The Best River Rafting Adventure & Kayaking In Africa! Expert Advice

Discover The Best Kayaking & River Rafting Adventure For You!

Want to discover the best kakaying & river rafting adventure in Africa for you?
You've come to the right place!

Find peace of mind & answers to your questions about the best kayaking & river rafting adventures in Africa for you! Free guide to top river adventures. Superb deals on the best river kayaking & rafting adventures in the world. We moved to South Africa in 1993, I'm from the US & my wife is a local.

One of our aims in moving here was to take advantage of the wildlife, the result -- we�ve been on over 80 African safaris � many African adventure safaris.

river rafting adventure at Victoria Falls Africa
Spectacular River Rafting Adventure in Victoria Falls Gorge - There Are Also Fierce White Water Rapids

"I never knew of a morning in Africa
when I woke that I was not happy"
Ernest Hemingway

If your idea of an African adventure safari includes a river rafting adventure, this is the place for you.
Here I will set out a great list of the best kayaking and river rafting adventures in Africa. This list is for hardy adventure enthusiasts.

If you are interested in adventure but really want to relish African wildlife as you do then click here to learn more about canoe safari on the Zambezi we recently did. This canoe safari is of our all time favorite African adventure safari experiences. If you want sea kayaking adventures & tours click here.

Top Whitewater River Rafting Adventure & Kayaking Adventures*

*The rivers are graded according to the difficulty levels as indicated below.

Top 3 White-Water Kayaking & River Rafting Adventures

Zambezi River

The Zambezi River flows between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is the world's ultimate white water destination and no wonder. It has everything: a stunning put-in at the base of Vic Falls, and a more impressive journey through the steep sided gorge and seriously scary rapids. Go for an oared raft to minimize the chance of capsizing - your chances of swimming in a paddled raft are definitely higher.

And if your whole crew wants to avoid the hectic stuff, say so. There are easy 'chicken runs' down most rapids.
The major rapids of the upper gorge can only be run at low water, from August to December, so that's the time to go for thrills and spills.

Kayakers will find plenty to challenge with good surf waves and holes to play in, and since the river is a high-volume pool and drop type it can be run by novices; all you need is nerve and a bombproof roll.

These are wonderful African adventures to incorporate with a trip to Victoria Falls.

Orange River, Northern Cape of South Africa & Namibia

Unquestionably the most beautiful and
treacherous desert river in Southern Africa.

Run the Orange Gorge from Onseepkans, Grades 3 to 5, or take the chicken run, Grades 2 to 3. Fear haunts scenic stretches. Not surprisingly, given the distance covered from source to mouth, the Orange has sections to suit all types of paddler.

The wildest white-water is the hectic Orange River Gorge on the Onseepkans to Pella section, but this is for experts only- those who value their lives would do better to play in Adventure Bound's stretch of grade 3 rapids near Hopetown, which hosts the annual Orange Fun Rodeo.

Blyde River, Mpumalanga, South Africa

The Blyde or "happy" river is one of the most scenic and interesting river trips. Set in a superb canyon, steep and narrow, with crystal clear water and an overnight camp in the lee of the Three Rondavels of the Drakensberg plus high grade croc rafting, this is a gem of a trip. It has grade 2 to 4 rapids and is generally run over two days.

Great way to incorporate river rafting adventure with an African safari in nearby Kruger National Park.

Intrigued? Contact us now for a customized itinerary for your African adventure safari!

Top 3 River Rafting Adventure Experiences For Families and Kids

If you like the idea of floating through some great scenery but the thought of being tossed around in foaming rapids is not for you, then these are for you:

Upper Zambezi, Zambia/Zimbabwe

Chill supreme. Lie back in a three person canoe,
paddled by a guide who hands you and your partner snacks, beer, and the odd gin and tonic. Birds, elephants and the ever-awesome Zambezi sunset complete the picture. If you want a more adventurous experience do the canoe safari that I did with my family.

Kosi Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Go on spoil yourself with a luxury, escorted paddle through these beautiful coastal lakes. The water in the northern lake is dark and fresh while closer to the sea it is fully estuarine and supports an ancient traditional fishing industry. So you get to see some African tribal culture.

Keurbooms River, near Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

The first bit of this paddle can be a bit crowded but you are soon on your own with the forest, the river and the odd Knysna loerie. Great way to incorporate river rafting along South Africa�s Garden Route.

Intrigued? Contact us now for a customized itinerary for your African river rafting adventure

River Boarding - Beyond Plain River Rafting Adventure

Not content with merely rafting down the Zambezi,
the latest adrenaline rush offered by river operators is plunging into the churning waters attached to nothing more than a boogie board, and riding the 2 to 3 meter high (6 to 10 foot high) waves that are created by a selection of grade 3 to 5 rapids.

Surfing the mighty Zambezi River- riverboarding- is the most hair raising way to brave the rapids!

Note on gradings: 1= easy; 2= fair; 3= intermediate; 4= transitional; 5= advanced; 6= dangerous/expedition.

Contact us now for help planning your African adventure!

Get The Best African Adventure Safari Ideas For You!

Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.

First Name*
First Name*

E-mail Address*
E-mail Address*

Country*
Country*

Please enter your e mail address again - we want to make sure - 3% of the addresses have errors*
Please enter your e mail address again - we want to make sure - 3% of the addresses have errors*

How many days do you want to spend on your African vacation?*
How many days do you want to spend on your African vacation?*

What are the types of things you would like to do or experience on this vacation? Check all that apply.*
What are the types of things you would like to do or experience on this vacation? Check all that apply.*

	Admire natural beauty
	Explore culture
	View wildlife/safari
	Do adventure sports
	Go to good restaurants
	Visit tourist attractions
	Visit wine region
	Visit apartheid sites
	Visit big cities
	Beach
	Golf
	Shop
	Spas or Wellness centers

If you want to be more specific, please check all that apply

	4x4
	Abseiling
	Bicycle tours or cycle tours
	Canoeing
	Canopy tours
	Elephant-back Safaris
	Fly fishing
	Game capture tours
	Helicopter Flights & Charters
	Hiking
	Horse Safaris
	Hot-Air Ballooning
	Kite surfing
	Mountain Biking
	Paragliding
	Quad Biking
	River Rafting
	Sailing
	Scenic Flights
	Scuba Diving
	Sea Kayaking
	Sky Diving
	Surfing
	Whale Watching

What type of accommodation do you want to stay in? Please check all that apply.*
What type of accommodation do you want to stay in? Please check all that apply.*

	5 star
	4 star
	3 star
	2 star
	large hotels, safari lodges
	small hotels,b&bs,guesthouses
	small safari lodges, safari camps
	permanent tented safari camps
	mobile tented safari camps

What is your budget per person per day? (Excluding international airfare)*
What is your budget per person per day? (Excluding international airfare)*

Do you need international flights?*
Do you need international flights?*

	Yes
	No

From which city will you fly from and return to?

Total number of persons traveling (please include youself) *
Total number of persons traveling (please include youself) *

How many of your group are 12 years old or younger?

When do you want to travel?*
When do you want to travel?*

Know your travel dates? Please enter month/day/year like this Jan 1, 2007.

What is your preferred traveling style?*
What is your preferred traveling style?*

Do you want a self drive trip?*
Do you want a self drive trip?*

	Yes
	No

Where would you like to go on this trip? Please check all that apply.*
Where would you like to go on this trip? Please check all that apply.*

	Botswana
	Kenya
	Lesotho
	Mozambique
	Namibia
	Rwanda
	Seychelles
	South Africa
	Swaziland
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Victoria Falls
	Zambia
	Zanzibar
	Zimbabwe

What else do you want to tell us so we can give you more advice? (honeymoon, anniversary?)

Would you like a free cell phone to use during your trip? (Available if you fly through South Africa)*
Would you like a free cell phone to use during your trip? (Available if you fly through South Africa)*

	Yes
	No thank you

We strongly recommend travel insurance. Would you like advice on travel insurance?*
We strongly recommend travel insurance. Would you like advice on travel insurance?*

	Yes
	No, thank you

How We Work: The first itinerary is free & it will be based on your interests & budget. After that we offer a service where by we continue to work with you to get you the best trip for the price you want to pay. To do that we require a $150 USD deposit that is applied to your trip (without regard to the number in your traveling party). If you don�t take your trip it is non refundable. You pay that via Paypal.

Please enter the word that you see below.

Return from River Rafting Adventure to African Adventure Safaris Page

Copyright Best African Safaris

footer for river rafting adventure page