Zambezi Explorer
Join us on a unique Whitewater Rafting trip to the Zambezi in Africa!
From your first dip into the Devil’s pool overlooking the Victoria Falls, to the wildlife Canoe Safari and visit to Chobe National Park in Botswana, to the huge rapids, your Zambezi adventure will be amazing to the last drop! All combined with elegant safari lodges and camps with amazing wildlife!
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Trip Highlights
- Arrive Kasane, Botswana and transfer to Chobe Savanna Lodge for three nights
- Indulge your senses on our game drives, river and walking safaris and visit Chobe National Park
- Enjoy 2 nights on a canoeing safari on the Upper Zambezi River watching hippos, giraffe, elephants and crocs
- Transfer to Old Drift Lodge for a night of decadence
- Plunge into the Devil’s Pool
- Explore the Zambezi on a 4-day river expedition
- Challenge the mighty Zambezi’s huge, exciting but user-friendly rapids
- Relax and unwind at Elephant Camp in deluxe safari style
- Seize opportunities for leopard and elephant experiences, rope swings, zip line, gorge swing, canopy tour and fly foxes!
- Enjoy the finest in colonial hospitality while immersing yourself in the Zambezi Basin
- Optional Extensions to Hwange’s finest fly-in safari camps and massive herds of elephants
About this trip
Zambezi Explorer
Bio Bio Expeditions owner Marc Goddard first discovered the Zambezi in 1989, spending back-to-back seasons guiding full time and completing more than 200 descents of this legendary river. Since then, he’s returned many times, building deep friendships with local guides and communities so every visit feels like a warm homecoming filled with genuine hospitality.
The Zambezi is the ultimate African river: big, warm, and wildly fun. From August through October, wildlife gathers along the banks, creating incredible game viewing as you drift quietly by canoe among elephants, hippos, and other animals. It’s raw, immersive, and unforgettable.
Our adventure spans Zimbabwe and Botswana, home to world-class conservation and some of Africa’s largest elephant herds, without the crowds. And because we believe in balance, we pair epic river days with stays at some of Victoria Falls’ most luxurious lodges. Add in our support of Lesedi Schools & Clinic, and you’ve got an African adventure that delivers thrills, comfort, and meaning in equal measure.
Africa is calling.
Itinerary
What to expect
Days 1–3: Safari Start on the Chobe
When you land in Kasane, Botswana, you’ll immediately leave the crowds behind, crossing by boat into Namibia to reach remote Chobe Savanna Lodge, perfectly perched on the riverbank with front row seats to Chobe National Park. After settling into your thatched chalet, you toast the journey on a sunset cruise with hippos grunting nearby, elephants on the shoreline, and your first African sunset lighting up the sky. The next days ease you into Africa with game drives, river safaris, fishing, and cultural visits, all wrapped in relaxed lodge life and incredible wildlife viewing.
Days 4–6: Canoes, Campfires & Victoria Falls Luxury
After one last morning game activity, you roll into the park and launch your canoe safari on the upper Zambezi. Paddling quietly downstream through big-game country, drifting past elephants, buffalo, antelope, and endless birdlife, camping riverside under star-filled skies. Gentle rapids add spice before you take out upstream of Victoria Falls and trade campfire nights for pure indulgence at Old Drift Lodge with plunge pools, river views, and wildlife wandering right through camp.
Days 7–10: Big Water in Batoka Gorge
Now the adventure goes vertical! Begin your lower Zambezi experience by hiking down below Victoria Falls and dropping into the legendary Batoka Gorge, where the Zambezi turns into one of the world’s greatest whitewater rivers. Over several unforgettable days, you run massive, iconic rapids, float through calmer stretches, and camp on huge white-sand beaches deep in the canyon. Nights are for cold beers, firelight dinners, and stories echoing off towering gorge walls. As the trip becomes self-supported, you truly disappear into a place few ever get to see.
