Go alligator raftingin Livingstone, Zambia

Rafting down the Zambezi is a pretty dangerous activity. If you drop off the boat, you can be delicious meal for crocodiles.

Mostly only pros go rafting down the Zambezi River, and newcomers here usually face quite a number of surprises.

The Zambezi river is 45 meters deep, mountain rapids rate of flow reaches 30 km/h. Over half of 13 rapids in Zambezi belongs to 5th category of difficulty (8th and 9th are absolutely wayless and called rapids for condemned rafters. In the middle of the itinerary there is a vibrant cascade of three rapids (100 meters long) that locals call washing machine.


Photo: Zambezi rafting, © Pascal Boegli

Water rises up to 3 meters to kick you out of the boat and makes you lose your bearings. Vest is unfastening, helmet is falling off - the only thought in your head: these 100 meters are endless or what?


Photo: When you think it's all over, an alligator suddenly appears, © Diogo Lopes

The following sequence of events will make you break a sweat - crocodiles crawl out on the Zambezi shore seeking for the next victim. And right at this moment the instructions on how to behave with a crocodile and how to defend in case of attack will surely come in handy.

1. Going rafting with crocodiles is better in period of low water in the Zambezi (from July till January). You can ask at the reception of your hotel where to find an organizer, or book it in advance, for example href="/https://zambezirafting.adventureengine.com/portals/vterminal.php?&operator_id=54&trip_id=1924&language_code=">here. Inform the organizer where to pick you up - transfer is included.

2. Gathering is at 8 am. Get the necessary equipment and listen to the instructions very attentively - you'll find out what to do when you see a crocodile.

3. The rafting programme includes lunch on the shore in the shade of dense pine wood and refreshing drinks at the end of the itinerary. For those who got lack of extreme, jumps from a 10-meter rock are on offer.

Daily from July till January, starting time at 8.00, ending time at 16.00.

Rafting down the Zambezi river costs $175 per person.

Take rubber footwear that is firm on your legs, swim shorts/suit, long-sleeved overclothes, bandanna under a helmet (if desired), water bottle with a carbin (you can fill it with water on-site), sunscreen, go-pro.

6-24-people group. The payment is from pound sterling currency rate.