7 Days Rafting and Zambia Safari Tour
7 Days Rafting and Zambia Safari Tour
Price
Overview
Considered the best one day rafting experience in the world, the Zambezi River flowing down the Batoka Gorge provides one of the most intense sensory thrills imaginable. Its white-water rapids and striking scenery, deep within the sheer black cliffs of the Batoka Gorge afford the adrenaline junkie a wild roller-coaster ride along a route carved over millennia by the middle Zambezi River.
The rapids are run in large rubber rafts launched from just below the Falls. You can do a half day trip, full day or two day. When the river is high, from March to July, only the last 13 rapids can be attempted. As the water subsides, from June to February, all 23 are navigable. If you are keen for the ultimate thrill then a multi-day trip along the Zambezi is it!
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
Tour Map
Group Price
- The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.
- All prices are based on shared accommodation. Please inquire for a 1 guest private room accommodation quote
- Prices listed are not final. Please inquire for your final price quote.
| 2 pax | 3-4 pax | 5-6 pax | 7-8 pax |
|---|---|---|---|
| US $5,250 | US $5,100 | US $5,000 | US $4,900 |
Included/Excluded
- Multi-day trips are a FULL BOARD experience. Meals and drinks will be catered for. Your trip leader will contact you in advance to discuss dietaries and drink preferences.
- Purified water is provided on all trips
- Tents are provided
- Thermarest-style mattresses
- Personal flotation device (PFD)
- Waterproof dry bags to hold your belongings for the trip
- Return transfers from hotels within Livingstone
- Full HD video/photographs of your excursion will be uploaded into the cloud and made available to all clients with our compliments
- Dept of National Parks River Fees
- National Heritage Fees
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Sleeping Bag
- Activities/day excursions not specified in itinerary
- Tips
Day 1: Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport
Upon your arrival at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone, Zambia, a Nature Horizons team member will be waiting for you at the airport. After you meet your guide, we will transfer you to your hotel in Livingstone. Once you are checked into your hotel, you have the day to relax and get your bearings. If you need anything from town, our team members are always nearby and will assist you in anything you need. Before dinner, we are going to have a safety briefing about our rafting tour. Also, we are going to go through a gear check just to make sure you have all the necessary things you will need on this adventure. If you are missing anything, we will head into town and assist you in purchasing the missing items from our local markets. After dinner, relax and enjoy the nightlife! Welcome to Africa, the Motherland.
Day 2: Victoria Falls
Today we are going to be rafting down the mighty Zambezi! We will wake up early at sunrise and start our day with a tour of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the mighty Victoria Falls. Once we are finished with our tour, we are going to head down to the boiling pot at the bottom of the gorge to start our rafting trip. Once we are at the bottom of the gorge we will have a second safety talk, where you will learn of the dos and don’ts of the trip. Once the safety talk is done you will be given the rafting gear (helmet, life jacket, and paddles).
Before we start rafting down the rapids, we are going to get in the rafts and paddle upstream. This is a very unique place where you will be in the spray and swim below the falls. We call it the “spray tour”. You will be surrounded by the thundering sound of the water and the energizing spray of the water falling from the falls. You have time to walk around the basalt rocks, see the falls from below, and even do a bit of fishing if you want. Swimming in this area is safe and an experience like none other. Next, we will enjoy lunch right under the falls.
Now it’s time to start rafting! Today we are going to raft from Rapid 1 to Rapid 21. This might be the most epic rafting experience in the world. In season, the mighty Zambezi River is the most powerful river on Earth. Rafting it is like no other river you have ever been on in your life. We are going to raft until around two hours before sunset. Once we reach our camp, you will find your tents and camp already set up. Now we can relax!
Dinner is set around 7 pm around the bonfire. After dinner, it’s time to tell stories and get to know each other and those that are tired and want to sleep can do so.
Day 3: Zambezi
Today we will wake up with the sun. We never want to miss the chance at a magical sunrise on the Zambezi. Coffee and tea will be ready as soon as you wake up and breakfast will be served around 9 am. After we finish breakfast and relax on the beaches of the Zambezi, we head out for more rafting.
