Zambezi River Class Iv-v White-water Rafting From Victoria Falls

Brilliant trip, excellent guides, stunning scenery and really fun rapids. We want to return for the 5 day trip!

Do this and do this with Shockwave Adventures!!! Such a fun, incredible experience. Our captain and all the staff had such fun, infectious energy. They really enjoy their jobs and it shows. We saw other rafts on the river sometimes and they seemed like generic crowded tours and were having much less fun than our boat. We’ve gone whitewater rafting in other places but this experience was our favorite by far.

Do this and do this with Shockwave Adventures!!! Such a fun, incredible experience. Our captain and all the staff had such fun, infectious energy. They really enjoy their jobs and it shows. We saw other rafts on the river sometimes and they seemed like generic crowded tours and were having much less fun than our boat. We’ve gone whitewater rafting in other places but this experience was our favorite by far.

BJ was an incredible guide who knew the river well and has been guiding for 18 years. I highly recommend him. I had been nervous to go, but he made the experience extremely safe and enjoyable! I can't recommend him enough!

Really an all around professional organization that delivers an excellent experience. I think they minimize the hike in and out but the rafting experience is worth it. The guides all had great senses of humor and really enjoy their work which means you really enjoy your experience. The rapids were challenging with enough calm stretches in between to dry out and really enjoy the scenery, which is spectacular. The trip is worth it just to experience being at the bottom of this amazing gorge on the Zambezi river, then throw white water on top of that and it’s a total blast. The BBQ and beer at the end was a great bonus. Kudos again to all the guides and their hard work. I’d do the trip again without hesitation. Shockwave is a great group of people. Pay for the video, it’s so worth it!

Fantastic experience rafting on the Zambezi. Shockwave are super professional and ensure everyone has a great experience. Some of the rapids were big but we always felt safe

We had an amazing experience with Shockwave Rafting and would highly recommend them! Our guide was incredibly professional, experienced, and friendly, and the whole team was fantastic. We also had safety kayakers with us throughout the trip, ready to help in case we flipped, which made us feel very safe. My wife was a little nervous about flipping, and our guide was very attentive to that. Whenever possible, he chose lines that avoided the biggest waves while still making sure we had an exciting and fun ride. Great energy from start to finish! Another highlight was having a photographer kayaking ahead of us throughout the trip, taking photos and videos along the way. We got some amazing footage to remember the experience. After the rafting, we had an excellent lunch waiting for us at the top — the perfect way to finish the day. Professional, safe, fun, and a genuinely great team. We had an incredible time and highly recommend Shockwave!

An incredible and beautiful Class IV-V raft trip. Takes 2-3 hours. Guides were exceedingly skilled, and great companions.

A must-do, unforgettable experience! We did this 25 years ago with my parents and brought our adult children this time! The hike/climb down the gorge is just as fun! Terry is an outstanding guide. We did not flip over or have anyone fall out. Mr. Nice Guy was super fun with the photos, and cannot forget Safety and the guys who helped us get down the gorge without falling. It is dry, rocky, and steep. The way up was much more fun getting to climb up the rocks! Overall, a 10/10. Kids loved it!

It was the most interesting and exicitng part of my journey.

My wife and I did a one day white water raft trip during high water conditions on the Zambezi with Shockwave. Had a great time and highly recommend them. The guides/team are a skilled, competent crew that are also a lot of fun to hang out with. We started at Rapid 12. Like their site says the hike down is steep and slippery and I can't overstate the slippery part, but the guides will help if needed. The hike out of the gorge is a leg burner, but this adventure was well worth it. I recommend wearing hiking shoes or boots for the hike down and back up. They will securely pack them in a dry bag while in the raft. Wear a beefy water shoe in the raft and there might be a need to bush crash around one rapid if the flow is too high to safely raft it. During the bush crash there were water holes to walk/swim thru as well as rocks to climb on and over during. The chicken dinner and drinks at the top of the gorge in the bush was delicious. The ride out in the Land Cruiser was fun too. It's a long, back country ride thru the bush and back roads where you'll drive past remote villages. I also recommend getting the video and pix of your trip.

