Types Of Craft On A White Water Rafting Vacation

There are many varying craft on offer on white water rafting trips to enhance your adventure. Each offer a different means to run rapids on a river, giving you safe options to challenge some of the biggest whitewater in the world, such as on the Zambezi or in Nepal. Other craft are there for your safety. Safety kayaks and safety catarafts primarily run rapids first and wait at the bottom of rapids in strategic locations in case you should pop out of the raft. Paddle raft: This raft will have 6-8 paddlers plus a guide, who will give commands from the rear of the raft. An extremely manuvreable craft which involves excellent teamwork. A common boat used on the steep creeks of California. Stern Raft/Paddle Assist: This is an adaptation of the above craft, however the guide will sit at the back with a set of oars which allows extra power and stability in big water rapids such as in Chile and the Zambezi. Oar Raft: A boat that is traditionally used for equipment such as food, coolers, but on occasion, these craft can be used to take passengers too. This is common on the Grand Canyon although traditionally most … Continue reading →

Paddle rafting at it's best on the steep creeks in California.

Ten Great Attributes Of A Zambezi Multi-Day Trip

A Zambezi whitewater rafting trip, need not last just the traditional, one day. Adventures further down river reward rafters with stunning views, remote campsites, more challenging white water than the day trip, plus the chance, depending on which trip you choose to see wildlife at close range. On a 7 day trip to Matetsi river mouth, frequently our rafting guests get to see crocodiles and hippopotamus amongst the braided sections. Then prepare yourself for the thrill of a lifetime, getting a flight back to Livingstone, via the magnificent Victoria Falls. You get to start your trip below one of the Seven Natural Wonders Of The World. You don’t have to walk out of the Batoka Gorge You get to camp on amazing HUGE sandy beaches Trips are run in the “dry” season. You won’t get rain (in general!) but you will get VERY wet in the amazing rapids You can choose to go on safari to Chobe National Park, where you can get to see some of the best wildlife is Southern Africa. You can get to choose to do some incredible adventures in and around Livingstone, such as walking with Cheetahs, lions or doing an elephant walk. You get … Continue reading →

Amazing place to start your trip, beneath Victoria Falls

Capturing Memories Of Your Rafting Vacation

Having immersed yourself in your rafting holiday, who might be there to capture YOUR memories for you? An integral part of any river trip (numbers permitting) is to have a video kayaker along, whose sole purpose is to capture trip memories for you in the form of still photographs and a 30-45 minute DVD of your trip for you to show your family and friends on your return! Just think, when they are just starting to get bored of all of your stories, you can show them, just how much fun it is on a river trip! With the onset of many inexpensive and excellent quality waterproof cameras, many of our trips also have Go-Pro cameras offering HD quality photos and video from the front of the raft facing back at the crew, or alternatively, some other great views can be obtained putting the camera on the guides helmet at the back of the raft. In addition, we take small waterproof pelican cases so you’ll have the opportunity to capture your own special images on the trip. Just remember, if there is something that might make the DVD amazing for you, ask the cameraman to grab that shot for you. … Continue reading →

Mikey Amos, one of our talented cameramen in Morocco

A Must Do On The Zambezi River – Devils Pool On Livingstone Island

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.

Cuisine On A White Water Rafting Trip?

Eating a wonderful meal in the outdoors is a must. Forget beans on toast and “spam” your river guides transform into wonderful chefs preparing cuisine we have been told “restaurants would be proud of”. As any past guests of Water By Nature will attest to, from sundowners of Canapes, prawn cocktail or wine and cheese and an ice cold beer, to our very own “cake guru” Steve Hammond’s dutch oven cakes, you should not plan on losing any weight on your holiday! Given the range of food on offer in many of our destinations such as Morocco, Nepal and the Zambezi, many meals the guides prepare are from scratch. On a recent trip to Morocco, the guests were blown away by riverside pizzas and chips, made with their own choice of toppings. Breakfasts are no exception. Fresh fruit each morning, cereal and those wanting a cooked breakfast, French Toast, bacon and eggs or perhaps Eggs Benedict will satisfy your taste buds. Lunches include fresh salads, cold meats and fruit. Given the nature of a river trip and taking gear rafts with you, there is no need to scrimp on comfort and the same applies to the food. Send us your … Continue reading →