Today we will raft from Rapid 21 past Rapid 25 and into lower Moemba . We will raft today for about six hours, stopping for lunch along the way and relaxing by the river. Tonight will be our last night camping on the Zambezi. Everyone will gather around a large bonfire and share stories and reminisce on the adventurous day we just had together. After dinner feel free to lay on the beach and watch the stars. The Zambezi night sky is one of the most magical night skies. Fall asleep in your tent as you watch the stars by the large cliffs of the Zambezi.
Day 4: Zambezi
Our last breakfast on the Zambezi will be ready at 08:30 am. After breakfast, we will head out rafting from lower Moemba to upper Moemba . The group will be rafting for 2-3 hours today on our final day. When we reach our exit destination, we will hop in our 4×4 that will be waiting for us. Enjoy a beautiful scenic drive to Livingstone. We will travel through several traditional Zambian villages on the way back to Livingstone. When we reach Livingstone we will check you into your hotel accommodation. Now is a great time to relax and rest. We have an adventure-filled two days ahead of us starting tomorrow morning.
Day 5: Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park
We will wake up at 5:30 am and prepare for your early morning safari. Coffee, biscuits, and fruit will be ready for you to enjoy with the brisk morning breeze. Prepare to depart your hotel at 6:00 am sharp. We are leaving for Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. Inside this National Park that is the home of white rhinos, you will find a vast array of wildlife and birds. We will complete a three-hour mobile safari stopping for wildlife every chance we get as we always do. Also, we will be in contact with the park rangers who are protecting the white rhinos 24/7, and we will get a chance to walk with them. Walking with a white rhino is truly an amazing experience. After our wildlife safari, we will head straight for Victoria Falls to complete a full tour viewing from the top. After you see the falls from above we will head back to our hotel. Today we have a sunset river cruise departing at 4:30 pm. We are going to enjoy dinner on the boat while we cruise up the Zambezi River, spotting wildlife on the Zambia and Zimbabwe side as we cruise through many areas that wildlife frequent. At the end of our cruise, we will head back to our hotel accommodation. Enjoy the night relaxing under the stars at your accommodation, and as always, your guide will be there to assist you with anything you may need.
Day 6: Mukuni Village Tour
Today you will wake up around 7 am. Enjoy your breakfast and coffee and relax! We will be departing your hotel at 8:30 am for a complete tour of Mukuni Village.
Chief Mukuni’s Village is a Royal village that was founded around the 13th century. It is home to about 7,000 Leya people. The Chief has invited visitors into his village to get a glimpse of how his people have lived for generations and learn a little about their traditional customs and beliefs.
The Chief’s guides and the people of the village are more than happy to show visitors their huts. They will show you inside, explain how they are built and decorated, introduce you to various craftsmen and women at work and ask you to taste some traditional food and beer. Remember that this is a working village, not a purpose-built tourist attraction, and it is a privilege to be welcomed into their lifestyle.
A tour to the Mukuni Village is a two-hour excursion where you can gain valuable knowledge of how an African village is run and the day-to-day routines of the people who live there. A headman will escort you around the village to explain village politics and to answer any questions that a client may have. A highlight is for you to see Chief Mukuni’s Palace.
You can also pre-arrange to have a taste of the traditional food and beer. There is also a large craft market in the village for you to buy some locally made crafts.
Nature Horizons is proud to introduce you to the ancestral African culture.
After we tour Mukuni Village, we will head straight back to Victoria Falls. Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime. From August to December, the water level and current on the Zambezi river’s topside are very low. This allows us to visit Devil’s Pool. Devil’s Pool is a small water pool on the edge of the waterfall! Your guide will safely assist you to the pool, where you can relax and enjoy a swim and literally hang over the waterfall and view the entire falls. The experience you will have here is sure to stick with you forever.
But the amazing experiences aren’t over today. Although you are departing Zambia tomorrow, the rest of today is yours to decide what you would like to do. If you feel like exploring for the rest of the day, your guide will make sure you have an amazing experience. All Nature Horizons guides are locals and have the most knowledge about their homeland to guide you to amazing locations. But if you feel like you would rather relax for the rest of the day, you may choose to do so. You will overnight at your hotel so you can get ready for your trip home tomorrow.
