Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise worth booking?
Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise is a 8-hour experience in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from $210 per person. It scores 64 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 64 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $210 per person
Enjoy a thrilling and adventurous experience as you paddle the Zambezi River. Whitewater rafting could be a great option to fill some thrill in your life. Even, there are few selected great rivers across the world that w
What you get
- Bottled water
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Lunch
About this experience
Enjoy a thrilling and adventurous experience as you paddle the Zambezi River. Whitewater rafting could be a great option to fill some thrill in your life. Even, there are few selected great rivers across the world that will provide you a great adrenaline rush at the time of rafting trip. Victoria Falls White Water Rafting is the best way to find an outstanding adventure for your life. Mostly recognized as the wildest and biggest grade 5 white water rafting on the planet, the one-day Zambezi whitewater trip below the Victoria Falls would give you unmatchable and lifetime experience. Calm the adrenaline you just experienced with a cool cruise on the upper Zambezi. While sipping on the local beers, enjoy spotting a variety of wildlife as they come drink in the bank of this awesome river.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Lunch
Not included
- Gratuities
- National Park Fees
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Victoria Falls
Our drivers and guides will be waiting to meet you at the reception of our hotels.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Our drivers and guides will be waiting to meet you at the reception of our hotels.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- SHOCKWAVE ADVENTURES
Know before you go
- 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
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Physical effort
2 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Best Whitewater Guide Company in Victoria Falls
To start, we believe honesty is the best policy (for better or worse), especially with travel reviews. We are from Canada/United States, and we’ve traveled to 50+ countries and seven continents. We are middle class, though still have high expectations when we are spending significant money on international travel. I used to guide whitewater rafting and hunting in Montana, USA. I understand the pressure it takes to excel as a guide for tourists that pay significant amounts to travel. We read reviews online and chose Shockwave Victoria Falls. The guides did an incredibly job during the experience. They arrived at the hotel on time for pickup. They were friendly, fun, and polite. They efficiently drove us to the raft put in area. We had a great safety briefing. Much of the gear they use is NRS, which is the best gear in the world and comes from Idaho. The hike down into the canyon for the put in wasn’t bad at all. We took our time to ensure of safety for everyone. We did nearly two dozen large and small rapids. They briefed us on each rapid ahead of time. They had a camera guy on a kayak to get ahead of us. They had a GoPro in the boat for videos. They had a guide in a kayak to fish us out of the river should any of us go swimming. They let us swim rapids that were safe, and they also let us swim calm water areas. They knew where to swim and where not to swim cause of crocodiles. They also took videos from the edge of the river. The three guides really knew the river, rapids, and how to have fun but be safe. I’ve chased whitewater all over the world. The Zambezi was by far the most fun, but also the most dangerous of any whitewater I’ve ever chased. At the end of the experience, the hike out was beautiful. They had a team there to carry all our gear up the valley. They had a nice lunch prepared for us in the shade that was safe to eat. The conversation was excellent. The vehicle was right there for transportation back to town and our hotel. They worked incredibly hard to ensure of a safe yet fun journey. Overall, this experience was a 10/10. We always try to give suggestions/feedback for improvement. As a former whitewater guide, I really don’t have any suggestions. Best, Michael and Jules
Response from the operator: Thank you for the review and sharing your experience with other travelers . We are glad you had a good time with us on the river. We hope to see you again in the near future . Thank you once again !!!!! .
via Tripadvisor
Thoroughly recommend
We had such an amazing time!! The entire day was run like clock work. We had to contact them from our hotel reception as when I booked it our hotel wasn’t available for collection. However changing this wasn’t a problem. The bus arrived on time and after a quick transfer and safety chat we was on the rapids. We was blown away by how many people go into organising a days rafting!! Everybody was really nice. There was on our raft only 4 guest so 4 of the companies trainees joined us to fill the boat. It really was fantastic and this company being a local one deserves all the business they can get. The booze cruise which was also wonderful again. There are ample drinks available with some light snacks and plenty of wildlife to take in. We got the opportunity to see a huge group of hippos with their babies, crocodiles and a fabulous sunset! We then asked to be dropped in town so we could get dinner which again wasn’t a problem. Truly a very well run professional organisation. Would thoroughly recommend!!!
