On our Zambezi white water rafting trips, many guests ask us what activities are simply a “must do”. Before of after your rafting on the Zambezi river, a trip to Livingstone Island should be a priority. The place where Dr David Livingstone set eyes on Victoria Falls or Mosi Oa Tunya as they are known in the local Bemba dialect has long been a draw for travelers for it’s un-rivalled views of the falls. Many people including the owner of Water By Nature, Hamish got married on the island. In the low water season however (from approximately August – November) visitors can bring swimwear and swim on the edge of the falls guarded by a rock lip and your guides, in what is, the worlds MOST IMPRESSIVE infinity pool! We recommend an afternoon excursion to Livingstone Island and all of our guests receive a complimentary transfer to and from The Royal Landing at The Royal Livingstone Hotel where the trip departs from. No matter whether you are flying in from the United States, the UK or Europe, this is one trip, not to be missed.
Ten Great Adventures After Your Zambezi Rafting Holiday
If you have chosen to raft the Zambezi River for your next adventure holiday, you have made a wonderful choice. What we’d like to share with you now are some of the amazing adventures you can take part in either before or after your rafting trip. It can sometimes offer a reduction in the cost of your flight if you fly out a day or two earlier to Livingstone in Zambia from either the UK or the United States. We’d like to point out some wonderful adventures you can take part in: 1. The “Devils Pool” on Livingstone Island: One of the best and most iconic activities on offer. Swim in the world’s most impressive “infinity pool” right on the edge of Victoria Falls. This activity is only open during low water (August – November) and includes a visit to Livingstone Island. 2. Cheetah Encounter: Many guests have rated this as one of the highlights of their trip. You’ll be collected from you hotel and be taken to the Cheetah centre where they work with this endangered species. Take one for a walk! 3. Lion Encounter: Walk in the bush with African Lions. No leashes or restraints and no enclosures. … Continue reading
White Water Rafting The Grand Canyon – The Colorado River
Without a doubt the most famous whitewater rafting trip in the world, the Grand Canyon conjures up images of dwarfed rafts beneath the canyon walls that reach a mile deep a certain points. Many different options exist to travel through the canyon, by raft. Motor raft, dory, oar raft or paddle raft. The latter options tend to take longer and offer trips from 13-14 days to travel the 226 miles from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek. The trip has been a favorite for many North Americans through the Grand Canyon National Park, but far less Europeans venture for this classic 2 week adventure. It is well worth it. Far from being a trip just featuring whitewater rafting, the Grand Canyon offers so much more. Groups take part in fascinating hikes, some short and some longer and more adventurous walks, all of which are purely voluntary. Maybe your idea of “canyon heaven” its sitting down on a spectacular beach reading your book on your kindle, or chatting with your fellow rafters. Although Arizona is essentially is a desert, as well as the Colorado River being the main artery through the area, incredible side creeks such as Thunder River, Deer Creek, Havasu, … Continue reading
Zambezi season 2011 off to a great start!
Despite the Nyami Nyami giving us a little too much water for the beginning of the season, our first few trips have been fantastic! Having to get on at number 10 rather than number 1 didn’t stop Barbara and her family having loads of fun on our first Zambezi Blast trip to celebrate her 70th Birthday, under the watchful eye of Tembo they breezed all the way down to Moemba, no swims, loads of laughs, big smiles all round! We’ve sent three guides down to Zambia for the season his year, Steve from the UK, who’s fresh from our seasons in Morocco and Turkey, Andy from the US who you might have seen out in Morocco with us before, and was out on the Zambezi last year, and Anika, also from the US, proudly representing for the ladies and ripping it up in her kayak as well as in the rafts, they’re a great team and we’re really excited that they’ll be looking after you guys on each of our trips this season. Anika and Andy flew into town to guide our first seven day trip of the season, and were joined on the first few days by a fun … Continue reading
The World’s Premier Rafting Destination – The Zambezi River
So if you have ticked off some of the big adventures around the world such as hiking up Kilimanjaro, hiking the Inca Trail, then make 2011 the year to raft the world’s premier rafting destination, the Zambezi River, Zambia. So what is it that makes the Zambezi, so special? Is it the big warm water? Yes! Is it the amazing sandy beaches you get to camp on every night? Absolutely! Is it because anyone from 16 – 75 can do this trip? Yes, as a matter of fact we have a 70 year old lady booked on this year for a trip to celebrate her birthday. And the BEST BIT? You don’t have to walk out of the gorge on that nasty walk on our trips, you’ll be flown back to Livingstone and over Victoria Falls by helicopter! Our trips start in the mist beneath the Victoria Falls with lunch on the first day and a real sense of what a spectacular setting you are in. Contrary to popular myth the Zambezi is not a particularly difficult river and you can easily negotiate the trip and not flip. The biggest rapids tend to be on the multiday section of the … Continue reading
Whitewater Rafting in Fall and Winter
It’s time to head south for the winter! If those autumn mornings are starting to feel a little chilly, then why not prolong winter just that little bit longer with a trip to the Zambezi River, Nepal or Patagonia. With Zambia reaches temperatures of 40 degrees celsius at this time of the year, it’s the place to be. The Zambezi river based out of Livingstone, Zambia is one of the top river trips in the world. With options for 4 and seven day trips on this wonderful river, you’ll not only experience the big warm water rapids, but the stunning beaches and wildlife and incredible food and guides. Our teams have local and international experience un-matched by any other company on the Zambezi. Compliment your trip with a few days game viewing in Botswana or if you prefer, then why not bungy, canoe or take a swim in the Angels Armchair on the edge of the Victoria Falls. Although it is now past the optimum time to raft the Sun Kosi (this is best late September) but still fantastic to raft either the Karnali River or the Tamur. Both are more expeditionary type trips is the west and east of … Continue reading
Whitewater Rafting Terminology – What you need to say to sound COOL!
