White Water Rafting in Zimbabwe
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Victoria Falls is a mile long curtain of water that stretches across the glistening basalt rock, erupts into spray, and then thunders into the canyons below. The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi form one of the great river corridors of the world. This is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is the ‘highway’ for our rafts. The gorge is over 100 meters deep at the Falls and increases to over 200 meters by the end of a full day White Water Rafting trip. Despite this rugged terrain, the gorges below the Falls are thick with vegetation and incredibly spectacular.
The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union (Grade 6 being commercially un-runnable). Clients should be reasonably fit for this activity, as there is a steep walk into & out of the Batoka Gorge as well as the White Water Rafting activity itself.
Please note : This activity departs from Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe.
Additional Info
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Minimum age: 15 years (This can be flexible, at management’s discretion i.e. if the child is of the right maturity, strength and will fit into a life jacket properly then younger children are sometimes accepted.Maximum age: There is no maximum age limit, however Wild Horizons retain the right to refuse to take a client who is clearly going to be unable to cope with the rigours of rafting.Low Water Rafting
Approximate Dates: 10th August – 25th December
Rapids: #1 to #19
Lunch: Lunch at Top of Gorge at Rapid # 19High Water- Rafting
Approximate Dates: 25th Dec – 10th August
Rapids: #11 to #23
Lunch: Lunch is served at the top of the gorge at Rapid #23
is controlled and manoeuvred by the guide using “12 foot-long” oars from the middle of the raft. Guests are seated in the front and rear of the raft and hold on to the safety line around the perimeter of the raft.
requires the passengers to actively assist the guide in manoeuvring the raft through the rapids and the calm stretches, they are seated around the perimeter of the boat and all paddle, but do not hold onto the safety line.
The walk in and out of the gorge is steep and rocky. The walk out is approximately 750 feet to the top of the gorge and requires a reasonable degree of fitness. There is cold beer, soft drink and water top of the gorge for guests.
Photographic and video coverage will be offered on every trip to guests for an extra fee.
Tipping is not compulsory. If however you would like to leave a token of your thanks, the following is a guideline:
Guide: US$10 per guest per day.
Other Staff: US$5 per guest per day.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Wild Horizons
White Water Rafting
Victoria Falls Bridge
White Water Rafting
What‘s Included
Transfers (B&B's, Guest Houses and Hotels in Victoria Falls Town only)
Gear( wet suite in the winter)
Lunch
Items of a personal nature.
Visa Fees.
River usage fee of US$10.00 per person
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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White Water Rafting in Zimbabwe
Pickup included
Reviews
96 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Safe and enjoyable
davidbF2140TP,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The rafting was great fun, and very exhilarating. The staff were great. Felt very safe due to the equipment and the staff in the boat and in support boats. Be prepared for a steep climb in and out of the gorge to get to the river, but it's worth it. We bought the photo's and they were good value, some great shots reminding us of good memories.
Zambezi White Water Rafting #1 Family Thrill day
Brent C,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of 4 - kids 23 & 16 had such an amazing day going down the Zambezi River with 12 different rapids; flipped on one (bit scary) & all scrambled back on; some free swimming with the current. Such a memorable day and very steep walk down & up to rafts !
Great experience
Glenda B,,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a thrilling experience riding the rapids of the almighty Zambezi River. Fantastic highly recommended. Complimentary lunch was provided with beer and soft drinks was offered after activity. Guides were super helpful and kind. The only word of caution that unless you in really good shape the hike out of the gorge is grueling and will leave you exhausted.
Awesome adventure!
dimfisch,,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an awesome experience! The team is highly professional. They insisted on maximal safety and security while not forgetting to make sure we had a lot of fun.
Best rafting trip ever
nkubina,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I have rafted numerous times and this was right up there with the best of them. Our guide was excellent and very funny the way he described the rapids and we had a great group who paddled hard so we stayed in the boat!! Stunning scenery and the best fun.
Thrilling experience - not to be missed
Antonio C,,Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My first time rafting experience and surely not the last. It’s full of adrenaline and teamwork. The guides were on spot with safety and communication, very experienced in the river and very friendly. Definitely recommended. Also one of the best value for money activities in Victoria Falls Town, without a doubt.
