge Slide landing,
Bridge Cafe and Bridge Visitor Centre
Full junkie's fix with the BigAir experience
Highwires,
Zimbabwe
...for the complete aerial adrenaline junkout! Gorge swing,
Flying Fox, gorge slide, abseiling
Zambezi Swing, Zambia
...for the complete aerial adrenaline junkout! Gorge swing,
highwire, rap jump, abseiling
Lion Encounter, Masuwe
Estate, Zimbabwe
Programmes operating under the
auspices of the African Lion and Environmental
Research Trust (lionalert.org) are active with captive lions in
Zimbabwe and Zambia. They offer a unique and stimulating
opportunity to learn about lions and spend time with youngsters in
their natural habitat.
Lion Encounter,
Thorntree, Zambia
Programmes operating under the
auspices of the African Lion and Environmental
Research Trust (lionalert.org) are active with captive lions in
Zimbabwe and Zambia. They offer a unique and stimulating
opportunity to learn about lions and spend time with youngsters in
their natural habitat.
Rapid #25 Helipad
Rapid #22 Helipad
Rapid #10 Helipad
"Morning Glory" #
4: Class 4/5: The first major rapid
offering varying lines with an almost river-wide hole at the top,
followed by a few diagonals off the right hand wall and finally a
big hole at the bottom.
(satellite view shows precise spot)
Batoka expedition beach camp #1
Taita Falcon Lodge: Last overnight on the Batoka expedition
rafting trips
Batoka expedition, 2nd beach camp, Zambia
"Open Season": A huge adrenaline rush to stimulate
your appetite and help you polish off the fresh salad
prepared for lunch
Imbabala
Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Bordering on the Chobe Forest Reserve and secluded within a
private National Parks concession with 14km of Zambezi River
frontage
Imbabala
Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Bordering on the Chobe Forest Reserve and secluded within a
private National Parks concession with 14km of Zambezi River
frontage
"…against the wall" #
1: Class 4/5: The Boiling Pot, is the start of
the low water trip. From here the river hits a wall forming a wild
cushion wave and eddy.
Rapids #19 to
#25: Class 2/3: Easy runs at the end of the
day. Rapid 19 is the last on the "low water" one-day run. Rapid #23
is the last on the "high water" run.
"Overland Truck Eater" #
11: Class 5: A big barrel for about
two weeks in the year during the transition between high and low
water in mid January and early July. Watch out for the hole, eddy
line and whirlpool. This is the first rapid on the "high
water" run.
Highwires,
Zimbabwe
...for the complete aerial adrenaline junkout! Gorge swing,
Flying Fox, gorge slide, abseiling
Lion Encounter, Masuwe
Estate, Zimbabwe
Programmes operating under the
auspices of the African Lion and Environmental
Research Trust (lionalert.org) are active with captive lions in
Zimbabwe and Zambia. They offer a unique and stimulating
opportunity to learn about lions and spend time with youngsters in
their natural habitat.
Victoria Falls
Bridge
...where bungee jumpers take their leap of faith over the
Zambezi River! Also site of the Bridge Swing, Bridge Slide landing,
Bridge Cafe and Bridge Visitor Centre
Full junkie's fix with the BigAir experience
Highwires,
Zimbabwe
...for the complete aerial adrenaline junkout! Gorge swing,
Flying Fox, gorge slide, abseiling
Imbabala
Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Bordering on the Chobe Forest Reserve and secluded within a
private National Parks concession with 14km of Zambezi River
frontage
Zimbabwe/Botswana borderpost, Kazangula
Devil's
Cataract
Derives its name from the adjacent island where local
tribesmen performed sacrificial ceremonies during the time of the
early missionaries. These acts were referred to as
"devilish". Hence the name of the western-most cataract over
which water cascades 70m.
Elephant Camp,
Zimbabwe
The epicentre for elephant interaction in Victoria Falls
with top notch service and contemporary safari
style
Siloka Island, Zambia
4km from
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Livingstone Island
Imbabala
Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Bordering on the Chobe Forest Reserve and secluded within a
private National Parks concession with 14km of Zambezi River
frontage
Devil's
Cataract
Derives its name from the adjacent island where local
tribesmen performed sacrificial ceremonies during the time of the
early missionaries. These acts were referred to as
"devilish". Hence the name of the western-most cataract over
which water cascades 70m.
Imbabala
Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Bordering on the Chobe Forest Reserve and secluded within a
private National Parks concession with 14km of Zambezi River
frontage
Kuyenda BushCamp
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
