Acclaimed as the wildest one-day whitewater run in the World, the Zambezi River is also recognized by rafting and kayaking enthusiasts as one of the top ten paddling rivers on the planet! 

If you don't immediately associate the terms "Stairway to Heaven" and "Oblivion" with adventure then you haven't experienced Zambezi Whitewater!

The Batoka Rapids

White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls has been classified by the British Canoe Union as Grade 5 - "extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas". This is a high volume, pool-drop river with little exposed rock either in the rapids or in the pools below the rapids.  Pick up a rapid-by-rapid account through the Batoka Gorge....

The Batoka rapids below Victoria Falls were run in a raft for the first time in March 1981 

• SafPar was one of the first commercial rafting operations in the early 90's and has established itself as the leading whitewater outfit in Zambia: first in safety, gear, river guides and back-up.
• The company also pioneered river-boarding on the Zambezi and is recognized as the top kayaking outfit on the Zambian shoreline at Victoria Falls. 
• The Zambezi Waterfront located 4km upstream of the falls is the official base from which we conduct our rafting, kayaking and riverboarding operations. 

Whether you're short on time or available for a full blown expedition through the Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls, Safari Par Excellence has something for you:

• The one-day rafting trip: Clearly the wildest one-day whitewater trip on the planet.  SafPar operates on both shorelines in Zambia and Zimbabwe.  During high-water season (January to July) we run from rapids #11 to #25, during low-water season (August to January) you'll experience the Zambezi at its finest from rapid #1 to #21 (these trips are based on the Zambian departure, trips are shorter in Zimbabwe. "Pitch and paddle next day" or book in advance.
• A day and a night: Covers the day trip with a pull-out at rapid #23 and an overnight at our campsite over the Zambezi.  All inclusive, returns to Victoria Falls at around 10:00 on the second day.  Available during low water only.
• Two and a half days: Includes an overnight camp at rapid #23 with rafting on the second day down to Chibongo (the Batoka dam site) and the second night at the top of the gorge.  All inclusive and returns to Victoria Falls before lunch on the third day.  Available during low water only.
• Five day expedition: A full coverage of the Batoka Gorge from Victoria Falls down to Matetsi.  Four nights are spent camping at rapid #23, upper "Moemba", below Chibongo, and below "Asleep at the Wheel".  Rafting continues on the fifth day followed by a 3 hour transfer back to Victoria Falls on the Milibizi/Hwange road.  Available during low water only.
• Custom trips: we run all inclusive personalised trips for groups of between 4 and up to a maximum of 20 guests on request.
• The combos: four easy combinations that include a full day's worth of rafting plus alternatives: riverboarding, jetboat, helicopter and bungee jump - choice is yours!

SafPar operates year round.  River conditions are determined by seasonally predictable fluctuations in water levels.  Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its very wildest.  We're in high water from about February to July with a short "closed season" around April/May depending on the season's rains.