White Water Rafting in Zimbabwe

My 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.

Having 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.

Had the best time rafting!! James was so funny and kept us well informed so we knew what to do and when. Highly recommend! The walk out of the gorge is very tough so appropriate footwear!! The guides are so lovely, they stay with the slowest in the group (me on this occasion) and are so kind. They don’t make you feel like you have to rush and they give you plenty of breaks and water. Thank you James for an amazing experience and one I will remember forever!