Days 11–12: Devil’s Pool & the Perfect Send-Off
The grand finale delivers one of Africa’s ultimate thrills, Devil’s Pool, where you swim right to the edge of Victoria Falls and peer straight down as the Zambezi pours over the lip. After lunch and a relaxed afternoon back at the lodge, you gather for a farewell dinner filled with laughter, big stories, and plans to return. The next day you head to the airport, already scheming how to get back because Africa has a way of doing that.
Lodging
Where you'll stay
Set on the banks of the Chobe River overlooking Botswana’s famed Chobe National Park, Chobe Savanna Lodge is the perfect destination from which to experience the thrill of a river based safari in the home of Africa’s highest elephant population. Chobe Savanna Lodge is a small and intimate luxury camp offering homely safaris. The lodge’s unique location offers remarkable views over the Chobe National Park from several vantage points.
Located in the Eastern Zambezi Region of Namibia, a narrow strip on the northern bank of the Chobe River, Chobe Savanna Lodge overlooks the vast floodplains of the Chobe National Park’s Puku Flats. The Chobe River provides a permanent water source to large herds of Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo, as well as dense concentrations of other wildlife – including Lion, Leopard and Wild Dog. The river offers exceptional birding opportunities where large flocks of carmine bee-eaters are spotted in season. When in flood spoonbills, ibis, various species of storks, ducks and other waterfowl flock to the area. The best way to experience the Chobe River is from the water and their experienced guides are on hand to introduce you to the true wonders of this magnificent ecosystem.
Situated on a private concession within and bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges, The Elephant Camp has breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls’ spray, and the spectacular gorges which separate Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Elephant Camp is a luxury and intimate lodge under canvas within easy reach of Victoria Falls and all its attractions and activities.
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Upstream of the iconic Victoria Falls, on the banks of the Zambezi River, lies Old Drift Lodge. The lodge boasts luxury accommodation overlooking the pristine Zambezi National Park, a mere 7 kilometers from the mighty Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Old Drift Lodge is nestled within a wild paradise frequented by elephant, buffalo, herds of sable, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala.The main lodge area will have 360 degree views, North facing onto the Zambezi & South facing onto a water hole. A 7 kilometre stretch of river flows between the camp and the town of Victoria Falls, making Old Drift Lodge the closest lodge within the National Park to Victoria Falls. The symphony of birdsong and calls of wildlife create a choir that enraptures all listeners and accompanies guests on this idyllic African experience.
The spacious canvas en-suite rooms exhibit and air of elegance that blends in seamlessly with the natural environment. The suites are resplendent with stylish furnishings and fittings, accentuated by an indoor and outdoor shower, private plunge pool and bath with a view.
Old Drift Lodge offers family friendly accommodation with an air of opulence and grace, in a wild and exuberant Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls.
Dates & Pricing
Plan your trip
Dates
2026
October 1-12
2027
September 15-26
Pricing
2026
$8,700 per person, based on double occupancy
2027
$9,100 per person, based on double occupancy
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The trip exceeded my expectations! It was absolutely amazing!
The guide staff was Off the charts- fantastic!
This was our 5th trip with Bio Bio and would absolutely consider another trip, perhaps Nepal.
This is a trip that everyone should do and they should do it with Bio Bio.
Tony Dasher – Zambezi 2023
This is Dana Reed. I had an amazing time on the trip and absolutely loved it! I would love to fill out a survey or comments for you if you send out forms like that.
Also, I am sorry that we did not get to meet, but, your three river/ trip guides were fantastic! It was a little awkward for me to hand deliver tips to them at the end of the trip, but, I would very much like to do so.
This was everything I anticipated and more, and it definitely was a trip of a lifetime and in the top memorable of any trip I gave taken.
Thanks so much,
Dana Zambezi 2023
Hi Marc and Lorenzo
We are on our way home after a fantastic trip on the Mighty Zambezi
Stan and Diego did a great job as usual
And we had a lovely group of fellow adventurers. ( well, not TOO bad for Americans!!) Sorry we missed you Lorenzo.
