Canoeing Safari on the Zambezi River - Ten Important Points Before You Embark!

If you like Adventure Travel then one of the "things to do" that should be on your "Bucket List" is a Canoe Safari down the Zambezi River, between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Go Canoe Camping on one of the greatest rivers in the world, its banks teeming with exciting African birds and wildlife, including the big five (Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Lion and Buffalo) the group of African game which you are sure to spot at least part of. You will undoubtedly see Hippo, Crocodiles, Zebra, many different kinds of Antelope and more!

Due to its special nature, the River is not as accessible as some places in the United States or Europe, but there are reputable agents based in the area who can help you get there, help you with sound advice and even take care of the itinerary and bookings for you. International arrivals fly into Victoria Falls and Livingstone Daily.

Below are a few pointers as to the best way to go about canoeing the Zambezi River:

1. First find a reputable adventure travel agency to book your experience through! Don't go thinking you can jump in a Canadian, Klepper or Inflatable canoe and paddle down this River on your own - remember that this is the Zambezi!, and the beauty that you have come to experience also contains hidden dangers.. unless of course you are a professional CANOE guide with 2000 hours of training which is possible, but unlikely:-)

2. When preparing for your canoe adventure, research the general geographical area that you are wanting to canoe. If you ask the Canoe Safari company you are dealing with to take you on a trip from Mana Pools up to Kariba, you are likely to be listed on the office blog of "those funnies..." Hint: This truly unforgettable experience can be done on the Upper Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls or down below the Falls, from the Kariba Dam Wall down towards the Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.

3. Decide how much time you would like to spend on your adventure! On the upper Zambezi River generally 3 days with 2 nights is the ideal time to spend on a river Safari for people on a tight schedule. That will give you plenty of time to unwind and soak into the ambience of the Valley.

4. Longer trips are available for others who a bit more of this African adventure to take home with them. These might consider the Kariba to Kanyemba trip! (Kanyemba is located at the Mozambique border) It is more of an explorer trip and can either be done as a WHOLE ten days nine nights experience or the trip can be split into various sections of two, three, five and seven nights.

5. Be adaptable! After setting up your first dome tent in about half an hour on the first night you will feel very pleased with yourself when you do this in two minutes flat the following sunset.

6. Take a camera! The Sunset on the Zambezi River is one of the most beautifully stunning sights you will ever see. Fresh clean air, red gold and yellow ball of flame settling into the blue and reflecting off the waves is truly amazing, a lion with a convenient sense of timing may roar in the distance!

7. Choose your time of year to canoe. October through to December is the hottest time of the year but usually good for game sightings on the Riverbanks. Rainy season on the Zambezi is mid November through to mid April. Winter starts mid June and continues through to August. However winter is not extremely cold and a couple of warm jackets, trousers and socks should do the trick. May and September are absolutely stunning months of the year to travel weatherwise... clear blue skies but warm and not too hot.

8. Select your travelling companion wisely and whatever you do don't plan to canoe in the same boat as them unless you have a solid friendship or relationship! Unless of course you have done several hours canoeing with them in the past and you are so in sync with each other that you're ready to take on the Zambezi International Regatta together.

9. Right now you've researched the area you would like to canoe, have your dates set, found your partner to share those spectacular sunsets with (or decided it's safer to go solo), booked your flights, pre and post canoe accommodation and transfers, started your course of malaria prophylactics (with advice from your GP of course) two weeks before your trip is due. Now it's time to get packing.

10. Pack light! A couple of pairs of shorts/light trousers, khikoi/wrap/sarong to drape over your legs whilst paddling, lightweight long sleeve shirts, swimming costumes, sandals, trousers for the cooler evenings, Wide Brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and plenty of sunblock is usually sufficient.

Keep personal toiletries to the bare minimum... If you have excess luggage with you store it before you leave on your trip either at the hotel you were staying at or with your adventure travel company.

Now you are set! Arrive at your destination, enjoy your stay, have the experience of a lifetime on your canoe safari and leave with wonderful memories of your time on the Zambezi River.