It can be hard when you first go on a rafting holiday to get to grips with what the guides are talking about! So here are a few of the essentials to ensure you’ll know exactly what they are talking about and sound like a “riverguru” by the time you come back home. Put In: The place where you launch the rafts into the river. Guide will give a safety talk before you start rafting and give you paddle instructions. Take Out: The end of the river trip, where the rafts get taken out of the river and plenty of good stories are told. From here you will get transport back to town. Current: Any reference to moving water Eddy: Water moving back upstream caused by a rock or obstacle of some sort. This is the ideal place to stop river craft. Eddy Fence: The water between the current moving downstream and the eddy. Hole: A river feature where water flows over a rock or obstacle in the river, drops down in the river, flows downstream and then back towards the falling water. Wave/Lateral: This is caused by a constriction of flow (river narrowing) or off an obstacle. Waves on … Continue reading
Nepal Rafting – What’s so special
Mountains feed rivers with water from snowmelt, so why not make this fall the season to head out to that most impressive of all mountain ranges, The Himalaya for a spectacular whitewater rafting trip on what can only be described as incredible journeys. There are two main seasons for rafting in Nepal, the spring season from late February until early May and the post monsoon fall or autumn season when generally the rivers are at their biggest and the weather is at it’s best. In our opinion, Nepal has three world class river trips to run from September. The Sun Kosi River is the biggest volume river in Nepal, fed from the mountains in Tibet and Eastern Nepal. Many large tributaries such as the Dudh Kosi (the river from Mount Everest) feed into the Sun Kosi, which ultimately runs into the Ganges near to the Indian border. The Sun Kosi as a river trip, is fantastic. In September you will camp on post monsoon, expansive sandy beaches and experience big volume rapids every bit as big and fun as the Zambezi River. The river trip starts near Dolaghat and runs 270 kilometres down to Chatara where you can take the … Continue reading
The Ultimate Expedition in Morocco
We have recently returned from Morocco with the Ripon Explorer Scouts on what can only be described as a truly inspiring expedition. This team of 15 and 16 year olds along with their scout leader and mentor Phil, had been fundraising for more than 2 years to take part in this expedition. With super market bag packing, letters to prominent businesses and people in the community and Céilidh for donations, they reached their target and left for Morocco in late March 2010 for their two week expedition. Phase one of the trip was an 8 day trans atlas crossing hiking from the Dades valley to the river put in point, La Cathedrale. The kids did the long 6-8 hour days, camping in remote Berber Villages along the way. Looking tired, but relieved they had made it, we met them by the side of the river to take part in the river portion of their trip. The river was relatively high, however Phil and the scouts, had spent a great deal of time on their paddling to get it up to scratch to paddle the Grade 3 Ahansel River. The Ahansel River is a gorgeous paddle through the heart of the … Continue reading
Rafting In Morocco – Who Can Do It?
Our team is now well and truly in the midst of our Morocco rafting season. But who rafts in Morocco and what different trips are on offer there? When many people picture Morocco, they think Sahara Desert and lets face it, the rafting wont be very good there! However Morocco is home to the Atlas Mountains and the wonderful rivers that feed from it. The best time to go to Morocco is in fact now in the spring when the run off is at it’s best, however rafting and kayaking can be done until late May when the Ahansel River gets too low to run. The Ahansel River is a perfect Grade 3 river, suitable for both first timers, families wanting to go rafting and seasoned rafters just wanting to go and explore a river off the beaten track. The river trips in Morocco are all of different lengths. Go for a “quick fix” and stay in our Berber Camps for just £210 for 3 days including a stop at Cascade D’Ouzoud, or take your time to raft the entire river from Cathedral to the lake on our Hidden Morocco trip. Water By Nature also offers kayaking trips for Grade … Continue reading