We chose Shockwave as it specialises in rafting the Zambezi . With two kids (13 and 16) we wanted to ensure the activity was an exciting challenge but appropriate for their ages/strength to enjoy. It did not disappoint. Safety was paramount but it did not detract from the thrill and enjoyment. Such a brilliant experience. Unbelievably good fun as we all paddled furiously along the rapids to the instructions from our experienced skipper Terry. Having an accompanying safety canoeist and of course wonderful and clear instructions from Terry meant you knew what to do at all times - paddle hard or duck down into the boat. We didn’t capsize and we only had one person overboard after a cheeky rapid but the team were always in control and they were back in the raft almost immediately. The areas where you can get out for a relaxing swim also help you feel comfortable in the water. A photographer also captured the day (costs extra and can also do videos). The half day ended with a steep trek back up the gorge to a very welcome lunch! You’ll finished tired, energised and proud that you’ve tackled those rapids. The Shockwave team are brilliant for safety and for fun and couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

Had a fantastic time rafting with Shockwave Adventures. As a family of four (kids 16 & 13) we booked the half day rafting experience which comprised Rapids 2 through to 10. The whole experience was amazing, the safety aspect was very impressive and I would recommend Shockwave to anyone thinking of going as a family, it really is a well run outfit.

This tour was awesome. The guides are knowledgeable and safety was very much the first priority. We had OG and Liberty and they were both so friendly and helpful. The rapids were raging and exciting. One person fell out of the boat during our whole trip(in the class 5 rapids) and the guides quickly pulled her back in. She even lost a shoe and we thought it was a lost cause but one of the safety kayakers recovered it. Which ended up being very important because the hike out IS NO JOKE. Listen. You are climbing straight up out of the canyon of Vic Falls. I don’t understand how all these reviews are so casual about it lol if you’re not a hiker, just be prepared. Again, the guides were super friendly and patient about it but god it was brutal. Am I glad I did the tour? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yeah, with this warning! Will I do it again? No, only because of the hike out(unless I decide to take up hiking as a hobby before then!). Don’t let this deter you. Just don’t ask why nobody warned you because here I am!

An adrenaline fueled paddle through some spectacular scenery, physically pretty tough! Great guides and support from other rafts and canoeists working together. There is 300m walk down to the river and back up at the end, but you can wear proper shoes for this which are carried in a dry bag on the raft and take your time. It is worth going for the photo package as opportunities for your own shots are pretty much non existent.

Terrence, Pumba (JB), Clement and Divine were all outstanding during our rafting. Had so much fun, felt safe and comfortable. All had lots of experience and navigated the rapids well! Food after was great too- The Birds

A great experience rafting some level 4 & 5 rapids. The guides were great - Terrance was in our boat and gave good information ahead of each rapid as well as expertly steering us through. Good safety equipment and briefing. Really great fun. The walk down to the river and back up at the end was not easy but if you have some level of fitness you will be fine. This trip is definitely worth it.

Amazing trip, guides were friendly, patient, knowledgeable. Safety is emphasized as the top priority. Overall great experience!

I did a half day rafting during lower water session. We had only 3 guests but we had 3 guides on the rafter and another on kayak. They made us felt very safe. Before the trip, I was a little scared of class v rapids but they turned out fine. The most difficult part is the hiking in and hiking out from the canyon. If you any mobility issues, don’t try it. Our leading guide was J.B. who is excellent.

We had a fantastic time rafting down the Zambezi with shockwave - they also organised a brilliant excursion to Devils pools…would recommend!

I enjoyed my first time rafting with shockwave adventures. The team was very professional and experienced. The expirience looked felt very short even though it took more than 2 hours, will definetely be back for the 5 day expirience. Definetely worth if you are an adrenaline junkie like me. The mini hike out of the gorge at the end was a nice suprise.

As other reviewers have said, the trail down to the river and later back up is quite difficult and requires shoes with good tread and some energy. However, I am 72 and did it and the rafting trip was SOO worth it. The entire crew but most especially our guide OG were amazing.

Amazing experience, our guide OG and all other guys were fun and very professional. We got amazing photos and a video. The barbecue lunch was great.

A top-notch rafting experience but the decent and accent from the gorge are quite a challenge. We are in our mid-sixties and in good shape but the hikes down and out of the gorge were tough - boulder and ladder climbing included. Just a warning. And good shoes are important. That aside, the guides and all of the crew were the best, the rafting was super fun and the scenery was gorgeous! Highly recommend!

It was really really fun but also relaxing at times just cruising in the gorge. JB was our guide and he was obviously really experienced and we felt safe. I would say it requires a certain amount of fitness, even just the steep walk down to river and back up on uneven ground

We had a top experience. Very good organisation and good lunch (BBQ) after the ride with the raft. Really enjoyed the swimming in the rapids of the Zambesi.

amazing, but also challenging. bring suitable foodwear that cannot fall off. Friendly staff. Good lunch efter rafting

Love the fact this a locally owned tourist operator. Smaller than the others but the advantage is with less you don’t have to spend so much time waiting for the camera man as all the boats go through the rapids. The walk down is steep, rocky and slippery- wear appropriate shoes. The walk up is steep, and rocky too. The guides are very patient and helpful. I have a chest infection so this was really appreciated. This is a fantastic experience and the scenery is stunning. A lovely way to take full advantage of all nature has to offer. Definitely a highlight and must for those seeking adventure and to get out of one’s comfort zone. Great to have a delicious lunch and beers at the end of the day. Shockwaves did a great job!