Six Wilderness Travel Tips

Wilderness travel is relatively dangerous. Backpacking, floating a river in a canoe, or four-wheeling down isolated two-tracks - they all mean leaving the safety and predictability of civilization behind. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make it much safer, without taking away from the adventure. Here are six tips for doing just that.

1. Prepare. I've seen hikers eight miles from the nearest road, at nightfall, with no water, and facing a sub-freezing night with short sleeves. They had underestimated the time needed for the trip, and probably didn't make it back to their car before some suffering. More importantly, they hadn't prepared for the possibility of their hike taking longer than expected, or for possible changes in the weather. Try to think of all the possibilities, and have some preparation and planning for each before you leave.

2. Carry a map and compass. Know how to read your map. Any map is better than nothing. Many people lost in the wilderness have hiked farther into empty country because they had no idea which direction to travel to the nearest road. A compass is a good idea too, but be sure you know how to use it. Practice near home, and start using it before you need it, just to keep in practice (and to keep from getting lost).

3. Learn other navigation skills. Can you use a watch and the sun to determine direction? How about a stick and shadow? Because compasses break, and maps get lost, you should know at least one or two ways to determine direction. Also note the direction most likely to take you out of the wilderness before you start. If you remember that a highway runs along the entire south side of the area you are in, you know which way to go in an emergency.

4. Learn survival skills. Know a few basic survival skills and wilderness travel becomes safer as well as more interesting. Knowing that sleeping under a pile of dry grass or leaves can keep you warm could save your life someday. Learning to identify a few wild edible plants can feed you when you lose your food, and make a trip more interesting in any case.

5. Practice fire making. Make a fire and light it with one match. Do it in some woods near home when it is raining, and try it in the snow too. A fire can save your life. Rarely does anyone die from starvation in the wilderness. They commonly die from exposure. Know how to keep yourself warm and dry. Always carry matches and a lighter, and know how to start a fire.

6. Get help from others. Nobody can come to the rescue if nobody knows where you are. Leave an itinerary behind with someone. You may also want to carry a cell phone. I don't care for them myself, but they save lives all the time, so take it and just leave the ringer off until you need it. Be sure to charge the battery before you go.

Do more than read these tips. Take them and apply them. Not only people new to the wildeness, but experienced outdoorsmen too have paid the ultimate price when they forgot or refused to follow the basic rules of wilderness travel.

Outrigger Types - Which Outrigger Canoe is Suitable For You?

Canoes can be fun and you can take in different places on the lake or river. One way to achieve this power, is seen in various types of boom, where everyone is a convenient option for you, in a canoe to reach your goals.

What are the media?

To start things off of the specialized canoes canoes are balanced cantilever with side supports to maintain stable oil platforms known as o. The arm should be protected or both sides of the>canoe while spars are located on the gunwale. This extends along the canoe's sides and ends with a flotation device.

Outriggers are born from the practice of putting 2 canoes together to make them more stable and increase their width. Initially used in Southeast Asia, outrigger canoes are helpful for those involved in marine livelihoods like fishing. However, they can also be used for sport racing and for taking leisure trips to the lake.

Types of outriggers

The most common outrigger types are the solo, surfing, six-person, and tandem outriggers. Solos are smaller and shorter one-man canoes with seats located in the middle to promote balance while tandem outriggers have 2 seats for two riders. The more experienced paddler is seated close to the bow while the other person is seated behind him.

The longer outrigger types include the surfing and six-person canoes. The latter can range from 40 to 43 feet and is Hawaii is often used in racing canoe, which is very popular. surfing boom is 22 meters long and can accommodate from 2 to 4 people. They are ideal for rough seas and waves, and have high rocker for better maneuverability and easy paddling.

Lightweight and stable

No matter stabilizers buy, check what, where are you going to use it. For example, if you're in a canoe in rough waters, get one with a high and a rocker with a rocker bottom for the propertywaters. The material should also be lightweight to give you ease in paddling. Carbon fiber and polyethylene can provide you with that benefit.

A Huck Finn Journey in Southern Ontario

You don't have to travel miles to get a wilderness experience. You can get up in the morning... drive an hour or so... and then there you are... out on a river doing it! But best of all... you can be in your own bed at night. This is an inexpensive day trip with minimum traveling... what could be better?

