The Zambezi (meaning “Great River” in the local Tonga dialect), is the fourth longest river in Africa, after the Nile, Congo, Niger rivers. It flows an amazing 2 700 km through six countries on its journey from its source in north-western Zambia to the Indian Ocean. The Zambezi evokes mystery and excitement with its past shrouded in tales of intrepid explorers, white hunters and tribal folk-lore like that of the mythical Nyaminyami River God. It is however perhaps the area around the magnificent Victoria Falls for which the Zambezi is best known.
Just above the falls (known as the “Upper Zambezi”) there is a spectacular section of river with islands, channels, crystal clear waters and sandy beaches. With the Zambezi National Park on the Zimbabwe side the area teams with birds and wildlife and it is here that we can do drift canoes and sunset booze cruises.
The full width of the river then thunders over the Victoria Falls in a single vertical drop of +100m (roughly twice the height of North America’s Niagara Falls) and creating a spray that typically rises hundreds of metres into the air and is visible from up to 50 km away. The indigenous name of ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ meaning the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ is most appropriate.
White-water Rafting – 
Below the Falls the river cuts through basalt rock in the steadily deepening Batoka Gorge and it is here that the adrenaline pumping fun begins. With Grade 5 rapids, huge volumes of waters and massive waves this pool drop river has been dubbed “the best one day white water rafting place on the planet”.
With a choice between Half and Full day rafting (depending on the season), you begin the day at 7:00am with a safety briefing accompanied by tea/coffee before embarking on the river. Once you’re in the raft, you’ll be given a short tutorial on how to navigate the twists & turns and rapids before embarking on a calm section of the river so you can familiarize yourself with the Zambezi waters. 
During the course of the day, you’ll then go through calm stretches of water and through rapids one after the other. You will go around one rapid that is commercially un-runnable.
If you’ve booked Full day, lunch will be served halfway in the gorge and you will continue with the last leg of your journey afterwards. If you’ve booked Half day, lunch may be at the top of the gorge before your transfer to your accommodation. Either way, prepare for lots of fun and carry your sunscreen. Wear clothes you would go swimming in (except bikinis) and rafters’ a.k.a thongs which dry easily once out of the water and are strong enough to protect your feet during the walk in and out of the gorge.
Other activities – In addition to the activities of the calmer reaches of the “Upper Zambezi” the towns of Livingstone and Victoria Falls offer a host of other adrenalin packed activities. There are elephant rides and opportunities to walk with lions, bungee jumping from the historic Victoria Falls railway bridge and abseiling, the flying fox 
and gorge swings.
You can take a “flight of the angles” for an aerial view of the falls or enjoy a walk through the tangled rain-forest to the edge of this incredible spectacle. In the evenings there are awesome restaurants, tribal dancing and interactive drumming, and the chance to get your fortune told by a witch-doctor.