The REAL Zambezi Legends

So many stories come out about the Zambezi River, the flips, the swims, the campsites the helicopter flight back to town, but there are some hidden gems in this place that make the trip unique and above all, possible. Mukuma and our team of legendary porters carry all our equipment into and out of the river before and after your trip. The rafts are rolled into a “sausage” and the lads run the 750 feet into the gorge as if it were flat. Once the rafts, lunch, stern frames and safety equipment are in, the crew dash back to our vehicles and are transported to Rapid number 10 (our first overnight camp at Songwe Point) and carry in all the camping equipment for our expedition. Many people have trouble walking this steep trail with wooden steps down to the river as we saw with some of the Comic Relief participants, but Mukuma and his team do an average of 6 trips each to get all the gear into the camp by the time the guests have finished rafting their first day. If guests are doing one of our 4 day river trips, the Zambezi Blast and Ultimate Adventure, the porters … Continue reading →

Comic Relief Zambezi Hell And High Water Challenge

It was so great to see one of our favourite rivers in the world featured as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day Challenge on BBC1 on 14th March. An amazing effort on the part of the celebrities to raise in excess of £1,100,000. The Zambezi Challenge saw celebrities Jack Dee, Dara O’Briain, Chelsee Healey, Radio 1 DJ Greg James, Spice Girl Melanie C and Olympian Phillips Idowu paddle more than 100km down the Mighty Zambezi River. Given the time of year chosen to run the challenge, the participants paddled mainly above Victoria Falls as at that time of year the rapids from Number 1-10 are considered too dangerous. The optimum time to raft the Zambezi River is from August until November in the “dry season” when the river is low, the weather hot and the gorge is not as green as we saw it on Comic Relief. Water By Nature have been offering charity events on the Zambezi for more than 15 years, working with Guide Dogs, Breast Cancer, Lupus to name just a few. If you’d like to fundraise for your preferred charity the longest serving Charity Event Organiser on the Zambezi, Global Adventure Challenge can assist you … Continue reading →

Dr David Livingstone’s Bicentenary 2013

Agreed by many as one of the most influential explorers of the Victorian era, Dr David Livingstone holds a special place in the history of Africa and in particular his memorable words when he first laid eyes on what he named Victoria Falls (Mosi Oa Tunya in the local Bemba language) “A sight so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” March 19th 2013 is the Bicentenary of Dr David Livingstone’s birth in Blantyre and what an opportunity to explore one of the rivers at the forefront of his travels as the Mighty Zambezi. Livingstone was the first European Explorer to travel across trans continental Africa from Luanda to Mozambique. He was a light traveller and this gave him extra kudos with local Chiefs, as well as his reassurances that he was not a threat. The British backed his second expedition to the Zambezi, however he was unable to safely navigate the Cabora Bassa rapids in Mozambique, which he had not seen on his first trip to the region. Despite being viewed as a “failure” by many back in the UK, the trip was a very worthwhile project for the scientists working with Livingstone to collect … Continue reading →

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 →

Hydrating On Your Rafting Trip

Many people are amazed at whilst on a river trip, just how much water they drink as opposed to what they may drink in the office at work, or indeed at home. Dehydration affects the body’s ability to transfer heat, forcing the heart to beat faster. It can cause headaches, fatigue, cramps and a decrease in coordination. Severe cases can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. What we can do is recommend a few simple practices to keep you and your body hydrated in even the hottest destinations. 1. Drink water and not sweet or caffeinated drinks in excess 2. Drink water consistently from early morning until you go to bed. 3. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption 4. Consider in warmer climates having oral rehydration solution or tablets once a day. 5. Get yourself a good sunhat and keep it moist to avoid heat loss from your head 6. Stay cool. Cooler drinks are better. Ask your guide to trail them behind your raft and keep them in the river. Hydration Gear Depending on which trip you have chosen, there is a range of hydration equipment on the market that may be suitable for you. In warmer destinations such as … Continue reading →