Thrills, spills and heart-pounding adventures at Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls has the river, the gorges, the rapids and the scenery to make it one of the best places in the world for adrenaline sports. In fact, it’s the adventure capital of Africa.  And there are lots of different ways to have fun, so you will definitely be able to find something you enjoy, from the Flying Fox, Zip Line and Gorge Swing to white-water rafting on the Zambezi. 

The Flying Fox, I’d say, is quite mild, something that can be done just as a start. You’re in a harness with the connection at the back, and you run and leap out into thin air over the gorge in a flying position, so you’re enjoying the view like an eagle. And afterwards, we pull you back to the platform. Then you’ll be warmed up and ready for the Zip Line. Ours stretches for about 415 metres from one side of the gorge to the other, and you can do it solo or in tandem, side by side, in a sitting position. There, you speed above the Zambezi at up to 102km an hour and the views are amazing – and it’s fun! If you’re wondering how you get back, we use an electric winch with a backup generator so there’s no danger of getting stuck. 

After that, you’ll have worked up the courage for our Gorge Swing, which is the most exciting of all, I would say. That’s where you’re jumping into the mouth of Batoka Gorge, attached to four ropes – we’re not taking any chances – and it’s quite a nice drop of 70m freefall before you begin swinging. You can just step off the platform, do a star jump, fall backwards or do a handstand right on the edge and go over that way. Everyone yells and screams from the excitement, so it’s very good for your lungs!

As for the rafting, the rapids just downstream from the Falls are some of the best and biggest in the world, with names such as ‘The Washing Machine’ and ‘Oblivion’, and they’re amazing to experience. In low water, from around August to December, you actually start at the ‘Boiling Pot’ just below the Falls, whereas in high water you have to start 10km lower downstream at rapid 11. It takes about six or seven hours, but you can also do longer trips where you camp overnight along the way. It’s a great way to take in the beautiful surroundings.