So, the problem with bucket list adventures is, every once in awhile, the thing becomes not once-in-a-lifetime, but a passion that one must do again and again! So it is with whitewater rafting and Lara….and maybe me too. Whitewater rafting the Zambezi was frightening, fun, frightening, wild fun, FUN !!! As soon as the guides pick you up, you know it is no joke…they are taking you for serious business. Briefing after briefing, you get the point. Their livelihood depends on seeing that nothing happens to you in what is essentially, quite a dangerous activity and venue. The hike DOWN the gorge to the Zambezi is quite a hike. Two of the four of us fell…hard. It is not reassuring to hear one of the guides say, “yes, it’s sad when someone’s rafting trip ends before they get to the water.”
And then after many briefings and lessons and instructions and practices, there was the rafting trip itself. WOW. So it is supposed to be the best white water rafting in the world. It was great fun, and challenging, and pristine. Simply beautiful scenery that there is no other way to see than by river raft. And yes, Lara and I are planning a 5 night to do the whole raft-able portion of the river….that has to be done between August and mid-November. So what we won’t talk about is the hike OUT of the gorge. Obviously, I am writing this, so I made it. When Lara joked about throwing herself down rather than continuing the climb (and I do mean sometimes hands and knees climb) up, without a blink the guide responded, “helicopters are expensive.” The guides were impressive. They are trained on the river of course, but they also are trained in emergency medicine, and our guide in training, a recent hire, spoke 7 languages. They simply exude competence and make you feel safe every minute.
We returned home exhausted, bruised and so, so HAPPY. Lara took a 3 hour nap and I sat on the river lawn with a glass of wine, a book, and 40 of my monkey friends, listening to the singers heralding the arrival and departure of each river boat.