Paddling to a powerful beat - Canoeing the upper Zambezi

PADDLING TO A POWERFUL BEAT -

Canoeing The Upper Zambezi

[WRITER: Shelley Cox-Africa Conservation Travel ] [ PHOTOS: Nicholas Milne ]

When you combine passion and purpose to the beat of nature, you can be certain that this powerful trio of ingredients is going to deliver something special. For Prince Ngwenya, it is this trio of components that have continued to drive him and the Victoria Falls Canoeing Company forward with determination to survive the impacts of the COVID pandemic and come out paddling more powerfully than before.

Victoria Falls Canoeing Company was started by one of Zimbabwe’s top river guides, Misheck Ngwenya, fondly known by his river guide friends as “Shacks”. Tragically in 2019, Misheck passed away suddenly and without warning, and his wife Stella, along with his son Prince, took over the reins to continue the legacy that Misheck had created – providing exceptional canoeing and guiding experiences for those visiting the majestic Victoria Falls and the upper Zambezi River. Being a guide, it was only natural that fatherhood included instilling his passions and experience into that of his son, and from a young age, Prince quickly developed the same values and similar passions to that of his father – a deep love for the natural world and ambitions to share the incredible beat of nature with others.

However it is not just passion that drives Prince forward… since the loss of his father Misheck, Prince has made it his purpose to honour the legacy his dad had started and created for him. It is this purpose that has seen Prince working hard behind the scenes to continually look at ways to take the company forward, reviewing current business strategies and forming new partnerships, looking at ways to enhance the traveller experience, and increasing his knowledge under the mentorship of other renowned and well-respected guides and business owners within the tourism sector in and around Victoria Falls.

And then of course there is the natural element, the heart and soul of this region and the vital aspect that ultimately brings visitors from far and wide to Victoria Falls – the majestic Zambezi River and the biodiversity

it serves, as well as the world’s largest curtain of falling water and seventh world wonder – ‘Mosi oa Tunya’ - The Smoke That Thunders. The natural environment and the wildlife that inhabit it, is what makes this region so sought after for visitors both near and far, and continues to allow for the diversity of activities that Victoria Falls has become known for on a global scale.

Canoeing the Upper Zambezi River has over the years become very popular because of the multiple experiences one can have in just one activity. Paddling along to nature’s beat, following river channels that are gently flowing in some sections, and rapid water in others provides an opportunity to experience both the tranquillity of the river, as well as the adrenalin of the milder whitewater rapid sections. In addition, meandering along the top of the water, mostly silent and inconspicuous, one has the opportunity to view wildlife along the riverbank from a unique vantage point without disturbing them. Picturesque and peaceful, the Zambezi River has a unique beauty of its own where river banks are framed with ancient ebony, water berry, and palm trees and where aquatic birdlife flourishes.

Whilst many travellers may only wish to do a day canoeing on the river, there are multiple options available for those wanting to experience more time along the river, completely immersed in nature, by combining the experience with a rustic and authentic mobile camping adventure. With a full complement of back-up camping safari staff, after a day on the river guests arrive into a fully catered and set up camp in a remote and beautiful location on the edge of the Zambezi River within the Zambezi National Park. Victoria Falls Canoeing Company can tailor the experience to a one-, two-, or three-night mobile canoeing and camping safari where by day guests paddle specific stretches of the river, and by night stories of the day’s adventures are shared around a fire under a starlit sky, before drifting off to sleep to the sounds of the wild in their mobile tents.

The Zambezi National Park is one of Zimbabwe’s most under-rated protected areas and has a wide variety of larger mammals that move through it, including elephant, lion, wild dog, buffalo, and leopard, as well as smaller species such as sable antelope, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, and impala. Whether opting for a day trip or one of the mobile canoeing and camping adventures, the start and end of the adventure include a game drive through the National Park and so sightings are not always limited to what is seen along the edge of the river banks whilst paddling.

With all experiences, however, it is ultimately the people that shape and make it what it is, and Victoria Falls Canoeing Company have formed a strong dedicated team who love what they do and it shows in the delivery. From their experienced and knowledgeable canoe guides to their back-up camp staff, all eager to showcase what this incredible destination and activity have to offer, and with a purposeful and passionate leader at their helm, the focus is to ensure that guests leave with lifelong memories etched on their souls.