Zambesi River Low-Tide White-water Rafting

3 Days Solo Trip in Summer Zimbabwe - Zambia for Victoria Falls

December 26 to 28, 2018

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe Afternoon Tour

My 1st time experience to be capsized in rafting; on rapid #18 (Oblivion), class #5. 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.

The Zambezi River is acclaimed as the “wildest one-day whitewater run in the World” highly regarded by white water rafting enthusiasts as one of the top ten paddling rivers on the planet! Zambezi white water rafting has been classified by the British Canoe Union as Grade 5 – which is “extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas”. This is a high volume, pool-drop river with little exposed rock either in the rapids or in the pools below the rapids. “low water” run takes place when the Zambezi River is at its low level between July and mid-February. This is the most exciting time to go rafting. Day trips run between rapids 1 and 19. “high water” run when the water rises and flows more rapidly and the day trips move downstream from rapids 11 to 24. Usually between February to July with a short “closed” season around April/May depending on the season’s rains.
https://www.zambezi.com/blog/2012/zambezi-white-water-rafting/

Day 2: December 27, 2018 Thursday
breakfast 7; pick-up for white water rafting (Shearwater white water rafting booking 118)
includes lunch, unlimited drinks (water, soda, beer), guide fee, park fee, pick-up/drop-off to hotel)
0900H ETD Victoria Falls town
250masl steep trekking;  1st time experience capsized raft in the middle of level 5 rapid; I don't swim.
1430H ETD Zambesi River; photos 11
1500H ETA Rest Camp and Lodge; early dinner 17; Victoria Falls Airport Shuttle 14; beers 6
Total: 55 USD

Zambesi River Low-Tide White-water Rafting

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe Afternoon Tour

3 Days Solo Trip in Summer Zimbabwe - Zambia for Victoria Falls

December 26 to 28, 2018

Zimbabwe - Zambia Victoria Falls Preparation and Itinerary

Victoria Falls also known as "Mosi oa-Tunya" ("the smoke that thunders") is positioned almost exactly half way along the mighty Zambezi River's 2700 km journey from it's source to the sea. Here the river plunges headlong into a 100m vertical chasm spanning the full one-and-a-half kilometre width of the river. Creating the biggest curtain of falling water in the world and also one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Words cannot describe the awesome beauty and power of the Victoria Falls. David Livingstone in 1855 probably came the closest with “Scenes so wonderful must have been gazed upon by Angels in their flight”.
https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/facts-on-victoria-falls.html

Day 1: December 26, 2018 Wednesday
0530H ETA Johannesburg Airport UTC +0200H; transit 4.5 hours
1100H ETD Johannesburg Airport; flight SA40
1240H ETA Victoria Falls Airport UTC +0200H
1310H ETD Victoria Airport; Shuttle bus to Hostel 15
1345H ETA Victoria Falls Rest Camp; KFC lunch 11
1430H Victoria Falls 30 (Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls); refreshments 8
1730H ETD Victoria Falls; KFC dinner 10
1830H back to hostel; fridge magnet 2; Shearwater white water rafting booking 118; beers 6
Total: 200 USD

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe Afternoon Tour

3 Days Solo Trip in Summer Zimbabwe - Zambia for Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls summer adventure in the Zimbabwe - Zambia border
December 26 to 28, 2018

My 70th solo backpacking trip, 11th and 12th country to visit in African continent, 89th and 90th country visited on my journey #lakbay100, 5th continent on my list and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. I did not research that much for this country due also on limited time and laziness.

Victoria Falls, named after Queen of Great Britain, presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. Victoria Falls is the only waterfall in the world with a length of more than a kilometer and a height of more than hundred meters. It is also considered to be the largest fall in the world. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance of 40 kms, while the spray and mist from the falling water is rising to a height of over 400 meters. No wonder that the local tribes used to call the waterfall Mosi-o-Tunya “The smoke that thunders”.
https://victoriafallstourism.org/
  

3 Days Solo Trip in Summer Zimbabwe - Zambia for Victoria Falls