• Outdoor Activities
• Whitewater rafting
• Travel Guide
• Recommendations
• Travel tips
• Photographs
• Articles
• News
• Find a trip

Member experiences

Forum Posts

Whitewater rafting travel tips

Get wet and wild with an adrenalin-pounding ride on one of the great waterways of the world

When to go rafting

Timing depends entirely on the location and seasonal changes of the destination. The Zambezi is best towards the end of the dry season (August to December) when rapids get wilder; summer and autumn (September to May) are better in New Zealand.

Rafting health & safety

The golden rule is: listen to your guide. When he or she says paddle, paddle; when they yell at you to cling on, you know what to do!!

Check the credentials and, ideally, quality of guides and equipment before booking a trip – ideally talk to the operator about its safety measures, and ask for details of accreditation and training.

Old lifevests, poorly trained guides and lack of support craft are things to avoid.

Though in many cases prior rafting experience isn’t essential, a reasonably level of swimming ability is vital.

Some rivers may carry infectious diseases and parasites, including giardia and Weill’s disease. Take advice on the risks, and avoid swallowing more river water than absolutely necessary!

trips