I-rafting emhlophe emanzini eMfuleni iZambezi yiyona ndlela engcono kakhulu ye-rafting yosuku olulodwa emhlabeni. Ngikujabulele ukugibela kwamasondo phansi kwe-rapids yebanga lesihlanu, izikhathi ezine emashumini amathathu eminyaka adlule. Uma uhlela ukuvakashela amaVictoria Falls , lo msebenzi owodwa okumelwe ukwenze ngempela. Kodwa kufanele ulungele ukugcoba futhi ngokuqinisekile uzogwinya amanzi aMfula iZambezi. Ungakhathazeki, iphephile ngokuphelele futhi izingwenya zincane!
Ngikhulume yini ukuthi lokhu kuzoba usuku olujabulisa kakhulu noluthandekayo lweholide lakho?
Umfula iZambezi
Umfula iZambezi ungumfula wesine ngobukhulu e-Afrika, udweba indlela emazweni ayisithupha ngamakhilomitha angu-2 700. I-Zambezi iqala ukuphila phakathi kwezwekazi enyakatho-ntshonalanga yeZambia eduze nomngcele wase-Angola, futhi iphetha uhambo lwayo ngokuphuma e-Indian Ocean, ogwini lwaseMozambique. Umfula ukhonjiswe ngamanzi amaningi amnandi, kodwa akekho okuthakazelisayo njengoba iVictoria Falls, imvula enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni. Futhi kungaphansi kweVictoria Falls, e-Batoka Gorge, lapho uhla olugcwele khona lwamanzi olumhlophe luqala khona. Umfula iZambezi kulesi sigaba ubonisa umngcele ophakathi kweZambia neZimbabwe .
I-Batoka Gorge inamabhodlela amakhulu amakhulu ase-basalt amnyama afana nentshonalanga njengamabhishi omhlabathi omhlophe afakwe emanzini omfula. Uhlangothi lwaseZimbabwe lomfula yiNational Park ekhethiwe futhi kukhona izilwane eziningi ezizozibona.
I-gorge esinqabileyo kodwa yenza kube nzima ukuthi uzothola noma yini ngenkathi uhlaziya, ngaphesheya kwezingwenya ezincane. Futhi-ke, yi-rapids eyenza konke okuhlangenwe nakho kujabulise.
The Rapids
Cishe isigamu se-rapids emgwaqweni we-rafting weZambezi zihlelwe ku-Grade 5. I-rapids yeBanga lesithupha ibhekwa ukuthi ayinakwenzeka ukuzulazula, ngakho-ke ishiya ibanga lesihlanu njengezinga eliphakeme kakhulu lobunzima ukuthi umuntu onesizotha angaba / kufanele / azame.
Ngokusho kweBrithani Canoe Union, i-Grade 5 ngokushesha - "i-rapids enzima kakhulu, ende futhi enobudlova, ama-gradients amakhulu, amaconsi amakhulu nezindawo ezicindezelayo". Ama-rafters ngosuku olugcwele azothatha ama-rapids angamashumi amabili, ama-rafters ngosuku azozama imizamo eyishumi. Leli nani lishintsha kancane ngokuya ngamazinga amanzi nesikhathi sonyaka. Kusukela ngoFebhuwari kuya kuJuni umfula "uphakeme". Inani lamanzi eliza phezu kwamaVictoria Falls ngalesi sikhathi sonyaka lukhulu kakhulu kangangokuthi awukwazi ukuwabona ngokuphambanisa.
