White Water Rafting – Our Top 4 Adrenalin Rushing Rivers

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as floating down a river on an inflatable, yet if the river happens to be one of the most powerful on earth, then ‘relaxed’ is the very last thing you’ll feel! Invigorate all your senses and take on the do-or-die challenge of tackling some of the world’s most raging rivers and you’re guaranteed to never look at a river in the same way again.

Kaituna River

New Zealand is home to the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, making it a worthy Grade 5! White Water Rafting is one of the many adventure activities you should definitely try when heading to this wonderful country and Kaituna River is about as good as it gets!

Okere Falls, Kaituna River
Okere Falls, Kaituna River | Flickr: macronix
White Water Rafting on Kaituna River
White Water Rafting on Kaituna River | Flickr: timgillons

Tiger Leaping Gorge

The churning monstrosity that is China’s Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the most challenging, and deadly, rafting rivers on earth and has been affectionately renamed ‘Leaping Tiger, Drowning River’. While Rafting is commonly thought of as an adrenalin-fuelled activity, it’s also one of the best ways to tour areas otherwise inaccessible by other modes of transport.

Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
Rapids in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge in China
Tiger Leaping Gorge in China

The Zambezi

East Africa’s Zambezi River rages through several countries as if it were an enraged bull elephant and, if the consequential insane rapids are not enough (Devil’s Toilet Bowl, anyone?), you also have to contend with sharing the whitewater with hungry hippos and crocs.

Zambizi Rapids
Zambizi Rapids
Elephants on the Zambizi
Elephants on the Zambizi

The Grand Canyon

Colorado’s Grand Canyon may be missing the deadly animals, yet riding the Colorado River still has a way of overwhelming even the most experienced rafter, thanks to the vertiginous canyon walls and unrelenting drops.

Grand Canyon Rafting
Grand Canyon Rafting 
White Water Rafting lined up in the Grand Canyon
White Water Rafting in the Grand Canyon | Flickr: seanhobson
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon