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Anyone gone on a canoe safari down the Zambezi?
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I think I've done enough wilderness canoe tripping to have a meaningful opinion on this. I've had bears (black, grizzly and polar) in and around camp while paddling. They are manageable. Polar bears in the water are manageable even though they can swim faster than you can paddle over a couple miles (you can beat them in a sprint though). I've been stalked by walrus. They hate kayaks and chew on them occasionally. Way more of a threat than bears, but manageable. I've not heard of a way to manage hippo. So while I have no problems taking the wife and kids into bear and walrus country, they won't be canoeing down the Zambezi. Might do it on my own though.

Dean


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Posts: 876 | Location: Halkirk Ab | Registered: 11 January 2005Reply With Quote
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I should know as I was there.



By chance were you the paddle? Smiler


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Posts: 19389 | Location: Ocala Flats | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
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It seems like there have been quite a few hippo / croc / canoe confrontations with the wildlife usually winning, yet I still see companies advertising canoe safaris without mentioning this little possibility.

For those who have actually been on one, what was the safety briefing like and what waivers did you have to sign, if any?


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Posts: 1851 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 25 July 2006Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by Will:
quote:
I should know as I was there.



By chance were you the paddle? Smiler


Funny.


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Posts: 10044 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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BigBoreCore - to answer your questions.
The waiver basically absolved the company of all responsibility, regardless of the actions of anybody or anything. The trip was booked through a UK company and they bore the brunt of the injured traveller's legal onslaught. If it was left to the Zim legal system it would be anyone's guess.
Safety briefing - was OK. Basic stuff like stick with the guide, etc.
The canoe guide is apparently a different grade of guide to a PH/walking safari guide. He had a .357 mag revolver for our protection - lucky we didn't need it...
If I went with a qualified PH I would've had a whole lot more confidence in the trip.
Book wisely.
If you do go on one, you will have some spectacular pictures and close up experiences of dangerous game. You will need a Dry Bag for your camera.
 
Posts: 120 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 28 August 2007Reply With Quote
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Do it.

Lots of folks do and from reading this you would think its a blood bath where most people dont survive, depsite all the grannies that do and outfitters that run businesses doinging it.

You will enjoy it, I am sure. Go with a good outfit.
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Alberta (and RSA) | Registered: 16 October 2005Reply With Quote
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Did a long trip down the zambezi in the early 1990s over several days fro mana down to chirundu. Best trip I have ever done. Lots of hippos and crocs seen but never an issue. We were very careful to keep well away from them and to make enough noise so we didn't spook them. Each night we camped on sand banks in the middle of the river. I was then fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time on the Zambian side in the lower Zambezi national park - there were no camps down there - I spent a lot of time scouting around looking for campsights etc. We didn't have any firearms - not allowed them - just had to be very careful, but some wonderful memories. One ofcthe best was camping on the river bank with good thorn bushes behind us, land rover ( with doors open)and a big fire for company. During the night a young bull elephant wandered over and started browsing on the trees around us. He knew we were there, dad and I carried on chatting and he was totally happy. We did once have a hyena pinch a coldbox of beer and we cried with laughter watching a friend chase after them with a canoe paddle. The hyena dropped the box in surprise and ran off.

Most game in those days had been heavily poached so was pretty nervous so tended not to hang around. I di hear that as the whole area opened up there were a number of tourists and guide who took to bating hippos - to get good photos or the girls - and thaw when accidents startred.
 
Posts: 987 | Location: Scotland | Registered: 28 February 2011Reply With Quote
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after looking at Fairgames thread on the huge croc I think I'll stay out of canoes anywhere near crocs.....

troy


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Posts: 834 | Registered: 18 December 2006Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by Heym SR20:
Did a long trip down the zambezi in the early 1990s over several days fro mana down to chirundu. Best trip I have ever done. Lots of hippos and crocs seen but never an issue. We were very careful to keep well away from them and to make enough noise so we didn't spook them. Each night we camped on sand banks in the middle of the river. I was then fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time on the Zambian side in the lower Zambezi national park - there were no camps down there - I spent a lot of time scouting around looking for campsights etc. We didn't have any firearms - not allowed them - just had to be very careful, but some wonderful memories. One ofcthe best was camping on the river bank with good thorn bushes behind us, land rover ( with doors open)and a big fire for company. During the night a young bull elephant wandered over and started browsing on the trees around us. He knew we were there, dad and I carried on chatting and he was totally happy. We did once have a hyena pinch a coldbox of beer and we cried with laughter watching a friend chase after them with a canoe paddle. The hyena dropped the box in surprise and ran off.

Most game in those days had been heavily poached so was pretty nervous so tended not to hang around. I di hear that as the whole area opened up there were a number of tourists and guide who took to bating hippos - to get good photos or the girls - and thaw when accidents startred.


Interesting. I put up the first camp on the Chongwe river (Zambia) around about then.

There were quite a few incidents involving canoe safaris in the earlier days.


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Posts: 10044 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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Working and living on the Cahorra Bassa for 5 years, doing a crap load of Hippos and Croc Hunting,

NFW, will you get me on anything smaller than the battleship Potemkin, OK, Brad, maybe a 20 foot barge boat,

Anyone doing that in my mind is not brave , jus plain @#$@#$#$%#$ stupid


Walter Enslin
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Posts: 512 | Location: South Africa, Mozambique, USA,  | Registered: 09 November 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Kwan:
Working and living on the Cahorra Bassa for 5 years, doing a crap load of Hippos and Croc Hunting,

NFW, will you get me on anything smaller than the battleship Potemkin, OK, Brad, maybe a 20 foot barge boat,

Anyone doing that in my mind is not brave , jus plain @#$@#$#$%#$ stupid


Voice of experience and well stated.


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Posts: 10044 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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