Ukushesha okusheshayo kunalo igama, futhi umhlahlandlela wakho uzokutshela kahle ukuthi uzosebenza kanjani, ukuthi yini ongayilindela, futhi ulinganise amathuba akho wokupheqa. Isiqalo sakho sokuqala sibizwa ngokuthi "I-Pot Boiling". Uyazi ukuthi kuzoba okuphawulekayo uma umhlahlandlela ukhuluma ngomuntu wekhamera uzokuma edwaleni njengoba uhamba ngokushesha ngokuzayo. Rapids ngamagama afana ne-"Stairway to Heaven", "Ukupheka kweDeveli ye-Toilet", "Ukugeza Umshini", "Ukutholwa", nakho kuzokunika umqondo walokho okukhuphukayo. "I-Muncher" yathatha i-raft yami ngaphandle kohambo lwami lokugcina ngendlela emangalisayo. Uma ngabe umqondisi ebuza ukuthi ungayena yini ingxenye evelele kakhulu yalokhu okusheshayo, ngizokusikisela ukuthi unqabe ngokuzithoba lokho okunikezwayo. Emasontweni amathathu kamuva ngiyafunga ukuthi ngisenamanzi angamaZambezi engqondweni yami.
Ukuze uthole ukuthi i-rapids izosebenza nini uma uhlela ukuya, hlola le nsiza ebalulekile, bese uchofoze ithebhu "Zonke Amaqiniso".
Uhamba Kakhulu Kangakanani?
Ama-rafters ngosuku olugcwele angalindela ukugijima emifuleni engu-24 km. Esikhathini esiningi uzoba se-raft, (ngaphandle uma u-flip weqiniso), kodwa ngezinye izikhathi ungakwazi ukubhukuda. Ngiyancoma kakhulu ukuthi ugibele phezulu lapho kunikezwa khona, i-rapids ye-gentler ikudonsa phansi emfuleni futhi ibonakala iyamangalisa. Phakathi kwesinye isikhathi esheshayo kukhona ukuthungula okuthulile kuze kube yi-mile noma kunjalo, uphelele ukuphefumula umoya wakho, uphume futhi uxoxe nabanye abafake izinto zokugqoka. Ngosuku olugcwele uzochitha cishe amahora ayisithupha emfuleni, ihora lingena futhi liphuma emgodini, futhi ihora noma ngaphezulu ufika futhi uvela ehhotela lakho uye emgodini.
Ukhona Okhona Ongakhipha I-Zambezi?
Izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-15 azikwazi ukugijima emanzini amhlophe eZambezi, kuyisimanga kakhulu.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufanele ube ngokufanelekile ukukhuphuka nokuphuma emgodini, kunembile futhi kungashisa kakhulu. Iningi labantu lithola ukukhuphuka kanye / noma ukuphuma emgodleni ukuze kube yingxenye ebaluleke kakhulu yosuku! Kufanele ulungele ukuthi ungaphumelela ngenkathi uhlaziya. Awudingi ukuba ugejime oqinile, kodwa udinga ukuzwa ukhululekile emanzini.
Ubani Ohlukana Naye?
Wonke umkhumbi unomhlahlandlela we-rafting wamhlophe omhlophe owaziwa kakhulu futhi osebenza phambili oholela ekuhambeni ngokushesha. Imikhawulo yokuphepha iphelele futhi wena kanye nabalingani bakho ozakwenza kuzokwenza ukuhamba ngebhayisikili nokukhulumisana uma kwenzeka ugcwalisa uhlangothi. I-kayaker ekhethiwe izoba eceleni kwe-raft yakho ukuze uthole ukuphepha okwengeziwe futhi iyokusiza ukuba ubuyele e-raft yakho uma uwela emanzini. Omunye u-kayaker uzokulandela ngosuku olunekhamera ye-digital kanye nekhamera yevidiyo (ukuthenga ngokuzithandela ekupheleni kohambo). Izinkambo eziningi zizophatha abantu abangu-4-8 ngamunye nge-paddle esandleni. (Uma ungafuni ukugodla, lokho kuyindlela, kodwa cela ngaphambi kokubhuka uhambo lwakho). Enye yezinto ezivelele ohambweni lwe-rafting ngokuqinisekile ngabantu obhekana nabo nge-rapids. Izibopho zomhlaba wonke zingenziwa uma zilwa ngalolu hlobo lwamanzi amhlophe!
Isikhathi Esihle Sokuzulazula iZambezi
Ungakwazi ukugijima emanzini amhlophe ngonyaka wonke eZimbeni ZaseMbindi, amanzi ahlala efudumele futhi ama-rapids asheshayo. Amanzi aphansi, okuthokozisa kakhulu amanzi amhlophe. Ngakho-ke isikhathi esihle sokuphanga abantu abathanda injabulo eyengeziwe sisuka ku-Agasti noFebruwari. Amaconsi angena kwezinye ze-rapids aphelele kakhulu futhi amathuba akho okugwedla aphezulu. Kodwa ukuphoqa konke kuyingxenye yomnandi. Futhi kukhona amatshe ambalwa avela emaceleni, ngakho-ke ngenkathi i-flip ivusa amadlingozi, futhi izingxenye zakho ezingamanzi zizohlanza ngokuphelele, akukho ingozi ezayo yokuzikhandla edwaleni. Uma amanzi ephakeme kakhulu, ngezinye izikhathi ngoMashi / Ephreli, ama-rapids ngeke asebenze, ngakho hlola inkampani ye-rafting ngaphambi kokuya (bheka ngezansi).
Yini Okumele Ulethe Uhambo Oluhlehlisayo?
I-dash ye-bravery kanye nokuhleka kokuhleka kubalulekile. Uzodinga futhi izicathulo ezihloniphekile, isikrini selanga, nezembatho ongazinaki ukumanzi noma ukudoba. Letha isiphuzo ongayinayo uma ukhumbula ibhulakufesi. Ungalethi ikhamera, uzoba matasa kakhulu ukuze uthathe izithombe futhi ungase ulahlekelwe ikhamera yakho engenamanzi noma kunjalo, ngakho vele uthenge izithombe ekugcineni. Umthwebuli wezithombe oyingcweti uyingxenye yawo yonke iphakheji ye-rafting futhi ugibele eceleni kwe-raft yakho ku-kayak. I-Jacket yokuphila, isigqoko sokuzivikela kanye nesigqebhezana sinikezwa futhi uzobe ubathwala kokubili nokungena emgodini.
Izindleko zeRafting iZambezi
I-rafting yezinsuku eziningana izovame ukubiza phakathi kuka-$ 115- $ 135; i-rafting yosuku olugcwele kusuka ku-$ 125 - $ 150. Unganciphisa izindleko ngokuthola "iphasela" lemisebenzi, izinkampani eziningi zinikeza imenyu yemisebenzi ye-adrenalin ukuze ujabulele, kuhlanganise ne- bungee jumping . Ukuhamba kwezinsuku eziningi kuyahluka ngokwezindleko kuye ngokuthi inani lobusuku nokuthi bangaki eqenjini lakho. Kuzo zonke izinto ezinikezwayo endaweni yaseVictoria Falls, i-rafting emhlophe yamanzi iyona engcono kakhulu imali ngemibono yami.
Rafting esuka eZambia noma eZimbabwe?
Umfula ofanayo, ama-rapids afanayo kepha kukhona ukungezwani okuncane phakathi kokubhuka uhambo oluvela eZimbabwe noma eZambia. Nginezindawo ezithambile zezinkampani ze-rafting zakwaZimbabwe kusukela ngo-1989 wokuqala wami we-Shearwater futhi kwakuyinto emnandi kakhulu. Futhi, baseZimbabwe baye baphuthuka kakhulu futhi bangasebenzisa ama dollar okuvakasha ngaphezu kweZambia. Kodwa funda izinzuzo nezindleko ezingezansi bese wenza ingqondo yakho.
Usuku luka-Zimbabwe lwamahhafu / usuku olugcwele lwe-rafting uhambo oluqala ekuseni, ukuqoqa ngokuvamile kuzoba ngaphambi kuka-7am. Kuhle ukuzithola umfula futhi ujabule ukubuyela ehhotela lakho ekupheleni kosuku nesikhathi sokuyeka, ukuphumula noma ukungena emkhunjini we-sundowner. Kodwa ufuna ukuqinisekisa ukuthi udle ngaphambi kokuthi uqoqwe, ngakho-ke cela ihhotela lakho ukuthi likupake ngesidlo sasekuseni, noma isitoreji eminye imigoqo yokudla ebusuku. Ukungena ngaphakathi nokuphuma emgodini ohlangothini lweZimbabwe ukunyuka okunamandla. Uma unamadolo abuthakathaka, noma awuhambisani kahle, zama ukubhuka ohlangothini lwaseZambia. Ngingumuntu othanda ukugijima, ikakhulukazi njengoba kunomkhumbi obandayo weZambezi omele phezulu kwenkemba, futhi imibono inkulu kakhulu!
