The trip focuses on the Zambezi River. We kayak for 3 days above Victoria Falls, enjoy the actual town of Victoria Falls and then raft 5 days from Victoria Falls all the way to Lake Kariba. The trip concludes with a 3 day luxury safari on the lower Zambezi River in Mana Pools.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport, Zimbabwe. We check into the wonderful Lokuthula Lodges before we rendezvous at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Hotel pool at 4 pm. Our trip leader will give us a welcome briefing. We enjoy a toast after flying half-way around the world to converge on the incredible Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our first African sunset to be enjoyed while overlooking the bush and watering hole will be unforgettable. Tonight’s dinner is on your own, there are many options in town or at the Lodge. Included: (B)
Day 2: A free day to explore Victoria Falls and try one of the many optional activities. We can arrange a variety of activities for you, such as bungee jumping, ultra-light flights, and elephant safaris. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these so we can book them in advance. This is a good day to buy from the vendors who sell beautiful sculptures and wood carvings. At 4 pm. we meet at the lobby of the VFSL for our sunset river cruise. All drinks and snacks are included as we cruise the tranquil upper Zambezi and look for game. We return to the lodges at dusk. After the cruise, dinner is on your own. Included: (B)
Day 3: We have the morning to further enjoy the surrounding area of Victoria Falls. We need to be packed and ready to go by 3 pm for our Canoe Safari pick up at the Lokuthula reception. The luggage we do not need can remain behind in the lock-up room of reception. The Canoe Safari will start with a game drive through the Victoria Falls National Park. We will also stop for cool drinks by the river side and take in the sounds and sights of the bush. We carry on driving upriver to our camp which will be set up with two person tents, a dining table and warm showers. We will arrive in time for a fantastic sunset to be enjoyed with a fine cup of tea or a ‘sun downer’ cocktail. Over the next two days we will travel 30 km down river back towards the Victoria Falls. Our days will typically start early. We’ll be up just at dawn and will enjoy tea or coffee as the day breaks. Soon to follow is a typical “English” hot breakfast-which we will enjoy with relish to the gentle cooing of the Cape Turtle Doves. After breakfast we start paddling downstream in the two person kayaks which are quite stable and easy to maneuver. As it will be the dry season, we will hope to see animals as they come down to the river to drink and frolic. Especially we’ll see elephant, zebra, bushbuck, kudu, Cape buffalo, ubiquitous baboons, impala, and the occasional bush duiker. The bird life is an ornithologist’s dream come true, with the various ibises and Trumpeter Horn Bill standing out. Of course, a glimpse of a Lilac Breasted Roller would be welcome! Then, in the river, which is roughly a mile wide at times and often channels around sand banks and reed islands, lies the choice habitat for the hippopotami and the patient crocodile. The nocturnal creatures we might also see, or hear, are lion, leopard and the rare wild dog, just to mention a few. Chances are better that we’ll hear the lionesses as they return from the hunt just at dawn. At dusk we’ll gather around and sit high on the bank overlooking the river. We’ll hear the deep, low decibel grumbles and burps of the hippos as they call out to announce their nighttime grazing fete. A few waking lion might be heard as well. The bush will be alive with sound as night falls and we inch closer to the fire. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 4: We paddle further down stream in the morning till we have a picnic lunch on one of the islands. After lunch we run class 2 rapids doing our best not to capsize. We will hope to see abundant wild life along the river and enjoy certain safe to bathe swimming holes! (Watch our for the crocks) We spend another night at our river side comfortable camp! We will take-out just upstream from the Devil’s Cataract, the far right slot on the mile wide Falls. We’ll be transferred back to our Lokuthula Lodges and be briefed on packing for the rafting trip. Dinner is on your own and this is a good night. Included: (B), (L).
Day 5: We paddle all morning watching for more game and running more fun rapids! We will take-out just upstream from the Devil’s Cataract, the far right slot on the mile wide Falls. We’ll be transferred back to our Lokuthula Lodges and be briefed on packing for the rafting trip. Dinner is on your own and this is a good night to enjoy being out on the town and maybe go out dancing.
