By Kent Ninomiya
There are a wide variety of sporting activities to choose from at Victoria Falls. The area on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia in southern
Africa is blessed with a rugged natural beauty. Massive amounts of water cascade down Victoria Falls and kick up a mist that produces rainbows all day long. The cliffs and white water rapids surrounding the falls make this an ideal destination for the extreme sports enthusiast.
White Water Rafting
The rapids on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls are world famous for their complexity. The rapids through Batoka Gorge on the Zambezi River contain rapids grading 3, 4 and several 5s. In some of the most dangerous places, passengers are asked to get out of the rafts and walk around rapids while the guides daringly go down them on their own. Beware of crocodiles and hippos when your raft flips. Save some of your energy for the hike out of the canyon at the end of the day as the climb is equivalent to a 50-story building.
Riverboarding
If you are especially daring, you can riverboard the rapids near Victoria Falls. It involves surfing on a bodyboard on the white water. Between August and January, the water is relatively low and the rapids are more manageable. Between February and July, the water flow is heavy and the rapids are scary. Only advanced riverboarders should take to the water at this time. Riverboarding can be combined with a white water rafting trip.
Bungee Jumping
You can jump off the Victoria Falls bridge 111 meters above the Zambezi River and live. Just be sure you do it with bungee cords wrapped around your ankles. You can either jump by yourself or with another person tied to you. After you are done bouncing, you are pulled back up to the bridge.
Canoeing
The Zambezi River above Victoria Falls on the Zambia side is perfect for canoeing. The water is calm, the scenery is beautiful and animal life is plentiful. You might even see an elephant walking along the shore. Do your best to stay clear of the crocodiles and hippos. They guard their territory ferociously.
Horseback Safari
The Victoria Falls area has abundant wildlife. Seeing it on horseback adds an additional element to the adventure. You are matched with a horse that suits your riding experience. Guides then take you along trails to look for elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalo and birds.
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
