White water rafting the Zambezi

After travelling from London to Johannesburg (11 hour flight - longest I've ever been on) we managed to cut a queue for security as we were in within a few minutes of missing our flight to Livingstone. All worked out and we managed to arrive at our "pre-erected" tent (with a fan and a dodgy light!) around 2 or 3. We did have a split second thought to upgrade to the five star resort next door when everyone in our airport shuttle disembarked there, but decided to rough it in the tent. We went to the activities desk and looked at our options for the next day. After mulling over lion walks, abseiling, and white water rafting, we decided on the rafting trip. A 25 rapid journey!

The next morning we got up and met our rafting group. Our guide, Ru, was a Scotsman who spends a few months out if the year here in Zambia. In our raft was Kath and Matt at the front, followed by me and Mo in the second seats, Rebecca and JJ behind us, and Dan and Ru bringing up the rear. We hiked down into the gorge to the boiling point where we got in the raft. It was all good fun until the devil's toilet bowl where I basically got flushed. I was the only one thrown out of the raft (well done me), and surprisingly it wasn't that... (wait for it) crappy! I hadn't reacted fast enough to the EVERYONE DOWN! command. A safety kayaker picked me up and delivered me back to the raft. Amazingly I managed to hang on to my oar. That was the part that I was most worried about.

We had a chance to swim a bit, but I decided since I already took my swim, I'd stay in the boat. Little did I know that meant Ru would put me to work! Although he did compliment my rowing technique - thanks KPMG dragon boat race!

I had watched the video of the rafting the day before and had basically memorized a lot of the route. I knew rapid number 8 was a big one. All of the rafts I saw in the video flipped on 8... And our raft was 'star trekking' it - going big or going home. This time we somehow managed NOT to flip. I think Ru was disappointed!

After rapid 10 we stopped for a quick (emphasis on quick) lunch where the half dayers left us to hike out of the gorge. I was more than happy to get back in the raft. That was until rapid 13. The Mother. Yep, that's where our whole raft flipped. Not a great experience. Luckily they said in the safety briefing if you're under the raft just keep going the same direction until you're out. But then you still go through the rest of the rapid on your own! I managed to come out with two oars! Yeah! 

Everything was ok then again until 17 - the terminator 2 - terminated us. Flipped raft, Mo broke her helmet(!!!) and again that terrible drowning sensation. Drowning would be an awful way to go. But, we all came out of it alive. The rest of the rapids went smoothly for us. We swam down 2 of them sans raft (by choice). There was a whole lot of paddling toward the end, so I was so grateful to see the cable car to take us back to the top. 

We got in the truck and headed back toward the Waterfront (our... accommodation? Definitely not hotel.). We passed several villages where children would run up to the truck and wave and shout for our empty water bottles. 

When we got back to the waterfront there was dinner waiting and we got to watch the video of our trip. Too good not to buy. Hopefully the DVD will make it in the heat until I can get to a post office.

So that was yesterday. Today we are feeling pretty old and stiff! We've now learned to set up our tent that will be home for the next 13 days and moved our belongings into the overlanding truck. Only 12 people on this tour out of a possible 24, so we all get 2 seats, 2 lockers (if we want), 2 mattresses and even can have our own tents. Mo and I have opted for a single tent since two tents means putting up and taking down two tents!