Thank you so much for the BioBio bags – they are fantastic and will be hauled around the planet advertising your bonza business. (And we promise to destroy the WBN bag)
Let us know if you run another Zanskar/India trip – Stan has sold it to us. ( though we may have to wait until the Aussie Dollar recovers from its all time low)
Thanks again for another fantastic holiday- you always over deliver.
Cheers
Dave and Leanne
Please comment on your overall impression of the trip. Did it meet your expectations?
Exceeded my expectations ! As always It is great to see Diego, Italo, and Mark! It is also fun meeting new people! This trip had a great group of people!, a great support staff, and a well planned itinerary The local guides were awesome as well; and Isaac, the video/ photographer seems to have done an amazing job. I can’t wait to see the video and the photos!!!
What did you think about the quality and the knowledge of your guide staff?
Off the charts- fantastic!
Would you consider traveling with Bio Bio Expeditions again? If so, which trips interest you most?
Norway trip, Maroñon Peru, Cotahuasi Peru
If you were to tell a friend or colleague about your overall experience on this trip, what would you say?
Best whitewater in the world with Diego best river guide in the world !!! This is what I wrote to my family and friends…” My trip was an outstanding adventure ride. I doubt there is better Whitewater anywhere in the world We took inflatable cayaks through the upper Zambezi going through small rapids amongst hippos and crocodiles and then whitewatererd 4 days in the lower Zambezi just below Victoria Falls and swam in the devils pool overlooking the falls with a guide holding my ankles so I wouldn’t go over!!! It was a crazy ride!!!”
Just back from the Zambezi trip. It was fantastic. Well organized, great guides and an all round stellar group of participants.
Derik and Whitney were a great team. They made everything appear seamless and as if there were never any worries. Since I am well aware that is impossible on any expedition, I highly commend their professionalism and teamwork. From the first few hours they established a positive group dynamic that made me (and I assume the others) feel like an integral part of the whole.
I was ridiculously nervous about the rafting. Sadly, a bad kayaking swim so many years ago it should be forgotten, has made me a bit of a whitewater mess. Even after running the Futaleufu a few years ago. The serious but calm and fun loving approach of Derik, Whitney and the local guides was helpful in getting going on the river. The rowing skills of Ernest (the raft Howie and I were on) went a long way to steadying my nerves. Derik’s solid skills in the other boat helped me keep things in perspective. And honestly, watching Whitney work with the river with such a calm demeanor, solid skills and obvious love of sport did the most to restore my confidence and love of whitewater by the end of the trip. I wasn’t sure I would ever get it back. I’m so grateful. That’s a helluva a guide duo you have there. Thanks for sending them with us.
Best,
Martha Zambezi 2021
Hi Marc,
Thank you for reaching out to all of us. The Sept 29th Zambezi trip was fantastic. some highlights are:
-We were able to accomplish so much in such a short time frame without feeling rushed
-Logistics were seamless. The local partners made you feel confident that they had everything under control and that we could trust them
-Diego and Elena were great guides, competent on the river, and fun to be around off the river. they both did a great job of including all the clients and making our team gel throughout the trip.
-The venues we stayed at were very nice, and it was a treat to have a blend of camping and hotels over the span of 11 days. the Safari lodge and Elephant Camp were places much nicer than i would be used to staying at — but offered great add-ons such as the Boma restaurant and the cheetah/elephant interactions. Sleeping under the stars on the beaches was particularly interesting to me.
-The guides did a great job of answering questions, preparing us for the upcoming activities, and subtly creating interest in doing other trips with Bio Bio such as Morocco and Cotahuasi.
-3/4 of the guests made the bungee jump off the Vic falls bridge
I was introduced to Bio Bio in 2012 by our mutual friend Shirley Wampler who couldn’t speak highly enough about BBX and the team. I must admit that I had some sticker shock at the price of some of the expeditions, but after joining you all on the Fu and the Zambezi, I can see the value lies in the expertise of the team and first-class service that BBX provides on expeditions. Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Brian Levendusky
Zambezi 2018
On every level, and then some. Having done BBX trips before, the bar was set, but I had no idea the rafting portion would be so luxe, ie I was planning to haul gear, help cook, etc. Every day was the best day of my life, literally. The partners from Zimbabwe were just as great- from the cooks to Hippo to our safari guides, everyone was first rate.
