Highlights

• Take a speedboat ride up the Zambezi River past hippos and crocodiles for an elephant interaction with a herd of rescue elephant and a meal experience at The Elephant Café – Winner of the Best New Restaurant in Zambia 2016.
• Class V Zambezi white-water rafting – rated the Best White Water Rafting experience in the world! Starting your rafting journey under the world famous Victoria Falls.
• Experience the best rapids of the Batoka gorge from The Boiling Pot through to the dramatic Moemba falls, 50km in total.
• Take a 20 min helicopter flight out of the Batoka Gorge; see Victoria Falls with a birds-eye view.
• After 3 nights on the river, look forward to a 1.5hr signature massage at the award-wining Spa & Wellness Centre at your accommodation using both a hot & cold compress with a traditional Zambian massage technique (ukuchina) for those aching muscles.
• Sunset Cruise aboard the Lady Livingstone.

Overview

First night’s accommodation at the magnificent 4.5* David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa. Day one includes a jetboat ride up river to the magnificent 5* dining experience that is the Elephant Cafe. This experience includes game viewing, elephant interaction with our very own elephants and an incredible 5* dining experience.

The 3 night white water rafting expedition begins with exploring the basalt cliffs and pools under the Victoria Falls. We then raft from rapid #1 through to the stunning camp site below rapid #10. This 9km of whitewater is some of the most intense on the planet, grade 5 rapids include The Stairway to Heaven and Gulliver’s Travels.

The second day rafting is a little more relaxed but watch out for The Mother and Oblivion and we raft all the way through to rapid #26.

The third full day on the River is a highlight for whitewater enthusiasts, from Rapid # 26 the Batoka gorge continuously changes its character and the gorge opens out at one point to rolling hills before closing up again as we approach the scenic Moemba Falls. Highlights include a forbidding Grade 5 rapid known as Open Season, Chimamba and the Grade 5 Upper Moemba Falls. We camp the third night between Upper Moemba Falls and the stunning Lower Moemba Falls. This beautiful campsite allows us to explore both the Falls and the wilderness.

After your final night of camping you take a helicopter ride out of the Gorge, get an amazing birds eye view of Victoria Falls (locally named the Flight of the Angels!) and look forward to the rest of the day at leisure at our accommodation for the night, The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa.

Back at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge for your final night your stay includes a free 1.5 hour massage and a 2 hour sunset cruise on the fabulous Lady Livingstone.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVE LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA

•  Arrival
• Speedboat Ride, Elephant Interaction and High Tea at The Elephant Café

Please check with your nearest Zambian Embassy or Consulate whether you are eligible to pay for a multiple-entry visa on arrival.

Welcome to Livingstone! You will be met on arrival and transferred to our first accommodation stop – the 4,5* David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa – this is a beautifully appointed thatched lodge oozing with charm set on the banks of the mighty Zambezi, named after the intrepid traveller, David Livingstone. The lodge is 3km upriver from the Victoria Falls and is located within a National Park – watch out for the resident monkeys and a semi-resident wild hippo in the pond by the bar! Stay in a Standard Room with dinner and breakfast included and unlimited WI-FI. Beverages here will be for your own account.

Later in the afternoon we will jump on a speedboat from The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa and whizz up the Zambezi River to The Elephant Cafe, passing hippos and crocodiles on the way and be met on arrival by a magnificent herd of rescue elephants. Experience an unforgettable close encounter with these gentle giants and sit on the beautiful wooden deck at The Elephant Café for some tea and tasty bites. This unique restaurant famously includes wild edibles in the food – it won the Best New Restaurant in Zambia for 2016. Tonight before dinner, we will meet our guides, receive our dry bags and discuss the next few days in detail. Rest well and look forward to what is the Mighty Zambezi.

Accommodation: The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

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DAY 2: WHITE WATER RAFTING EXPEDITION BEGINS RAFTING RAPIDS #1 – #10

•  Explore under Victoria Falls
• White Water Raft rapids #1 – #10
• Rapid Highlights: The section of river today is famous around the world for its spectacular white water, the highlights of the day being rapid #5, known as the Stairway to Heaven and rapid #7 known as Gulliver’s travels, both are grade 5, very different to each other and challenging in different ways.
• Camp at rapid # 10 on a beautiful white beach under the African Stars

A good day for an adventure! After a relaxed breakfast, your dry bag is packed and your valuables are locked away before our safety briefing and equipment introduction starts. Then we are on our way! Walking down into the Batoka Gorge, our epic journey starts at the base of the Victoria Falls – we explore the basalt cliffs and pools underneath the Falls. This experience is guaranteed to be another highlight of the trip – visited by few people, the base of these magnificent Falls will undoubtedly one of the most dramatic spots you will encounter. After a light lunch, it is time for us to meet the Mighty Zambezi River. The 10 rapids we encounter for the day will be fun, but will be challenging! Our experienced crew are there to see you through some of the most intense white-water on the planet, you will be tested by Class 3-5 Rapids with names such as Morning Glory, Stairway to Heaven, The Devils Toilet Bowl and the Mighty Muncher before our only portage of the day around the Class 6 Rapid # 9 Commercial Suicide.