Response from the operator: Thank you Fern for taking your time to review us and sharing your experience with other travelers.Thank you for choosing us to host you and we are looking forward to hosting you again in the near future! All the best!
via Tripadvisor
White Water Rafting - the adrenaline rush of a lifetime
Wow! Whitewater rafting truly lives up to the hype!!! I was initially anxious to do it given the reviews about how dangerous of an experience it can be, but we thankfully had an amazing team that allowed us to be safe and still have the utmost fun! We received a pretty comprehensive set of safety instructions prior to beginning - various ways you can be saved, how to grab your fellow raftmate if they've gone overboard, how to swim if you can't catch onto the boat, etc. Our guide JB was also amazing at navigating the raft, coupled with the slightly larger/wider rafts that Shockwave uses, ensured that flipping over completely was minimized. The rapids - are absolute chaos but so much fun! Each one has a cool name and JB had some fun stories to tell about certain ones (I won't spoil any). My friend and I did fly out of the raft on #13 - aka the Mother (mother you know what more like), but were quickly assisted by our raftmates. All of the logistics were impeccable from top to bottom - in terms of how personal belongings would be kept safe, outfitting us with all the necessary equipment, lunch after the rafting and hike out of the canyon, transportation, etc. The lunch afterwards with the Zambezi beers absolutely hit the spot and shout out to the chef for the amazing stuff he cooked up. Finally, the photographer/videographer who has to kayak alongside us, ahead of us to grab our photos/videos, and then catch up to us afterwards - deserves massive kudos! I think his name was Tambo...mad props for all the work he did. The photos and videos - although steep in price - are more than worth it and captured some lasting memories. Thanks to the Shockwave team for the best experience!
Response from the operator: Thank you for such a wonderful review and sharing your experience with other travelers.We are glad that you had a good time with our amazing team. Thank you once again for choosing Shockwave to host you!
via Tripadvisor
Pure fun!
My husband and I had an awesome experience white water rafting with the Shockwaves crew (shout out to JB, Silent and Tambu). The energy levels from the team were high, (plenty of laughs) with a focus on fun and safety. The rapids, swimming and rock jumping was great followed by a delicious lunch after. We also loved the drive in to the gorge through the local village. The night before we enjoyed cruising down the Zambezi spotting crocs and hippos, and an amazing sunset with plenty of refreshments and an awesome crew (shoutout to Precious). Highly recommend.
Response from the operator: Thank you for reviewing us and sharing your experience with other travelers. We are glad you had a wonderful experience on the river and cruise as well. Hope to see you again in the near future!
via Tripadvisor
Spectacular
It was an out of this world Experience, the guides were just all smiles caring and very guiding, learned what team work means, it was all 5s till the end......Over and above i recommend 1billion%👌👌👌❤️❤️❤️🚣♂️🚣♂️🚣♂️🚣♂️
Response from the operator: Hi Victor Thank you for this review and we are glad to have been spoken so highly about us. Please call again when in Victoria Falls and we will always be willing to take you down the river. best regards
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 12+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by SHOCKWAVE ADVENTURES, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.2.
See everything SHOCKWAVE ADVENTURES runsWhy this scores 64
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Victoria Falls.
How much does Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise cost?
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Prices start at $210 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Victoria Falls usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Victoria Falls is not rushed.
Is Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 64 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Victoria Falls, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 12. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 8-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Victoria Falls can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Victoria Falls and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Zambezi Whitewater Rafting & Open Bar Sunset Cruise start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Victoria Falls within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Victoria Falls?
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On Outty we rank every Victoria Falls experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Victoria Falls Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls Theatre Featuring Simunye: The Spirit of Africa, Zambezi River Class IV-V White-Water Rafting from Victoria Falls. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Victoria Falls?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Victoria Falls?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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