Day 7: Final Departure
Wake up and prepare for your transfer to the airport for your flight home. Your guide will be with you all day until it’s time to go to the airport.
Do I need a Visa?
What’s the weather like?
Do I need to take malaria medication?
What is the Language in Zambia?
Wil I Be able to do laundry during my Zambia Tour?
Can I drink tap water in Zambia?
What should I pack for a Safari in Zambia?
CLOTHING FOR ZAMBIA SAFARI
- Light weight shirts/blouses with long sleeves as protection from the sun and mosquitos
- T-shirts
- Shorts
- Jeans or safari trousers
- Pajamas
- Socks
- Underwear
- A light weight water-proof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
- Comfortable walking sandals or flip flops for warmer days
- A wide brimmed hat with under-chin tie to prevent it from flying away
- Swimsuit
- A WARM WINDPROOF jacket (winter)
- A fleece jacket that will go under the warm jacket (winter)
- A warm polo neck shirt (winter)
- A beanie (winter)
- Gloves (winter)
- A warm scarf (winter)
EQUIPMENT / OTHER
- Sunglasses
- Spare prescription eye glasses/contact lenses
- Binoculars
- Cameras and related paraphernalia like lenses etc and plenty of memory cards and spare batteries
- A small powerful flashlight and extra batteries
- Travel alarm clock
- Small purse size umbrella can come in handy
- Small lint roller
- A light packable backpack or tote to carry equipment and stuff on game vehicles
- A supply of Ziploc bags in different sizes may come in handy for dust or water proofing cameras , wet bathing suits etc.
-
Chargers for cell phones, iPads, cameras, computers and you may want to invest in a mini travel charger surge protector with dual USB ports and five charging outlets.
PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT
- Band aids
- Antiseptic cream
- Pain tablets
- Heartburn relief
- Eye drops
- Insect repellant
- Itch spray for bug bites
- Sunscreen with high SPF factor
- Hand sanitizer
- Purse size kleenex packets
- Eye drops
- Chapstick
- “make you go ” pills “make you not go” pills as well as any prescription medications that you reply on on a daily basis.
What insurance do I need for rafting?
Is there an age restriction?
The minimum age is 15 years old regardless of body size or swimming capability. The maximum age limit is dependent on the individual’s general state of health and physical fitness.
I’ve never been rafting before. Can I join a trip?
No previous rafting experience is required if good swimming skills are combined with a “GO FOR IT” attitude. A reasonable level of fitness is required as clients must negotiate a steep path in and out of the gorge. The walk out is 750 vertical feet up a gradient of 1 in 3, and a person of average fitness can manage this in approximately 20 minutes.
Are your rafts safe?
We uses some of the finest equipment on the market to ensure that the trip is a safe and enjoyable one. Rafts are purchased from Ark in South Africa and are tried, and tested river rafts required for the Zambezi River. We only uses ‘high flotation life jackets’ and Protec designed safety helmets which are issued to clients before the day’s rafting.
Please tell me more about your guides & river safety?
Nature Horizons is one of the company on the Zambezi with a 100% guide certification under the International Rafting Federation. All guides are fully trained professionals and hold valid advanced first aid certificates. A comprehensive first aid kit and skid stretcher is carried on each trip. Each client is required to sign the Safari Par Excellence White Water Rafting Indemnity Form prior to departure. Each trip leader carries a SAT phone and is in radio contact with our base in Livingstone, Zambia and covered by S.E.S (Specialty Emergency Services) based in Livingstone. Our guide team also hold American Heart Association Basic Life Support qualifications and we have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on every trip. Whilst every precaution is taken, it is essential that clients are aware that there is a risk of injury associated with the activity of rafting on the Zambezi – the Zambezi is a Class V river – the highest level of commercially available rafting in the world. White water rafting is an extreme sport.
Zambia Safari Packing list
If this is your first time in Zambia or your first time on safari, this packing list below can help to be well prepared and comfortable during your adventure. If you do forget a few things, do not worry, you can pick up most everyday items in town before you leave.