Take a guided rafting trip on the Grand River near Paris, Ontario to experience one of the best learning adventures around. You can travel down the river in total safety... paddling skills aren't required... size and age doesn't matter... and you can be right in the middle of it all... without getting wet!

On these rafting trips you can shoot the splash of swifts or leisurely float across pools. Everyone can jump out and swim when they want, even drink from freshwater springs.

Or you can do guided platform-raft fishing for smallmouth bass and rainbow trout. And there is wildlife to see... deer, beaver, mink, muskrats, blue herons, wild turkey and osprey.

Add a guide that takes you for short hikes to taste wild edible plants, see natural features and teaches native history... and everyone ends up with a full rounded day of everything.

The Grand River Rafting Company in Paris, Ontario offers these unique learning adventures. The theme of the company is "Experiencing Everything Together" and that's what they specialize in doing.

There is a camaraderie that occurs in the 8 person rafts that does not happen in canoes or kayaks. When you are done, you have been together in everything... and for most people that does not happen today. It leaves a good community feeling.

On the Grand River you can choose to do day trips or overnights. Overnight visitors can stay at the local River Ridge Bed & Breakfast accommodates groups & families of up to 12 people. This rustic countryside setting even has an outdoor hot tub & pool overlooking the valley...and the complimentary breakfast is gourmet! There is also camping nearby at the Brant Park and Pinehurst Conservation Areas.

Either way whether you come or stay... you will have a great time on the Grand River in Southern Ontario.

How to Paint an Aluminum Canoe

Back in the days when modern materials such as fiberglass were still in their development stage, canoes were mostly made of wood and aluminum. Have you ever tried to paint on any aluminum surfaces before? It's a mind-boggling job since ordinary paints will not stick to aluminum. This is the dilemma of thousands of people who have inherited aluminum canoes.

Canoes are very handy to have. You can do lots of stuff with a canoe. You can do your weekly fishing with it, you can take your date and watch the birds with it, you can even take photographs with it, and of course, there's the usual Saturday-afternoon river cruise. It would also be nice I the canoe you own is sleek-looking and has a nice glossy paint. However, painting an aluminum boat is not an easy task, but it is a possible thing to do.

Here are some handy tips for those people who would want to paint their aluminum canoes:

1. Make sure that you want to paint the aluminum canoe.

There are aluminum canoes that don't need any kind of painting. These canoes were not made to be painted in any way because the natural beauty of the aluminum is the main foundation of its design. However, there are aluminum boats that really need a good painting job. Some of these boats are originally painted and the paint has worn off but if the aluminum is galvanized, there might be no need to paint it.

2. Remove all the remaining paint from the canoe

Removing the paint from the aluminum canoe is a must, just like what others would do when painting old cars or other vehicles. Paint removal ensures that the surface is free of dirt and it will smoothen the surface once again. Paint removal is also necessary to be able to see if there is corrosion underneath the surface. Substantial amounts of corrosion may suggest that the use of the canoe may not be worth after all.

There are many types of paint removal kits out there in the market and these usually cost around 15 US dollars.

3. Sand the canoe

After the paint has been removed from the canoe, it is time to sand it. This will ensure the smoothness of the canoes surface which will play an important role in the overall finish of the paint job. One can use a professional sanding tool or perhaps if he has no budget for that or simply has some time to spend, he can do this manually.

4. Apply the primer

There are different views on the type of primer that should be applied to aluminum surfaces. Perhaps the most recommended primer is a primer which contains a substance called chromate. There are available primers out there- magnesium chromate or zinc chromate which can be used for aluminum surfaces. Others would prefer an aluminum oxide primer. Make sure that you wear some kind of protection to avoid inhaling these substances because these are very dangerous to human health. Make sure that there is good ventilation in the painting area.

One can also apply a self etching primer (one coat is enough), then apply a couple of coats of epoxy primer which can be purchased in any automobile paint store.

5. Apply finish

One can actually use automotive paint after the primer has been applied. Make sure that the primer is properly applied because ordinary paints won't stick with aluminum. You can ask your local automotive paints dealer regarding the kind of finish that you would want to give your canoe.