Ukuxoshwa ehlangothini laseZambia kukhululekile ngaphambi nangemva komsebenzi. Ukuthatha cishe ku-8: 00, ngakho-ke kunesikhathi sokudla kwasekuseni, futhi uma ukhetha i-raft egcwele ngosuku, khona-ke kukhona ngisho nemoto yekhebula ephuma emgodini ekugcineni. Usuku olugcwele ohlangothini lwaseZambia lisho ukuthi ubuyela ehhotela lakho cishe ngo-5: 6pm, ngakho-ke akusona isikhathi sokwenza omunye umsebenzi (nakuba usuke ukhathele kakhulu noma kunjalo ngaleso sikhathi). Izigqoko zemizuzu engama-50 kufanele ziphume emgodini, ngakho kwabanye kubalulekile ukwenza usuku olugcwele nje ukuze ulugweme!
Izinkampani eziphakanyisiwe zeRafting, iZambia / Zimbabwe
Izinkampani zaseZimbabwe engizange ngiziphakamise futhi ziphakanyiswe kakhulu zihlanganisa uShearwater noShockwave. Okwedlule ngiyichitha i-raft full day nge Shockwave futhi baneziqondiso ezivelele. E-Zambia ngangihamba nge-Safari par Excellence (SafPar) futhi ngincoma kakhulu kakhulu i-Bundu Adventures ne-Batoka Expeditions ngezinsuku eziningi zokuhamba nge-rafting.
Izinsuku eziningi zeRafting Uhambo
Uma ungakaze uhlasele ngaphambili, thatha isigamu noma uhambo olugcwele usuku ngaphambi kokuba uqale uhambo lwe-rafting lwezinsuku eziningi. Kuyinto yasendle futhi ejabulisayo, ngakho ufuna ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ungayiphatha izinsuku ezimbalwa ngokulandelana. Kodwa uma ungumuntu onjengawe futhi uthanda njalo umzuzwana we-rafting i-Zambezi, bese ubhala ngokugcwele uhambo lwezinsuku eziningi. Le gorge inhle kakhulu, cabanga nje ukuthi ukanise ngaphakathi kwayo ngaphansi kwezinkanyezi futhi uqala ukuphinda uhlasele njalo nsuku zonke. Kunezinketho eziningana (ezinye zisebenza kuphela phakathi "kwamanzi aphansi" kusukela ngoJulayi kuya kuDisemba, kusukela ngobusuku obunye, ukuya osukwini oluyisikhombisa.
Ukubhuka komfula
Ngangifela ukuzama lokhu ekuvakasheni kwami kokugcina eVictoria Falls, kodwa ngemva kokuzwa ama-Afrikaners anzima athi ayesaba futhi edinwe ngemuva kwamapayipi ambalwa nje, ngakhetha enye indawo egcwele i-rafting esikhundleni. Ngokuyisisekelo wena umfula ugibele ama-rapids afanayo njengama-white-rafters, okuyingozi kakhulu. Ibhodi linamanani afanayo nebhodi le-boogie, ngakho-ke kufanele ube nezikhali ezinamandla eziqinile ukubambelela kuso njengoba ugobile. Into enhle ukuthi, ungagibela i-raft ngamanye ama-rapids ebanga lesihlanu, bese ugibela ama-rapids amancane endleleni. Ngiyazisola ngokwenza manje, futhi ngizoyihlola ngesikhathi esilandelayo, mhlawumbe uma amanzi ephakeme ngoMashi - July.