WHITE WATER RAFTING FAQ’s

You are nearly to ready to book, but you have a few questions? No problem! See the below information and be in touch if we can clarify anything else for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

What insurance do I need?

All clients are covered by Specialty Emergency Services (S.E.S) through Safari Par Excellence; however, this only covers them for emergency evacuation in life threatening situations. It does not cover hospitalization and medication. Travel and medical insurance is compulsory for all clients. Please ensure all clients bring the details of their insurance policy with them. Safari Par Excellence will not cover clients should they not have insurance for Grade V White Water Rafting.

Is there an age restriction?

The minimum age is 15 years old regardless of body size or swimming capability. The maximum age limit is dependent on the individual’s general state of health and physical fitness.

I’ve never been rafting before. Can I join a trip?

No previous rafting experience is required if good swimming skills are combined with a “GO FOR IT” attitude. A reasonable level of fitness is required as clients must negotiate a steep path in and out of the gorge. The walk out is 750 vertical feet up a gradient of 1 in 3, and a person of average fitness can manage this in approximately 20 minutes.

What should I wear?

Recommended dress for the day’s rafting is light outdoor sandals or trainers, shorts and t-shirt. A cap can also be worthwhile beneath the helmet. Clients should not take any valuables with them on the river. Valuables may be placed in a secure container and will be looked after by Safari Par Excellence for the duration of the day’s activity. On your return your valuables can be reclaimed.

What about my camera / GOPRO?

SAFPAR has a team on the river who will take videos and photographs of your experience so you can relax and enjoy the rafting knowing we will take care of the all-important photos. We offer our clients FREE photos and a video of your rafting trip! You will receive a link via Dropbox after your rafting trip – please feel free to share on social media and tag us @safparzambia #safparzambia

Sounds great. So I can take my camera / GOPRO?

We recommend against this, it’s highly likely that the equipment will get wet / damaged or lost in the river!

Are your rafts safe?

SAFPAR uses some of the finest equipment on the market to ensure that the trip is a safe and enjoyable one. Rafts are purchased from Ark in South Africa and are tried, and tested river rafts required for the Zambezi River. SAFPAR only uses ‘high flotation life jackets’ and Protec designed safety helmets which are issued to clients before the day’s rafting.

Please tell me more about your guides & river safety?

SAFPAR is currently the only company on the Zambezi with a 100% guide certification under the International Rafting Federation. All guides are fully trained professionals and hold valid advanced first aid certificates. A comprehensive first aid kit and skid stretcher is carried on each trip. Each client is required to sign the Safari Par Excellence White Water Rafting Indemnity Form prior to departure. Each trip leader carries a SAT phone and is in radio contact with our base in Livingstone, Zambia and covered by S.E.S (Specialty Emergency Services) based in Livingstone. Our guide team also hold American Heart Association Basic Life Support qualifications and we have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on every trip. Whilst every precaution is taken, it is essential that clients are aware that there is a risk of injury associated with the activity of rafting on the Zambezi – the Zambezi is a Class V river – the highest level of commercially available rafting in the world. White water rafting is an extreme sport.

See what our clients thought of their Zambezi River rafting experience