PADDLER
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR OWN ZAMBEZI EXPEDITION
PADDLER
NAVIGATING THE GORGE
In addition to the technical demands of whitewater kayaking , the team faced the physical challenge of navigating the Batoka Gorge . Temperatures soared above 38 degrees , far beyond normal for the season , adding an extra layer of difficulty to an already gruelling expedition . The kayakers had to carefully manage hydration , pacing , and recovery to avoid heat exhaustion while navigating the fast-moving currents and unpredictable river conditions . The walks in and out of the gorge were also punishing , with steep , rocky paths and precarious wooden ladders . The team was left in awe of the local porters , who effortlessly carried multiple kayaks up the treacherous terrain – and , on one occasion , even a kayaker himself !
NOT ALL PLAIN SAILING
No matter how many risk assessments you write and how much preparation you put in , accidents will happen in extreme environments . On day two of the expedition , the team had to deal with just that . While scouting Rapid 4 , which had some rather sizable waves and holes to navigate at low water , a team member fell and badly injured his ankle . On a Grade 3 river next to road or path access in the UK , this wouldn ’ t be too much of an issue , but deep in the Batoka Gorge , we knew we needed to act – fast !
With team members supporting the casualty , the remaining worked on getting communications back to SAFPAR ( our in-country support ) and , very fortuitously , managed to flag a passing rafting group for assistance . Hot weather exasperated the blood loss on a very deep cut , so getting the casualty to a primary healthcare facility quickly was essential . While a serious situation , the team quickly worked together to stabilise the situation , plan an evacuation , and , of course , kept morale high throughout with a good , if sometimes morbid sense of military humour .
The team decided to meet local porters at Rapid 6 , the closest exit point , around one-kilometre downriver from the incident location . This meant the casualty would need to raft down one of the largest rapids on the river , the famous Rapid Number 5 . The remaining members paddled behind and , within around 45 minutes , were able to hand the casualty over to porters who carried him out of the gorge – anything to get out of the walkout ! A trip to the primary healthcare provider in Livingstone ended in eight stitches , all provided by the resident South African doctor .
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR OWN ZAMBEZI EXPEDITION
Use the experts . Use a reputable guide and logistics provider with country and river knowledge . While you might save a few £££ going alone , you ’ ll get so much more by using someone who knows the lines , knows the people and , importantly , will keep you safe . We used Lowri Davies from Flow Free Kayaking ; she supports a lot of our military activity and has been a key element in planning and delivering expeditions in France , Germany , Austria and now Zambia . For logistics , we used Sven at SAFPAR . Everyone on the river knows Sven , who has over 20 years of experience supporting paddlers in the region .
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN .
It is essential on any river , but especially when paddling in remote environments , to have an emergency action plan . You need a detailed knowledge of where you can exit the river , what support you can get , and in what timeframe . We used a phone with a local SIM and a Garmin In-Reach for comms , had medical kits spread across boats , and even had a portable defibrillator ( better to be safe than sorry ). When an incident happens , all that preparation supports your initial response .