Crew were friendly and incredibly versed in their safety protocols, kept the whole family entertained and secure!! Fun experience and some unforgettable moments

It’s all in the name! Don’t waste any time deciding; just book with them. They’re the best. Cost-effective, timely, professional, knowledgeable, kind, hilarious, and worked with me to customise a schedule and combined discount to have the best time ever. I did the whitewater rafting, Falls tour, and gorge swing. Because it was high water season, we couldn’t do all the rapids, but we had so much fun! Exhilarating and wild ride, yet our safety was secured. My guide for the falls tour was incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful, even helped me find my sunglasses after I’d dropped them. And the gorge swing…wow. What a thrill. Scared me, but not quite to death haha. I’m so glad I booked with them!

Guides were brilliant, high level of service throughout the day with plenty of laughs! Scenery was spectacular and rafting a lot of fun - walk in and out of gorge can be a challenge

Excellent rafting experience. Fairly difficult hike down to water. Wear the right shoes. Crew was friendly and accommodating. They charge 80$ usd for the video and photo coverage which is really overpriced. Brutal, difficult hike up from the valley up to normal ground so be prepared. Lunch was satisfactory. Felt safe the entire time and will recommend except for the over priced pics.

Rafting on the Zambezi was an incredible adventure! The rapids were thrilling and the scenery absolutely stunning. Just a heads-up — the walk down to the river is extremely steep, so be sure to wear proper hiking shoes. After the rafting, the hike back up is no joke — it felt like climbing Kilimanjaro! It’s a serious workout, especially before lunch and drinks, so be prepared. I highly recommend bringing some snacks, back-up gummies, or an Energade to keep your energy levels up during the long ride and all the rowing. All in all, a challenging but epic experience for any adventure seeker!

Great Day out rafting the Zambezi with Shockwave. Interesting descent & ascent to the rafting - not for the faint hearted or unfit. Rafting itself great with OG guiding us down on our raft. Thanks to Mr Nice Guy for the pictures & great 15 minute video.

What an incredible way to experience the Zambezi river and falls. The rafting trip was an adventure that involved hiking and various levels of extreme rapids. The folks at Shockwave Adventures are fantastic guides and this was by far our favorite excursion in Victoria falls. I highly recommend booking this trip and also am very happy with the video and photos that were purchased.

This was one of the most life time memories i had in my life. The guides were exceptionally professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about ensuring that I had the best possible experience. I truly felt they had my best interests at heart throughout the journey, Thanks Pumba and JB for make this possible.

Good operator. Seamless and on time pickup. Combined with shearwater due to not enough people in group. Good guide and great experience. Communicated good allergy perfectly. The hike up is fun :)

The Shockwave crew was AMAZING!!! Pumba, JB, Taps, and the whole team were informative and upbeat for very exciting and scenic adventure down the river. One note, the put-in and take-out were a bit more strenuous than the original listing mentioned. Especially the put-in is a basically vertical descent from the Victoria Falls Bridge to the river. For acrophobics that could be a bit triggering. But the trip was well worth it! Overall, I would recommend to anyone I know. 10/10

This was the best day of my life. Truly an irreplaceable experience. After looking at the Zambezi from the national park the day before, climbing down into the gorge to raft the rapids ourselves was incredible. We first paddled up to a spot where you could look up the canyon at the falls - so cool! We floated 18 named and numbered rapids, and more that were unclassified. Our guide TT was hospitable, fun, and insanely talented (we never flipped). Saw a monitor lizard on some riverside rocks but no crocs or hippos. The hike back out of the gorge is super steep, definitely physically demanding, but you’re met with a tasty lunch and cold drinks at the top. I could not recommend this trip more!

We had the best, most exhilarating time rafting EVER with JB and the Shockwave team. They were quick to communicate and book us on a last minute trip, thorough with the safety briefings and descriptions of rapids prior to going over them, and made it fun! We even got to swim in the river and do some cliff jumping. Of all the rafting that my boyfriend and I have done, this was the largest thrill and best experience. I also really liked that they had a half day option because most other companies only had a full day. Highly recommend Shockwave!

JB and Pumba were amazing! This was the best white water rafting trip I’ve ever had. Although the activity was good, it was our guides that made it great! I would definitely recommend!!

This was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time . The guides were professional and passionate, and I felt had my best interests at heart . This is not a luxury experience, but if you're looking for an absolute thrill, a minute expethis is for you . I highly recommend it , just understand and know that the hike/climb out of the gorge is not for everyone.

