Day 21. Rafting in the Zambezi

Monday January 3rd. This morning a large group of us met at the auditorium for a briefing on white water rafting on the Zambezi River. We sent off by jeep to the entrance of the Victoria Falls National Park. Then we hiked down 150 metres to the Boiling Point which is at the base of the falls. That's where we started our 27 kilometres rafting expedition over 25 sets of rapids. Rachel was kind enough to lend me her underwater camera which was great.

The river is quite violent with numerous level 5 rapids. The morning or half day expedition consisted of 11 rapids. In our boat, guided by Babyface, was John, Stan, Richard, Annalelies, Filip and I. After a short instruction course we successfully managed the first two rapids, but rapid number three was different. We flipped over and all us were in the water. I wound up under the boat for a bit looking up at seats. I managed to free myself and was tossed around through the rest of the rapids. I was rescued by a kayaker who took me to another raft. Scary but fun.

We had to walk around number 7, which is a level 6 rapid. One of the kayakers tried to ride the rapids, disappeared for about 30 seconds, and then his kayak surfaced without him. He popped up, but apparently broke or cracked a couple of ribs.

Then we had lunch on the rocks, before beginning the second half of the ride. The first set knocked three of us out of the right side. John, Analelies, myself and Babyface. Again I was bounced a round and was rescued by another raft.

Between a few of the rapids we could jump out and float down with the current, which was quite strong and had some small whirlpools and eddies in it. John and I pushed each other out several times, and once after scrambling back in the raft, the others told us to look at the shore, there was a croc lying on the bank!

We had a fantastic day. The scenery of the gorge was gorgeous, the weather beautiful, water warm and the ride amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

At the end we took a cable car to get back to the top. The cable car came down along a wire to a mid point and then it is lowered separately off of that cable to the ground. On the way up they did close the doors!

On the jeep back they served us some beer as we bounced along the dirt road back to Livingstone. En route we went through a couple of authentic villages that we really basic with wooden huts and a wood palisade.

After arriving back at camp we were served dinner and watched the rafting video.

In the evening we had a meeting to meet the 10 new people who are joining our tour and then to the bar to say goodbye to the 9 who are leaving. I spent the rest of the time updating the blog.