Day 6: Time to raft the big river! At 8 am we begin our journey into the gorge below the Victoria Falls. We hike down a steep trail to meet our waiting rafts. We launch and will begin our 120 km river journey as the river flows east toward the Indian Ocean. With some paddle boats and some oar boats, our day is spent navigating some the worlds biggest and most dynamic rapids. The river gorge starts out deep and steep, twisting and bending to form a series of sinuous goose necks. The canyon rim looms overhead as we come face to face with what some would call “Nyami-Nyami”- the Zambezi river god, more easily recognized as the heart pounding and enormous rapids (about one per mile)! The air is hot and dry, the river water a mild 62 degrees, and the breeze that sweeps up the canyon is fragrant with the wilds of Africa. Our first night’s camp is where we meet our gear as it is carried into the gorge for us by porters. This deluxe camp is complete with rustic thatch chalets, shower, dining area, and beach volleyball. The gear boat guides will meet us there as from here down we bring everything downriver with us.
Day 7: Now we are “self supported” as we raft deeper into the Batoka gorge, running Wake up call, Open and Closed Season, and upper Moimba Falls. We will camp on big sandy beaches and relax after intense days of rafting. As we travel downstream, the rapids spread out and we enter some big open valleys. We also come upon two impassable waterfalls. The first, lower Moimba, is an easy portage as we lower the rafts over a 30 foot vertical cliff into an eddy-pool below. We make camp right below this portage.
Day 8: We get up early to take advantage of cool morning air and float down to the second waterfall we have to portage, known as Chibango Falls. This is also the proposed dam site for the Batoka gorge dam. The falls are a 3 step staircase of explosive whitewater. This portage is more arduous and requires the help of everyone to get all the gear around the falls. The rocks will be hot and good foot wear is required. We will have to carry the gear separate and then re-rig the rafts after portaging them around. Right after the portage we get the treat of the century: Ghost Rider Rapid!! Without a doubt, one of the world’s biggest raftable rapids! We paddle into an enormous series of haystack waves that climax into a house-size, pulsating, V-shaped rooster tail, only to be followed by collapsing waves and churning eddies. Paddle hard or Highside! We then travel into gentle waters and float to our next camp.
Day 9: We come out of the gorge as we raft further down stream. From here on down we get fewer big rapids per mile, and drift into and through ‘Crocodile Alley’. As we float through the calms, we truly have the feel of being in a remote river canyon. We will stop at a small Zambian fishing village where the traditional thatch huts offer shelter from the blazing hot sun. We will visit with the people and trade for carvings and fire smoked fish caught right there. This is our last night camping alongside the Zambezi.
Day 10: Our last morning of rafting on the Zambezi. We come into the hippo pool waters near the Matetsi river confluence where we will take-out. With the help of local villagers, we load up the gear, enjoy a cool drink, and ride back through the native homelands of the Ndebele people, back to Victoria Falls, known to the locals as the “Smoke that Thunders” (Mosi-0-Tunya). We’ll be transferred back to our Lodges and after freshening up we’ll meet up for the “Zambezi Explorers” farewell dinner at the Boma restaurant. This will be the official close of the ‘BBX•World Wide’ Zambezi tour and we’ll have an awards ceremony. This is a good time to exchange addresses (for all those photos!), make toasts, tip the guides, and celebrate life in the heart of southern Africa. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 11 – Day 13: An afternoon charter flight will take us down river to Ruckomechi Camp on the western boundary of Mana Pools National Park. This luxurious camp is located in a private area and only sleeps 20 people ensuring a peaceful experience in the heart of Africa. We have reserved the entire camp. The facilities consist of 10 deluxe double occupancy thatched roof chalets with showers, toilets, and electricity. There is a central dining area with a pub and lounge that sit on the river’s edge and allow for game viewing. This area is renowned for its regular lion, elephant, hippo, and leopard sightings. Additionally, one can cool off in a refreshing plunge pool and watch elephants pass from the wood viewing deck. During our two night stay at Ruckomechi choose from a wide variety of activities designed to immerse you in the African wilderness. Among the options are: 4x4 game drives, canoeing, fishing, boating to islands, and bush walks accompanied by an armed guard. The food is gourmet and nothing can compare to the serene joy of sipping a cool drink while watching the fiery sunset over the Zambezi River. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Zimbabwe
Wildlife Viewing
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