Travel Documents
- Valid passport
- Yellow fever vaccination records/ certificate.
- Zambia visa, available at airport upon arrival, USD $100 payable in cash only for US citizens or USD $50 for residents of UK/European Union and most other countries.
- Copy of flight itinerary.
- Copy of travel and/or medical evacuation insurance.
- Personal medical/dental insurance cards.
- Credit card (Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted).
- Cash in U.S. Dollars (bills MUST have been issued in 2004 or later)
Clothing
Remember, it’s not a fashion show out there, so be a bit more practical when choosing your safari wardrobe. Try to stay away from bright colours – khaki and other neutral colours tend to work well. It is probably best if you dress in layers since it can get cold, but also very hot.
- Sweater or fleece pullover to keep warm
- Sturdy boots or sandals
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- T-shirts or polo shirts (2-5 depending on how often you want to change)
- Long sleeve shirts (light weight)
- Shorts
- Long trousers
- Underwear
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Travel towel
- Thermal underwear, gloves and warm hat (during May – Sept)
- Rain coat and rain trousers (During rainy season Mar – May and Oct – Dec)
Highly recommended
- Camera and memory cards
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
- Insect Repellent
- Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, eye drops etc)
- Malaria tablets
- Basic first aid kit and prescription medicines
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Chargers and extra batteries for your camera, phone etc
- Power adapter to fit the UK style electrical socket
Others tips
- Bring soft luggage such as a duffel bag, hiking pack or sports bag. These are ideal for packing into a safari vehicle. Hard suitcases can often be difficult to fit into the vehicles.
- Bring a backpack to carry all of your important items including travel documents, money, camera, medication etc. You should keep this backpack with you at all times.
- Keep luxury items such as hair dryers/ straighteners, expensive jewellery, make up and bulky toiletries to an absolute minimum. If in doubt, leave them out.
- If you plan to bring cash, divide it into different areas of your carry-on luggage, wallet and money belt just in case something happens to one of those carry items.
- Leave some space in your luggage for the all-important souvenirs that you will probably buy. There are places where you can send packages home via DHL etc, however this can sometimes be an expensive option.
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Our TripAdvisor Reviews
Jennifer F2025-04-27Amazing Tanzanian Safari Nature Horizons planned an unforgettable Tanzanian safari for 20 guests on a yoga retreat. Beginning in the planning stages, Dominick was helpful, knowledgeable, and would go out of his way to ensure we had an amazing trip planned. He was on top of the details, such as collecting passport and travel info, and answered all of our questions. Because of NHT’s attention to detail? Our guests enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime trip. If we needed anything during our stay, Dominick was responsive and would get any problem resolved. Every detail was fine tuned, and several of the accommodations were beyond expectation. The guides he set us up would were funny, personable, and genuinely cared to make sure we had the best safari experience. I highly recommend the hot air balloon ride!If you are looking to plan a Tanzanian safari, FIBI! Look no further and reach out to Dominick for a life-changing vacation.Erin Y2025-04-23Magical restorative adventure! My yoga studio hosted an unforgettable trip to Tanzania, thanks to Nature Horizon Tours! Every detail was perfectly planned—from the beautiful accommodations to the incredible excursions and welcoming local guides. The trip created space for adventure, reflection, and connection, making it both inspiring and restorative. We came home with lasting memories, a deeper bond as a group, and new friendships that we truly treasure. This experience far exceeded our expectations, and we’re so grateful for the care and thought that went into every moment. We can’t wait to travel with this team again!Jen B2025-04-08Life-Changing Safari I am very grateful for Natures Horizons Tours for providing the trip of a lifetime. They ensured our safety, took care of all of our needs, and treated us with the best care and consideration even when some of us didn’t deserve it. This tour company is very PROFESSIONAL!! They know what they are doing and they do it very well. I would tour with them again in a heartbeat! The attached photo is completely untouched. This is how close they got us to the action! If we weren’t in the rover, this beautiful but very full, lioness was only feet away. We could see every beautiful detail of her.Nancy C2025-04-06Lasting memories My trip to Tanzania was amazing. Nature Horizons put together a fantastic itinerary. Our guides were knowledgeable, hard working, and friendly. They turned the Safari