White Water Rafting - What Not To Be Scared Of

By Author: Tony Peel
Total Articles: 4717
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The River in the gorges below the Victoria Falls is classified as a GRADE 5 river. The official definition of a GRADE 5 river, as defined by the official book of the British Canoe Union, is as follows: "Extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops, pressure areas."

This is the biggest commercially run white water rafting in the world. Rapid No 9 which is classified Grade 6 “unrunable” is therefore portaged around.

That’s enough to scare most people off, except for the most hardened Adrenaline Junkies, but if it is that bad why would anyone do it.

Well the Zambezi despite the description above is one of the safest rivers that can be rafted. It is a “pool drop” river which means that after each rapid there are large calm stretches of water in which to collect any swimmers that fell out during the rapid. It’s big and furious and huge fun and then calm and peaceful, which is more preferable than a river with small continuous rapids, giving little chance for recovery.

The Zambezi ...
... is also a very deep river this is great as it means you are not going to be bashing into rocks or getting your feet stuck in crevices as you would in shallow rivers. The waters are also warm, therefore never running the risk of hypothermia.

The experienced guides take you through the rapids, if your raft does flip or you fall out be confident in the fact that your life jacket is what’s going to save you not your swimming ability. It is impossible to swim in currents this strong, so let your life jacket do the work. It will pop you to the surface, then turn to face downstream and enjoy the ride. If you are separated from your raft you will be picked up by one of the safety kayaks and returned to your team in the raft.

Don’t forget to take lots of sun tan cream, you can also wear a peak cap under the safety helmet that you are supplied. Don’t bring any valuables, including cameras, they just wont allow them and your contact lenses will almost certainly wash out, so wear them at you own risk. Take good shoes for the walk in and out of the gorge.

Professional photographs and video is taken along the route which is available for purchase in the evening.

Perhaps the most daunting task of the day is the almost vertical walk of about 70 meters into and out of the gorge. However there is an ice cold beer or mineral at the top to spur you on.

This is natures Disneyland and quite frankly man hasn’t come close to matching it.
About Author:
The authors of this article Tony and Boo Peel are Zimbabweans who are passionate about their country. They have developed an informative and unique website all about Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls.

Please visit their website the Complete Travel Guide to Victoria Falls - You will be amazed at the enormous volume of free information available.

Find out more about White Water Rafting on the Zambezi at http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/victoria-falls-white-water-rafting.html and lots of other activities at http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/victoria-falls-activities.html