A nice canoe deserves a nice paint job. Aluminum canoes can be made into colorful ones through the use of proper materials and the right methods. Enjoy painting your canoe!

Safety Tips For River Kayaking

River kayaking is one of many sports that gives us the advantages of doors to get real and enjoy the beauty of nature and fresh air. Whether you're kayaking on the river with experience, one must remember that safety is paramount when you are in water. Unfortunately, many of the accidents are in the water, and you do not really want to ruin your summer fun.

Regardless of your experience with kayaking on the river, a lifejacket or flotation vest is one of the most vital pieces of equipment that must accompany you. The life jacket is one of those items that could indeed save your life, if something happens to you and you cannot swim or remain afloat due to some unforeseen circumstance or occurrence. It has happened before that somebody has bumped their head and become unable to swim to safety, due to being unconscious or even semiconscious.

Depending on the environment where you choose to go river kayaking, a helmet may also come in handy, especially if the river concerned has many rocks and faster flowing water. In the event that you capsize, the helmet will protect your head from bumps against these rocks or the river bottom. If the river is not too rough you may be able to get away without the helmet, but you shouldn't chance that in faster flowing waters.

Another passive danger that many of us are not aware of when rather kayaking, or even outdoors is that of the sun, therefore a peek, or even wide brimmed hat combined with a strong protection sunscreen is necessary to protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. If you really wanted to you could also bring your sunglasses along, however just be aware that you might lose them in the water, if you capsize.

Should you be going to a remote area, for your river kayaking adventure, ensure that you take sufficient amounts of drinking water, to prevent from dehydration and heat exhaustion. The water in the river may not necessarily be fit for drinking, and you did not want to risk becoming sick, whilst enjoying your day out in nature.

One should also familiarize themselves with the environment in which they go kayaking, especially possible currents and danger areas of the river or environment. Unless fully experienced it would be a good idea to steer clear of these danger areas, to prevent any possible injury or unpleasant accidents or experiences.

River kayaking can provide some of the best fun and exercise, however we have to place safety as the number one priority, so that we may enjoy the experience without any unfortunate or unnecessary mishaps or accidents, which could in any way be avoided by proper planning and sensible behavior when outdoors.

Southern Ontario's Best Kept Secret - a Local Whitewater Rafting River

The Grand River Rafting Company of Southern Ontario offers guided whitewater rafting for everyone on the Nith River near Paris. The little known Nith offers one of the best whitewater experiences in Southern Ontario and is one hour west of Toronto, fifteen minutes off Highway 403.

The whitewater rafting trips are 3 to 4 hours in length culminating with a 3 kilometer run of splash. The whitewater rafting trip starts in the hamlet of Canning. About half ways down the rafts pull over at Bus Beach for lunch and a washroom break... and then on to the final destination, Bean Park on the Grand River in Paris.

These guided trips start out in a wilderness setting banked by high clay bluffs treed with the Carolinian Forest. This narrow river brings the shoreline close creating excellent wildlife viewing opportunities of deer, fox, beaver and wild turkey. Further downstream are cascading drinkable springs at Devil's Cave surrounded by limestone rockery. From this point the Nith River gathers speed creating standing waves and waterslides as it rushes to join the Grand River.

These whitewater rafting trips are a safe and exhilarating experience for families, schools and corporate rafting adventures. Size, age, agility and skill level do not matter... the self-bailing 8 man whitewater rafts offer a trip of stability and safety with splash.

The cost for the four hour whitewater rafting trip is $65 per person which includes guide, paddle, lifejacket and upstream shuttle ride. There are also guided fast water canoe and kayak trips available for small groups of one to six people.

For those wishing overnight accommodations in the area, the River Ridge Bed & Breakfast is available and can host up to twelve people. This B&B has an outdoor hot tub overlooking the Grand River Valley and offers an excellent country breakfast. The elegant Arlington Hotel in Paris is also available for overnight accommodation and includes fine dinning. Restaurants in Paris vary from fast food to Camp 31 with its award winning southern style barbeque.

If looking for a whitewater rafting experience in Southern Ontario... where river time exceeds traveling time... a spring day trip on the Nith River is worth the visit.