from a trip into an awesome and unforgettable experience.Getaway310895774142025-03-24A bucket list trip dreams are made of! Nature Horizons organized a trip for 20 people from our yoga community for a yoga and safari tour in Tanzania. Every detail was curated perfectly from the those greeting us at the airport to those touring us through the urban and cultural centers of Arusha all the way though an unforgettable experience in the Serengeti. Our 5 tour guides were friendly and fun and beyond knowledgeable and we got to see THE BIG 5!!! The locations they choose for our Safari camp and for our journey along the way were superb with perfect views for our yoga practice and the food was out of this world every place we went! We will for sure be traveling with Nature Horizons again, in fact we already have Egypt booked as our next destination!!! For world class bucket list travel these are your people. Rarely does one get the owner and CEO of a travel company hand selecting every detail of your trip and ensuring it goes off without a hiccup… this oversight and hand on help is unbeatable in the travel industry… trust me after a decade of taking yoga groups traveling, this is something you never see! Thanks Dominick and Team for a memorable bucket list trip and for taking superb care of us along the way!Shreya B2025-03-11Excellent customer care! We travel a lot and for the first time let Nature Horizons Tours plan our trip for us! It was an amazing experience as there was always someone to take care of us and our needs. Our daughter needed urgent care on the last day of the trip and we were helped all the way through! Better than 5*s!!!Mary D2025-02-11Fantastic Safari My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the safari that we took thru Nature Horizons Tours in Tanzania last month. It truly was a trip of a life time. We saw lots of animals and birds throughout Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. To see 20 elephants (including babies) casually stroll by us was an experience I will never forget. Another time, we saw two herds of zebras that must have totaled 20,000 zebras. WOW! Our guide, Praygod was great and we really enjoyed spending time with him. He was great at identifying animals and provided lots of the environmental, historical and cultural information. I recommend bringing a notebook to write down all the animals you will see.One advantage we had with Natures Horizon compared to other Safari companies is that there are only four people in a jeep during the safari (well, plus the driver). This was really nice being able to easily see animals on both sides of the jeep without stepping over people. We saw a lot of jeeps that had 6 people in them.Everyone associated with Nature Horizons Tours and the lodges we stayed at went out of their way to make our stay/experience fantastic. We learned that if there was something that we wanted, we just had to ask. At the Kilimanjaro Lux Camp, Grace personally made avocado toast for us each morning. In Zanzibar, we asked the driver where we could buy spices and he took us to a local outdoor market which I appreciated as I enjoy experiencing the local experience.It was a great trip and I would have no doubt that I would go on another tour led by Natures HorizonsTrail311312224182025-02-11Fantastic Photo Safari I traveled with Nature Horizons to Tanzania in 2024. I am writing this review as a Travel Agent. My clients just returned from their safari with Nature Horizons. From the time they booked, Dominick was in close contact with both me and my clients. He made sure that all of our questions or concerns were handled very quickly. He took the time to do zoom calls with me and my clients more than once to make sure that they were comfortable with everything to do with the trip. While there were a couple of things lost in translation with his team in Tanzania, they were minor and were dealt with immediately. The driver/guide is the absolute best. The lodging, while not close to town, was all very nice with fabulous food. The balloon ride is not to be missed! One of the things that I appreciate the most is that Dominick will not take more than 4 people in a vehicle, even though more can fit. He wants every passenger to have the best view, no matter which side of the vehicle has the views of the wildlife. I am very happy with Dominick and his team at Nature Horizons and would not hesitate to use them again for myself and my clients!Geri M2025-02-10Tanzania and Serengeti Safari Phenomenal experience! Once in a lifetime trip! The guide was top of the line! I would suggest this trip to everyone! We added on Zanzibar and that was beautiful as wellByrd B2025-01-14The BEST Partner for a Travel Agency!! Nature Horizons has been an amazing partner for us. I own a travel agency that does $13MM in revenue and when it comes to unique, off the beaten path, this partner always delivers exactly what my clients are looking for. The support is impressive and the work has love poured into every detail. You cannot go wrong with this company!
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