Half Day Zambezi River White Water Rafting
Description
Free Photos & Videos: Unlike other tours, we include professional action shots and video highlights at no extra cost. Take home lasting memories of your adventure. • Pick-Up on Both Sides: Convenient transfers from hotels in Livingstone (Zambia) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) make it easy for all travelers to join. • World-Class Guides: Our team is highly trained, with international rafting experience and strong local knowledge for both safety and fun. • Half-Day Flexibility: Big thrills in just a few hours, leaving time to enjoy other activities like a sunset cruise, cultural tour, or visit to the Falls. • Scenic & Wildlife Highlights: Between rapids, enjoy calmer stretches with spectacular gorge views, birds, and wildlife sightings.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up Time: Between 07:30 AM – 08:00 AM Pick-up Locations: All lodges and hotels within Livingstone town Guests are kindly requested to be ready at the reception area by 07:30 AM For accommodations outside town, please contact us in advance to arrange transport (extra fee may apply)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum Age: 15 years Fitness Level: Moderate fitness required (includes a steep hike in and out of the Batoka Gorge) Insurance: All participants must have valid personal travel insurance Medical Conditions: Not recommended for guests with back problems, heart conditions, or pregnancy What to Bring: Swimwear, towel, sunscreen, dry clothes, and secure water shoes or sandals Safety First: We are fully insured, supported by SES emergency services, and carry an industrial-grade first aid kit on every trip Seasonal Changes: Rafting routes may vary based on water levels (high or low water season) Alcohol & Drug Policy: For your safety and that of others, we do not accept participants who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol If you have any health concerns or special requirements, please inform us in advance so we can best accommodate your needs.
Reviews(33)
Great Tour! Very Well organized, very nice Guides!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it well organized. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our guides. We hope to welcome you again in the future! 🙏
The company is managed by the local owner with a young crew that is very empathetic, capable, and helpful. Reaching the boarding point is quite strenuous (about 45 minutes from the top of the gorge to the river through very steep bush, same thing on the way back uphill). The rapids are beautiful, about 3 hours of rowing. A beautiful and exciting experience, amazing landscapes! .
Grazie di cuore per la splendida recensione! Siamo davvero felici che abbiate apprezzato l’esperienza, le nostre rapide, i paesaggi e soprattutto la professionalità e disponibilità della nostra giovane crew. Il percorso per raggiungere il fiume è certamente impegnativo, ma siamo lieti che la bellezza e l’emozione del rafting abbiano reso tutto ancora più speciale. È stato un piacere avervi con noi e condividere questa fantastica avventura sullo Zambezi! Speriamo di rivedervi presto per una nuova avventura!
Awesome and once in a lifetime experience. A must do !!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an awesome and once-in-a-lifetime experience with us. It means a lot to know that you consider white water rafting a must-do activity. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure on the Zambezi River!
Awesome day out with Howard, King James and the team. Looked after us, fed us and got to see some of their beautiful home villages. Highly recommend..
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had an awesome day with Howard, King James, and the team. It was a pleasure showing you around, sharing a meal, and giving you the opportunity to experience our beautiful local villages. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us. We truly appreciate you choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future! Safe travels!