A must
A7475PQguillermog,,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible experience! Just take into account the Really Though Hiking after rafting, with super high temperatures and killing sun. If I had to make it again I would choose shockwaves as they’re starting at the boiling pot including rapid #1, meanwhile we started in #2 with shearwaters, they simply skipped the beginning that is the most beautiful view without any explanation
Nice experience, definitely adrenaline
alicefS3700FD,,Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Rafting from rapids 11 to 23. The descent is very steep and complex, training done very well. The risk of turning around or falling into the water is high. In fact, one of the most complex happened to us at 16. The level of the rapids ranges from 2 to 5. So I recommend it to people in good physical shape. We got really scared and drank a lot of water, but overall it was fun, it's an adrenaline-pumping experience. The uphill return much more feasible than the descent. The work behind this experience is so much, so many people work and struggle. The delicious and typical lunch. I do not give 5 stars because they should inform more in the office about the risk and difficulty level of rapids.
Dangerous, irresponsible and negligent
505mansam,,Mar 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00My wife and I chose to do white water rafting at Victoria Falls, expecting a thrilling but well-managed adventure. What we got instead was a dangerously misleading and terrifying experience due to gross negligence from Shearwater. Deceptive Description of the Hike From the start, the company was completely dishonest about how difficult and dangerous the hike down to the rafts is—and even worse, the grueling climb back up at the end. They made it seem easy, but in reality, the hike is extremely demanding, especially for anyone who isn’t in top physical condition. The final ascent was brutal, with steep ladders and rocky terrain, making it nearly impossible for older participants or those with any health concerns. Incompetent and Dangerous Guiding The guide we had was shockingly unskilled. He failed to steer the raft properly, causing us to hit a rapid sideways—something that should never happen if a guide knows what they’re doing. As a result, our raft flipped in one of the most dangerous rapids. I was trapped under the boat for about 10 seconds, but my wife was stuck for a terrifying 30 seconds. The most appalling part? The guides made no effort to ensure everyone had safely surfaced after the flip. When I told a guide I couldn't see my wife, he brushed it off, saying she had made it out. It wasn’t until another passenger spotted someone still trapped under the boat that a guide finally jumped in to help. That level of negligence is beyond unacceptable. My wife was completely traumatized, and I genuinely believed I was going to drown. Crocodiles in the Water We were assured that crocodiles wouldn’t be in the areas where we entered the water—only to see one lurking near the rocks after a rapid. Another outright lie that put everyone at risk. Another Unexpected Grueling Hike As if the experience wasn’t difficult enough, one of the rapids was deemed too dangerous, forcing us into yet another exhausting 2km hike over tough terrain to get back to the raft. This was never disclosed beforehand, making it even more frustrating. Shearwater’s Shameful Dishonesty and Negligence Despite claiming their guides have 15+ years of experience, Shearwater failed at even the most basic safety protocols. They refuse to disclose how physically demanding this trip is, misrepresent the dangers, and fail to execute the proper best practices to ensure safety on the rapids. The Zambezi River is already an intense and dangerous place to raft, and the company’s carelessness makes it even worse. If you’re considering rafting in Victoria Falls, do your research. The river is infested with crocodiles, and there have been known incidents of attacks. The physical demands of the hike and rafting are far beyond what they claim. Shearwater should not be allowed to operate. Do not book with them. This was by far the most terrifying and mismanaged experience of my life, and I would never recommend them to anyone—especially families or those without serious rafting experience. Absolutely disgraceful.
Do one thing everyday that scares you? Try this!
Matt H,,Nov 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Having previously rafted from the Zambian side, albeit a long time ago, I was keen to give it a go from the Zim side too. The organisation was excellent. Good briefing at the Lookout Cafe, before being taken into the park to the launch point. Be aware that the route to the launch site is steep and requires the use of ladders. In my view, this adds to the experience. The rafting was just as I remembered, except that we each had a paddle, and we were accompanied by three amazing kayakers who were there to ensure our safety. We were given clear instructions on how we would progress through the rapids, and what to do in the event of a capsize, and then went through rapid #1 at the bottom of Vic Falls. There were three rafts, two from Wild Horizons, and one from Shearwater, but they worked together as one, to make sure that everyone was safe, and we travelled down the river together. You will get wet. You will probably end up in the river at some point. It can be a bit scary at times, but be assured that the team know what they are doing. But most of all, it’s great fun, and you will have the best time. The climb out of the gorge at the end is tough. It will take you about 20 mins non-stop, on very steep rocky trails and home made wooden ladders. It’s worth it though, as at the end you’ll get food and a cold beer. Thank you to the team for one of the best days in my life.
From US$120.00
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Operated by Wild Horizons