Day: July 24, 2015

Hi Ho Hi Ho…..

IT’S OFF TO A GORGE HIKE WE GO

The demographic of visitors to the falls has changed over the years. 25 years ago the adrenaline buzz of White Water Rafting was the main lure for a younger generation. Now most visitors to the falls somewhat older and have put adrenaline rushes behind them. However customer feedback tells us they still want to be active and do not want weeks of indulgence and a sedentary state of near permanence.

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A GORGE HIKE IS THE PREFECT BLEND OF EXCITEMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WONDER.

  • Climb down through evolution itself 110m into the depths of the breath-taking Batoka gorge.
  • Be expertly guided over the enormous basalt boulders thrown down millennia ago.
  • Uniquely stand on dry ground with rapids swirling nearby and gaze up at the falls from below.
  • Truly encounter what it is like to be in the belly of this naturally phenomena.
  • Feel a sense of satisfaction having climbed (steep walk) back out and up to the edge of the Gorge – and behold your endeavours.

There is such a bountiful list of things to do in Victoria Falls, so many activities to take advantage of in Victoria Falls that making as selection can be challenging.

Originally people only came to gaze in wonder at the eponymous falls themselves and marvel at one of nature’s seven natural wonders, and a guided tour of the falls still remains the main attraction – the no1 thing to do in Victoria Falls. Of course the abundance of game and wildlife has also meant for a long time that this has been a major destination for those on Safari or seeking to witness first hand Africa’s astonishing range of animals, flora and fauna.

It was only a matter of time though before a mixture of curiosity and taste for adventure meant people looked into the broiling, spoiling waters of the mighty Zambezi in the gorge below the falls, and began to wonder…? Shearwater in 1985 was the original founder of commercial White Water Rafting trips over the grade 5 rapids of the Batoka gorge – and thus kick-started Victoria Falls as a new adventure destination in Africa.

Adding to the list of exciting things to do in Victoria Falls became a regular occurrence as Bungee Jumping, Canoeing, and Gorge swinging all started to gain huge popularity as new activities in Victoria Falls and making it the adventure capital of Africa.

Then in the 90’s even more activities in Victoria Falls were initiated and the list of things to do grew aver greater – and now not just a destination for adrenaline junkies keen on white knuckle white-water rafting trips or leaping head first off the iconic Victoria Falls bridge tied to a bungee rope – there were alternative less active attractions too: romantic Sunset Cruises, ballooning, Helicopter Rides and leisurely Elephant Back Safaris. The demographic started to change.

With the less adventurously inclined and generally older groups that started arriving in significant numbers to visit the falls – there was inevitably some crossovers and rubbing shoulders with the adrenaline addicts who had been coming for the last couple of decades. Inevitably this has led to the development of a hybrid activity that provides physical exertion, excitement and adventure – without the heart pumping fear of the high octane pursuits.

The Gorge Hikes allow people of all ages and abilities to have a day of fulfilling physical activity – which requires exertion without being punishing, and also a unique opportunity to do something extremely rewarding. Make your way down a very deep descent 110m into the pre historic Batoka gorge, and then be safely and expertly guided over the massive basalt boulders that the forces of nature carved out millennia ago. Stand at the foot of Falls and gaze in awe upwards at the spectacle. Feel hear and see the extraordinary, the incredible and the mighty forces of nature at work as the spray from the turbulence of the Falls rains all around you, and the roar of millions of cubic metres of Zambezi fly over the lip of the falls creating the boiling rapids ahead of you. This is really getting into the engine room of the Victoria Falls – really getting up close and personal with its might and majesty.

This is a truly exciting activity. Having been thrilled at by all the power and raw energy of the falls, you can now use some of your own, as like so many of the intrepid and famous explorers of yesteryear you use your own strength to climb (steep walk) back out of this breath taking gorge. Once back at the top, you will look back down and be overcome with a great sense of wellbeing, achievement and enthralment.

A Gorge Hike is a relative newcomer to the man things to do in Victoria Falls, but thoroughly deserves its place amongst the pantheon of great activities in Victoria Falls.