To be clear, I cannot review the Half Day Zambezi River White Water Rafting. I booked it at a time that the full seasonal closure was in effect (though the tour operator still accepts reservations!). The operator reached out through both Tripadvisor and by Whatsapp to propose I do the Upper Zambezi River float as an alternative (while collecting the full fee for the White Water tour). I ultimately agreed, wanting to at least get onto the water and support rafting guides who must take on other tours when the Lower Zambezi is closed. On the day of the tour (April 26), the guides arrived an hour earlier than agreed. I scrambled to get ready so we could leave by about 7:45am. We drove 40 minutes or so into Mosi Oa Tunya National Park and to the river bank. The raft was ready by about 9:00am and we were on the water. But by 10:00am we were already making our way towards shore and as the guides were packing up they offered me lunch! I declined and said that if this was the end of the tour I'd rather just be taken back to my hotel. In all, I spent more time on the road than on the river. And the tour operator HSM Adventures refuses to provide a partial refund, offering a number of excuses for why this tour "might not have met expectations". Mind you, I paid for an experience that is advertised as lasting ~6 hours and got one that lasted half of that. DO NOT FALL FOR THE BAIT AND SWITCH.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we truly appreciate your understanding regarding the seasonal closure of the Lower Zambezi rafting. We would like to clarify that during this period, rafting activities are not permitted due to high water levels for safety reasons. As communicated in advance, we offered the Upper Zambezi River Float as an alternative so that you could still experience the river, and we appreciate your willingness to proceed with this option. Regarding your concerns, we sincerely apologize for the early pick-up and any inconvenience caused, as well as for the shorter duration of the activity compared to your expectations. Your feedback is important to us, and we take it seriously as we continuously work to improve our operations and communication. To clarify, a partial refund was processed through the booking platform, in line with the resolution agreed upon. We always aim to be fair and transparent in such situations. We regret that the experience did not fully meet your expectations and appreciate your support for our guides during the high-water season. Your comments help us improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
Had an amazing experience. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I fell in the river and the staff were quick to pull me out. I felt safe the entire time. Highly recommend. A half day is lots of adventure as well
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience with us. Our team works very hard to ensure every guest feels safe, supported, and fully enjoys the adventure, so it’s great to know that even after falling into the river, you still felt confident and well taken care of. Half-day rafting really does pack in plenty of excitement, and we’re glad you got to experience just how adventurous and fun it can be! Thank you again for the recommendation , we truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
My experience was exceptional! From the pick up, safety training, the traverse to and from the river to the equipment and the spectacular team. The team is diligent in keeping the guests safe, while ensuring they are having an incredible time. They are caring, compassionate and patient to all ages and abilities. I highly recommend this amazing group of rafters, and look forward to returning for another day of adventure!
Thank you very much for your exceptional review. We are truly pleased to hear that you had such a memorable experience with us, from the pick-up and safety briefing to your time on the river with our rafting team. Guest safety, comfort, and enjoyment are always our top priorities, and it is very rewarding to know that our team’s diligence, care, and professionalism made a positive impact on your adventure. Your kind recommendation means a great deal to us, and we sincerely appreciate you choosing to raft with HSM Adventures. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting day of adventure in the future.
Absolutely amazing!! I had never rafted before and was quite nervous, but I was made to feel safe and at ease by the whole team. Everything went smoothly and the whole day was enjoyable. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to do this activity.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re especially happy to hear that, even as a first-time rafter, you felt safe and at ease with our team. That means a lot to us because safety, clear guidance, and creating a comfortable environment are always our top priorities,especially on the mighty Zambezi! It’s great to know everything went smoothly and that you truly enjoyed the whole day. Thank you as well for recommending us,it really helps us continue sharing these unforgettable adventures with more amazing guests like you. We hope to welcome you back to Livingstone again soon for another adventure!
Absolute brilliant experience. Beautiful scenery as well as exhilarating fun. We all got tossed out of the raft with a big wave which just added to the experience. Guides were excellent. The only thing not mentioned is the walk down to the gorge and the climb out. Not for the unfit. The climb out is virtually straight up with very awkward footing…it was exhausting. Overall…brilliant
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an absolutely brilliant time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and exhilarating adventure on the river, even the big wave swim . It’s great to know our guides made a positive impression and helped make the experience memorable. Thank you as well for your honest feedback regarding the walk into the gorge and the climb out. You’re absolutely right — it is challenging and can be physically demanding, especially for those who are not very fit. We appreciate you highlighting this, as it helps future guests prepare better for the adventure. Overall, we’re delighted that you had such a fantastic experience, and we truly hope to welcome you back again for another adventure on the Zambezi!
Incredible rafting experience. Our guide James was excellent, safety conscious, and guided us safely without getting us dumped in the water! Multiple opps to swim in the water, and the rapids are epic as you'd expect. Zambezi doesn't disappoint, bucket list destination for any rafter. The hikes down and up the gorge are no joke, better be in shape and sure footed.
Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an incredible rafting experience on the mighty Zambezi and that James looked after you so well with his professionalism, safety focus, and expert guiding. It’s great to know you enjoyed the opportunity to swim between rapids and felt the true power of this bucket-list river. You’re absolutely right—the gorge hikes are part of the adventure and definitely reward those who come prepared! Thank you for choosing us and for recommending the Zambezi as a must-do for any rafter. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
