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Last updated: 28 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Richard Holmes

Widely regarded as some of the best white-water rafting in the world, running the rapids formed by the Zambezi funnelling through the Batoka Gorge, is far and away the most popular adventure activity at Victoria Falls.

These are among the largest commercially rafted rapids in the world, and not for the faint-hearted. However, rafting companies take safety incredibly seriously and guides are trained in swift-water rescue and accredited by the International Rafting Federation.

Price from: £100
Minimum age: 15
Age suitable: 15+
When: All year around
Duration: 5-10 hours

Getting there & doing it

Operators provide return transfers to the put-in point, where lifejackets and strict safety instructions are issued. Eight-man rafts are commonly used, with a professional guide on each raft.

 

When to do it

The first 10 rapids below the Falls can only be run during low water (roughly July to January), while in other months rafters are restricted to half-day trips on rapids 11-25 downstream.

From August to December multi-day rafting trips are offered, including overnight and multi-day trips.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

White Water Rafting in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

White Water Rafting in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls is a mile long curtain of water that stretches across the glistening basalt rock, erupts into spray, and then thunders into the canyons below. The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi form one of the great river corridors of the world. This is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is the ‘highway’ for our rafts. The gorge is over 100 meters deep at the Falls and increases to over 200 meters by the end of a full day White Water Rafting trip. Despite this rugged terrain, the gorges below the Falls are thick with vegetation and incredibly spectacular. The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union (Grade 6 being commercially un-runnable). Clients should be reasonably fit for this activity, as there is a steep walk into & out of the Batoka Gorge as well as the White Water Rafting activity itself. Please note : This activity departs from Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe.

Price: $120

Min age: 14

Rating 4.72 / 5 [69 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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White Water Rafting & Swimming under the Falls

Livingstone

White Water Rafting & Swimming under the Falls
The Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls is widely considered to be the very best White Water Rafting river in the world. A deep channeled, high volume river, the Zambezi has class 3 – 5 rapids interspersed with tranquil pools. Free `Swimming under the Falls´ included as well as free photos of the day!!

Price: $120

Min age: 15

Rating 5 / 5 [20 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Half Day Zambezi Whitewater Rafting

Victoria Falls

Half Day Zambezi Whitewater Rafting
Paddle one of the wildest, finest and number one rated river in the world for white water rafting. The  Zambezi River is comprised of a throng of class V and IV rapids encompassed in the Batoka Gorge.You may choose from rafting the top section of the river rapid number 1-10 which comprises of a series of class 4-5 rapids. This is available during the low water reason that is July -Dec.Alternatively paddle the top section of the Zambezi at the same period of the year, which is a a bit calmer than the first section.Spending about 2-3 hours and rafting a distance of 11km in either trip, fun will be guaranteed by  charming and informative narration of the river and the Batoka gorge by our guides . A yummy lunch, mineral water and soft drinks would be served after the trip.

Price: $140

Min age: 15

Rating 4.89 / 5 [132 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Zambezi River Class IV-V White-Water Rafting from Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Zambezi River Class IV-V White-Water Rafting from Victoria Falls
If you're looking for adventure in Zimbabwe, experience the Zambezi River on a white-water rafting tour with pickup in Victoria Falls. With a guide, travel down one of the best one-day rafting rivers in the world, which plummets into a gorge at Victoria Falls, separating the placid river above the falls and the turbulent rapids below. The gorge is more than 328 feet (100 meter) deep at the falls and increases to more than 650 feet (200 meters) by the end of the full-day raft trip. Select a half-day or full-day trip when booking (dependent on availability). Water levels will determine whether you do low- or high-water rafting. 

Price: $150

Min age: 13

Rating 4.93 / 5 [178 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Full-Day White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River

Victoria Falls

Full-Day White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River
Rafting on the Zambezi River is rated as the best white water rafting on our planet! Due to the fact that the Zambezi is a high volume river, which means that the rocks in the rapids are deep and thus the possibility of actually bumping into them is reduced dramatically. Also being a Pool drop river system the rapids are anywhere from 10 to 45 seconds long before washing into a calmer section of the river, where if anyone has fallen out, they can easily be recovered. Our guides have over 15 years experience on the Zambezi and as such are very experienced and will ensure that travelers are looked after from start to finish.

Price: $150

Min age: 15

Rating 4.73 / 5 [19 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Family with Kids, Zambezi River Whitewater Rafting

Victoria Falls

Family with Kids, Zambezi River Whitewater Rafting
Embark on a rafting trips with your kids, do not leave them behind while having fun on a awesome river. A good day to spend as a family and with your kids. This is a customized private trip. Kids love swimming in warm water of the Zambezi river, so give them that chance Optional of some rock jump We use USA class V life jackets for kids

Price: $160

Min age: 7

Rating 4.96 / 5 [27 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Full Day: Zambezi Whitewater Rafting 1-25

Livingstone

Full Day: Zambezi Whitewater Rafting 1-25
Enjoy rafting one of the wildest, finest and number one rated river in the world for white water rafting. The Zambezi River is comprised of a throng of class V and IV rapids encompassed in the Batoka gorge. You will conquer rapid 1 - 25 on this day tour. The names “The Devils toilet bowl", "The Gulliver’s Travel" and "The Terminator" present a snippet of the exhilarating adventure on the river. Housed by the Batoka Gorge you will also have spectacular view of the canyon as you start rafting right under the Victoria Falls. Your guides  will pick you up between 7:30 - 8:45 hrs from any hotel in Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Kasane (Botswana). Spending about 5-6 hours and rafting a distance of 23 km, fun will be guaranteed by charming and informative narration of the river and the Batoka Gorge by our guides. Half way through your trip a yummy lunch will be served so that thereafter you will tackle the rapids "The Mother" and "Terminator" on full stomach!

Price: $170

Min age: 15

Rating 4.92 / 5 [136 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

The world-famous Victoria Falls is also Africa’s adventure playground, offering an array of brilliant adrenalin-packed adventure activities plus Big Five safaris.

Round-ups that include this experience

Raft on giant rapids on the Zambezi

There are countless rivers with rapids out there that you can ‘raft’, but there are some stand-outs – for the size of their rapids and/or for their exceptional setting. Here are our recommendations.