Shearwater Victoria Falls Jetboat Adventure

Shearwater runs a jetboat through the Zambezi rapids below Victoria Falls, powered by a four-hundred-and-sixty-five horsepower engine built for the gorge. The route takes you to the Boiling Pot — the churning pool directly beneath the Falls — and then through Batoka Gorge, a deep basalt canyon carved by the river downstream. The whole outing takes around three hours from start to finish; the time on the water is forty-five to fifty minutes.

The boat is purpose-built for this stretch of river and is handled by trained captains. Before you board, there is a safety briefing and you are fitted with the required gear, which involves some physical preparation — harnesses, life jackets, and a short walk into the gorge to reach the launch point. Sturdy footwear is necessary for that access path; sandals will not do.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, and clothing that can get wet, because it will. A waterproof camera or case is worth having. Shearwater offers photo and video packages if you would rather have someone else handle the recording while you hold on.

The activity operates out of Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe, on the Zimbabwean bank of the Zambezi.