What did you think about the quality and the knowledge of your guide staff?
Off the charts- fantastic!
Frankly, I only want to travel with BBX on future trips. As a client and a travel journalist, I’ve done trips with dozens of outfitters and none can match up to what you offer, on all counts. I also trust every one of your guides (shout out to Diego, Piero and Santi) with my life, and they always impress with their skill, credentials, humor and affability. I think the world of BBX and you’ll be seeing me on future trips, starting w/ Cotahuasi 2019. Thank you for the most memorable trip of my life, thus far.
Hi Marc — Our trip was AMAZING! Truly the trip of a lifetime. We were pampered and taken care of every single step of the way. Imbabala Safari Lodge was stupendous. Loved Sarah and John. Our guide there, Stan, was fantastic! Hippo was incredible and our rafting and kayaking trips were stupendous, except for being charged by a hippo…which now makes a great story! The rapids were definitely exhilarating and the crew of young men that Hippo brought together were so very sweet. They were fun and took great care of us. Our stay at Elephant Camp was amazing…what a place! And then our Camp Hwange experience was literally THE BEST! They gave us a 40th anniversary dinner out in the bush on the last night.
Amazing! Incredible! Fabulous! Stupendous! Life-changing! What more can I say?
Here are a few pictures — sending them in small format — but at least you will see what we saw and may remind you of your trips there!
Can’t thank you enough! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you as far as reviews, etc.
With so much gratitude,
Nancy
Zambezi 2017
1. Diego and Santi were awesome! I met them in Patagonia on the Fu and it was such a pleasure to be with them again. I had no doubt that my life was in great hands with them and I always felt safe. they totally made the trip a blast!
2. Hippo and his crew are equally as awesome. Singing songs with Hippo at the campfire was memorable. Simba’s cooking was so delicious. I was amazed to see the crew deal with rafting the supplies down the river and keeping us safe
3. all of the hotels were outstanding. Imbabala, Vic Falls and Elephant Camp. I enjoyed the safari drives and Sylvester the Cheetah
The trip was great, The food was excellent and the guides were very friendly. I have some really fantastic pictures to show all my friends here at home. I think the game drives with all the animals and the kayaking trip were the most enjoyable for me.
Hey Marc!!! Just returned yesterday from our amazing amazing trip to Zimbabwe.. It was everything you said.. one of the best and most memorable trips of a lifetime.. from start to finish, every single moment had something special to remember it by.. not sure where to start but I will do my best. Thanks so much!
What an adventure, 2 weeks in the bush of Zimbabwe, rafting and kayaking down the Zambezi, dodging crocs and hippos. Incredible, guides steering us through some of biggest rapids in the world, throwing yourself off a cliff over the gorge, chased by warthogs and a giraffe, then relaxing at a first class tent camp deep in bush to see some amazing African wildlife. WOW, did that all really happen?
Amazing river, even more amazing guides! As always, one of the best holidays we’ve ever had. Have a feeling that we’ll be back again. Looking forward to our next adventures with you – y’all rock!
Did we survive? Absolutely. Fantastic time and another Bio Bio killer trip!
Hi Marc Fantastic trip! Jane and I had a great time, experienced some very fun and positive things we had not experienced before and made some great friends. ( I am not sure what we were thinking getting strapped on the gorge swing!) The Zambezi and Victoria Falls is something everyone should enjoy at least once in their lifetime. Attempting to boogie board a class IV rapid was a fun but humbling experience. The people and especially the guides we encountered were all very friendly and concerned with keeping us safe while still having fun. Good brief from Brent prior to departure on river portion. Hwange National Park was beautiful. The Somalisa lodge was not to be missed and great service to boot. Wildlife was up close and personal. A feeding elephant actually bumped the support lines for the tent one night and shook the tent. What a thrill! We very much enjoyed the character and charm of the Vic Falls Hotel and the service was excellent. Highly recommend this trip to anyone whether they have ever picked up a paddle or not.