WHITE WATER KAYAKING

 One weekend my friend and I decided we were going to do the white water kayaking above the Victoria Falls.  We met our guide at the reception of the Rainbow Hotel.  We were then taken
through the National Park, and arrived up river at our campsite at about 5.30pm.  We were provided with sun downers around a camp fire while we mingled with the other guests.  There were about eight foreigners, my friend and me and the guide.  We sat down to a hearty dinner.  After a long day of travelling we were happy to unroll our sleeping bags onto the stretchers that they provided for us and under the comfort of a mosquito net we gazed at an inky sky studded with stars.

It was an early start the next morning and after a steaming hot cuppa and  some cereal and yoghurt we were given a ‘pep’ talk before venturing out onto the huge expanse of water in our little two man kayaks. 

The guide split my friend and I up and we were placed in the front of our kayaj with a chap behind us.  The start was fairly smooth sailing with calm waters.  Every now and again the guide would tell us that we had to paddle across to the Zambian side as fast as possible to avoid a pod of hippo.  The rapids we encountered were mild in comparison to doing the ‘white water’ rafting below the Victoria Falls, but big enough for out little kayaks and we got thoroughly soaked.  Which was a pleasing interlude to a very hot day!  They were also a thrill and took quite a bit of steering, so as to avoid rocks and tipping into the crocodile infested waters.  So with that terrifying thought in mind, keeping upright was our main aim.

At around mid-day we cruised up to an island with a lovely white ‘beach’ and we had a well-earned rest and a bite to eat.  We did explore the island a bit and just cooled off in the shallows of the river, with someone on look out to make sure no ‘flat dogs’ (crocodiles) were around.  In the afternoon we had a gentle run meandering between islands and down inlets, under overhanding branches filled
with amazing birdlife in close proximity to us.   We came around one island and there was an elephant having a lovely swim in the river – we managed to get quite close to him.  There was also an abundance of wildlife grazing on the banks and some having a daily drink to quench their thirst.

Our second night was a repeat of the first, but we did have the privilege of a cold bucket shower behind a piece of hessian on one side and gazing at the setting sun over the river on the other side.  Such an awesome experience, that no-one complained about the cold water!

Day two on the river was slightly harder as we had to row into the wind, as we got closer to the falls.  By midday I put my oars down and told my partner that he could carry on paddling if he wanted to, but I was quite happy drifting along on the current.  My shoulders were burning in pain and could not have lifted a feather at that stage. 

We finished our safari around mid-afternoon and were transported back to the Victoria Falls campsite.  We did hire a tent for the night, but the energy levels were at such that erecting a tent was too much effort, so we laid it on the ground and slept on top of it.

It was all in all an amazing trip and would do it again at the drop of a hat!