Posts Tagged ‘Water Levels’

May Newsletter.

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

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Thinking about heading to the Zambezi this season? Good choice. Not only do you get to paddle one of the greatest rivers in the world, but if you time it right you’ll get to take part in the Zambezi Festival 2011! From the 22-29th zambezifestlogo2October this year Livingstone will be overrun with kayakers in town for great competitions, brilliant races and some fine, fine parties. We’re holding downriver races, head to head, slalom, a rodeo, raft races, and a Grand Final with some surprises along the way. They’ll be prizes for everyone, so even if you’re not scoring top points on the rodeo, it’s always worth flashing the judges a smile and a wink (nothing more!) during your ride and you might end up with a share of the bounty. We’ve got a brand new kayak from Fluid, subscriptions to Kayak Session magazine, nights in swanky hotels in Livingstone, activities in the area, some great spot and novelty prizes for those random acts that make us laugh and much, much more. Tickets cost $195, which includes your event entry, accommodation for the week, shuttles, park fees and a T-shirt, almost everything except your bar tab! Getting there is easy too, flights to Lusaka are going for less than £500 from the UK at the moment, and a new route from Cape Town is now opened up with Zambezi Airlines which gives you many more options, winner! Check out the website page for more information on how things are running, add yourself onto our Facebook event, and invite all your friends! Accommodation is limited so make sure you book up early to make sure you get a place, and we’ll see you out there for what’s shaping up to
be a whole lot of fun.

If you are after “Executive Kayak Transport” then look no further than our African Limo featured in this picture!  Set up with all the essentialsP9130101_2, cold beer, kayak trailer and 6 doors, travel to all the best paddling spots on the Zambezi in STYLE! Paddling fees have gone up with the Zambian Parks Service putting up fees by $10. Our rates for pick up and drop off from your hotel or backpackers, porters to carry your kayaks into and out of the gorge, lunch and a cold beer at the end of the day are just $40. PLEASE NOTE IF YOU BOOK LOCALLY, THE COST WILL BE $50, so well worth planning your trip in advance!

If you want someone to organise your entire paddling holiday, then let theZambezi.com arrange all your paddling needs. From people wanting to experience a Zambezi 4 day trip, to those wanting to paddle The White Nile and Zambezi, we have something to offer everyone. Our guides will meet you at the airport and accompany you on your entire trip, taking care of all the smallest details as well. If you want somebody to teach you more about Playboating? Or River Running in big water, Anika or Andrew will make sure you leave the Zambezi River, loving the place! Dates are now on our website ready for you to get excited about and book onto for this years paddling holiday!

People are always asking us about the best time to head out to the Zambezi? For those wanting Big Water paddling conditions, head out and see us in August or December. Pretty much everything in between, is an awesome time to paddle the Zam. In high water some rapids are bigger, but in general the best paddling/surfing is on offer in low water and the weather is awesome too. Expect hot and sunny conditions. Although we recommend taking anti malarials at all times in Zambia, the risk is very low and far lower than that in on the Nile in Uganda. If you are keen to avoid the rush this year when the Festival is on, come down either side of it!

IDSC_0419f you are looking to hook up with some other paddlers out on the Zambezi, then get onto our FORUM where you can see who is heading out to the Zambezi and when? If you are looking to head out on a multiday as well, it is a great way to get people together on the same trip for more fun. It is super simple to just sign up and also post any advice to people heading out there, like flight deals, places to stay in Lusaka or why not just tell us about your Zambezi paddling experiences, without of course exaggerating too much! If of course you try and sell Viagra on there, you will be banned!

2011 – International year of the Zambezi.

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

A lot of people talk about the Zambezi as if it’s a dream location that they’d love to visit but just never quite make it out there. This has been puzzling us here at thezambezi.com, it’s easy to get here, the water is reliable, the weather is awesome, the beer is cheap, and there’s so much fun to be had! So make this year your year to get out on the Zam and see what all the fuss is about. Cheap flights to Lusaka are easy to find through airlines such as Kenyan airways (who are great with taking boats on), Ethiopian air, British airways and Air france. It’s then easy to get a bus link with Mazhandu Family Buses straight through to the centre of Livingstone, only a stones throw away from JollyBoys backpackers. An alternate route to get there is via South Africa, connecting flights to Livingstone from Johannesburg are easiest to get with a South African airline, 1time, dodgy name, but great service! There’s plenty of nice spots to stay once you’re there, our favourite places are Jollyboys backpackers and Fawlty Towers which are both right in town at the epicenter of all the apres-boating action! We’re the only company who run kayaking trips from Livingstone, and our great guides are available to get on the water with you for your first day or two to show you the best lines, features and moves to make so that you can make the most out of your stay. It is possible to do the Zambezi on your own, catching taxi’s to and from the river, but if you want to sort out your trip out so that it runs smoothly from day one we can sort out shuttles, park fees, porters, lunch as well as that all important cold beer at the end of the day. We’re also able to help out with gear hire, accommodation, other activities, or just some advice whilst you’re planning your trip. So now there’s really no excuse to get out onto the Zambezi, this is the time for action!