The rafting was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better guide than James. Being an experienced white water rafter the rapids were absolutely amazing 19 of them over half class four & fives they did not disappoint. The climb down and up was a bit much for a 63-year-old, Which I had no idea about until the end. The climb is vertically up-and-down 820 feet with a rough trail to say the least. James my guide carried me on his back three different times going up the trail thank God for him Or I wouldn’t have made it up. I have to wonder why they don’t zigzag the trail instead of having it straight up and down but the resources most likely aren’t there to change it, Although it would make it three times more accessible for people if they did. Definitely a five star experience, but not for people that aren’t extremely physically fit.

We had a fantastic time. I was nervous as this was my second time ever rafting and my previous experience was on very small rapids. However I felt safe the whole time, our guides OG, Silent, and Cassie were very experienced and knowledgeable and made the experience excellent. We navigated some pretty big rapids and didn’t end up flipping at all. Also the scenery the whole time was gorgeous. As others have said, the hike out of the gorge is no joke. We are pretty fit and experienced hikers and it was pretty intense especially in the 100F heat. Luckily we are fit enough for it to not have been a serious issue but I think it is something that should be more directly stated upfront. That being said overall our experience was excellent, lunch served after the hike out of the gorge was great and unlimited beers/sodas during lunch was a bonus. I highly recommend going with shockwave! This was really out favorite experience while in Victoria Falls

Exceptional experience and ticked off a bucket list item for me. TT and his crew were amazing. Am 68 and managed the climb out of the gorge at my own pace; TT very patient and helpful. Definitely get the video and pictures; they were sent to us within 2 days of adventure. Highly recommend.

WOW! What an experience! White Water Rafting with ShockWave was an absolute highlight of my trip in Victoria Falls. Our guide OG, Photographer Mr Nice and Kayak Safety Silent gave us such an authentic Zambezi rafting experience. They made us laugh right from the start, the rapids are amazing, the food at the end was delish and yes the walk in and out was interesting but all part of what you would expect when down in a gorge. We got flat tyre on the way home which added to the experience. But no worries, we sat on the site of the road with the crew, a chilly bin of beer and soft drinks and waited for a new vehicle to come pick up us. We got the video and I highly recommend this so you can capture your awesome day!

It is truly one of the most thrilling and exciting white water rafting adventure we ever had (around the world). Thanks to the well experienced staff of Shockwaves especially our Captain Lawrence, Safety officer Silent (Yes, Silent is his first name😉) and the rest of the staff who made sure to keep us all safe and secured while going through the crazy water waves of Zambia river.

I highly recommend Shockwave after rafting the Zambezi with them. I have wanted to raft the Zambezi for years, and give Shockwave credit for making this experience exceeed my highest expectations. Although there are a number of rafting companies on the Zambezi - some large high-volume operations - I am so glad I went with Shockwave! They were highly skilled, experienced, and very personable - a perfect combination of professionalism and fun. They are also the only locally owned rafting company on the river - I was delighted to support them, and they absolutely earned my respect and appreciation. I am not a whitewater expert, but have gone on other whitewater rafting trips in the US - , both day trips and weeks long extended excursions. - so had some idea of what to look for in terms of safety, organization, skill, etc. Shockwave's safety protocols were all in place and. communicated well, Our raft guide had something like 30 years experience on the river, guided us flawlessly through every rapid. We did not flip once - I believe he mentioned it had been maybe 10 trips since he had a flip - an impressive accomplishment on the Zambezi! His communications were especially excellent - we knew exactly what was coming up, how he planned to run it, what his instructions to us would be. It was a high-adrenaline and thrilling experience, but I was never frightened - I was always confident that the guide and crew were in control. The entire staff was so much fun, lots of personality, interaction, personal engagement, very aware and attentive to each of us. Also, Shockwave starts the trip above where most companies start - under the falls - and takes out beyond where most companies end. The climb out of the gorge is a a steady and pretty steep uphill, but only for maybe 20-30 minutes. For anyone that hikes in any kind of mountains, it was not any steeper or more arduous than any uphill climb segment, and not long - takes some effort and you will be out of breath, but very doable IMHO. The welcome lunch and drinks at the top of the gorge capped off the day. I had so much fun on the Zambezi - I would love to go back and do a multi-day trip with Shockwave, (and of their other offerings)a. Highly recommend this organization! Also, I did purchase the video and photos of the trip, and am really happy I did that. Very high quality photos and video production - I've really enjoyed having them - have watched the video multiple times.

I am so happy that I have choosen Shockwave Adventures. They made my whole stay in VF unforgetable. The crew leading the rafts are 100% professionals and make your Zambezi Adventures even more exciting and funny that you can even imagine!