Tonight we arrive at our campsite on a beautiful white, sandy beach – after helping to build camp its time to relax, enjoy a hearty dinner and the spectacular view, celebrate an awesome day on the River and look up at the majestic African starlit sky. The Batoka Gorge is all ours tonight!

Accommodation: Zambezi Campsite at rapid #10 on a Full-Board basis. (local beer, wine and spirits included)

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DAY 3: WHITE WATER RAFTING EXPEDITION CONTINUES RAFTING RAPIDS #11 – #26

•  White Water Rafting rapids #11 – #26
• Rapid Highlights: Slightly more relaxed than day one, we paddle approximately 18km down to camp. However don’t be too relaxed, highlights today include a continuous section of white water incorporating rapids #12 A,B and,C and rapid #13, collectively known at the Three Ugly Sisters and the Mother. Other rapids include the Washing Machine and the world famous Oblivion
• Camp at rapid #26

After we awake to the sound of the soaring Fish Eagle, we make you a delicious cooked breakfast, have plenty of coffee and pack up the camp leaving only footprints behind. The section of the Zambezi River encountered today is a little less challenging than Day 1. Or is it? Meet the Three Ugly Sisters closely followed by the Washing Machine, Terminator 1 and 2 and the world-famous Rapid # 18 Oblivion. After the days excitement, we reach our second night’s campsite at Rapid #26 – tonight your only decision will be whether to put up your tent or even fall asleep on the beach beneath the stars for yet another unforgettable evening in the Batoka Gorge.

Accommodation: Zambezi Campsite at rapid #26 on a Full-Board basis (local beer, wine and spirits included)

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DAY 4: WHITE WATER RAFTING EXPEDITION CONTINUES RAFTING TO MOEMBA FALLS

•  Lower Moemba Falls
• Rapid Highlights: The geology of the gorge changes as we leave our camp at rapid # 26 also known as Closed Season. Some long straights of flat water are broken up with spectacular and diverse rapids, the highlights being Open season, the Narrows 1, 2 & 3, Chamamba Falls and Upper Moemba Falls.
• Camp at Moemba Falls

Let’s get ready for a final day of adventure to our last destination – the stunning Lower Moemba Falls. You will encounter some of the Zambezi’s best rapids today 16 in total including. Open Season, The Narrows, Chamamba Falls, and Upper Moemba. As the gorge opens up today we may get the chance to glimpse at some wildlife, such as crocodiles and klipspringers plus a vast array of birdlife. When we reach Moemba Falls, take time to explore this remote area and soak up the last night of the Zambezi camping experience.

Accommodation: Zambezi Campsite at Moemba Falls on a Full-Board basis. (local beer, wine and spirits included)

DAY 5: FLIGHT OF ANGELS

•  Take a 20 minute helicopter ride out of the Batoka Gorge
• 1.5hr massage at The Spa & Wellness Centre
• Afternoon / Evening at Leisure
• Sunset Cruise aboard the Lady Livingstone

Goodbye Zambezi! This morning we leave the Batoka Gorge in true style. Jump aboard a helicopter for a 20 minute flight including the breath-taking ‘Flight of the Angels’ over Victoria Falls. We check back into the 4,5* David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa and take the rest of the day at leisure for some well-earned Rest & Relaxation! After 3 nights on the Zambezi, take advantage of a 1.5hr signature massage at the award-wining Spa & Wellness Centre on-site at the accommodation, using both a hot & cold compress with a traditional Zambian massage technique called ‘ukuchina’ for those aching muscles – well done, you made it! What an achievement!. We will then meet at 16h00 for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River – drinks and snacks are included on this two hour cruise, so put your feet up, look out for wildlife and most of all just relax. This evening we will have dinner at the on-site Kalai Restaurant and enjoy the sounds and sights of Africa!

Accommodation: The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

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DAY 6: BYE & FLY

This morning, have your coffee overlooking the Zambezi and soak it all in. Our departure transfer leaves The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa at approximately 11h00 in time for your flight from Livingstone Airport.

Camping on the Zambezi River

Camping is a treat for all outdoor enthusiasts. Our Zambezi River rafting overnight trips are not all about the river. We want our guests to enjoy the entire experience, including the camping within the Batoka Gorge. We like clients to get involved with building camp, helping to prepare food and collecting fire wood. All meals are freshly prepared, local beers and local spirits are included. Feel free to bring your own bottle of your favourite malt.

Zambezi River rafting overnight trips operate in the low water season, usually from August through to the new year. The rains usually arrive mid November and, although we are equipped to run Overnight Rafting trips in the wet season, be aware it could be very wet camping.

We will run overnight trips with a minimum of 4 people any day of the Low Water Season, however we try to facilitate smaller groups of one’s, two’s or three’s by running trips over the weekends, departing Saturday and returning Sunday.