Scream if you love the Zambezi!!

Scream if you love the Zambezi!!

Zambezi River Fees Increased

Monday, September 27th, 2010

TheZambezi.com is the only company on the Zambezi permitted to take kayakers on the Zambezi River. We want to make it as user friendly as we can for people to come and paddle what is one of the best whitewater runs in the world. Recently the Zambian Parks put up the entry fee on gaining access to the river from $3 to $10 (excluding access to Victoria Falls) This is included with all our shuttles to and from the river, as well as lunch, porters and a cold beer at the end of the day. No matter whether it is your first time on the river, or you are a seasoned pro on the Zambezi, our team on and off the water will give you an amazing experience, on this, our home river.

Paddling The Pourover in 5

Paddling The Pourover in 5

We recommend getting flights in and out of Lusaka as they are loads cheaper than flying into Livingstone. A great place to stay in Lusaka is Lusaka Backpackers and then get the bus over to Livingstone with Mazhandu Family Buses, October is a PRIMO month to paddle. Its HOT and the water level is dropping. Come on out and play on the river and party in town until your heart is content. If anyone needs boats to hire, we have quite the fleet to choose from and can also arrange multi-day trips if you have the time. We can also sort any accommodation for you in either Jollyboys or Fawlty Towers and book any activities you wish to do. See you for some fun on the river!

The Zambezi – Now’s The Time!

Monday, September 6th, 2010

For any of you paddlers out there looking for the best time to kayak the Zambezi River, that would be NOW! The river has just gone to “low water” when the rapids are at their best, the weather fantastic, and you get to choose from so many great sections of river to paddle? If you are a surf demon, try the wave at rapid 2 and early October, head up to get in some serious surfing at the world class 12B. If you prefer running BIG waves then run from rapid 1 and take on Stairway to Heaven, Gullivers Travels or the Mother, rapid 13.

Howard running Ghostrider

Howard running Ghostrider

The river is excellent through until December, with the weather getting hotter at the end of October and the chance of rain which will cause the river level to rise. We can provide you with excellent support for all your paddling needs, whether it renting a kayak, needing to get to and from the river each day, or head out on a fantastic multiday trip, we’re happy to make your next paddling vacation easy. Get a group together, or just come on your own. Our guides will show you down the river and show you all the best (and worst) places to go.

Tony teaching Trevor on our Kayak School

Tony teaching Trevor on our Kayak School

Paddling big warm water is the ultimate. The Zambezi.com loves our “home river” and looks forward to sharing it with you on your next kayaking vacation. Flights are easy and simple into either Lusaka or Livingstone, so pop on over and enjoy some paddling no matter whether you are an accomplished kayaker, or you would like to take on a kayak school with our world class kayak instructors on the Zambezi River. See you there!

Zambezi River Levels

Monday, March 29th, 2010

The Zambezi has had record water levels again this year and the river has been closed to all rafting and kayaking. Traditionally this is the time for highest flows on the river and from now on, levels start to drop slowly until they get to the best levels for kayaking start around late July early August. So this is the time to start planning your mission out to the Zambezi. Most paddlers join theZambezi.com from July until December, with August until October being the best levels for river running and play boating. For most people the highlight, would be to Paddle “12B” when it is at its best. Plan on getting here for mid – late September and play until your heart is content.

Ripping it up in 12B

Ripping it up in 12B

We have a comprehensive rundown on rapids on our website, but there is no substitute for experience. Our guides have been paddling the river at every level for years, so come and join them on your first day paddling and get them to share the lines they know best. Our paddling trips are set up for paddlers. You get to choose what section to paddle on the river, we will get you there, pick you up at a pre-determined time and give you lunch and a cold beer at the end of the day. We can arrange paddling trips from one day to one month and no problems to cater for groups of friends. The Zambezi is the perfect mates trip.

Awesome weather and even better SURF waves!

Awesome weather and even better SURF waves!

For everything about kayaking the Zambezi, we are your one stop shop. Make 2010 a year to remember with a Zambezi kayaking adventure.