Any safari activity is potentially hazardous and all operators indemnify themselves against responsibility for any illness, accident or loss. Lower Zambezi canoe operators focus on a sensible balance between the adventurous and expeditionary nature of the canoe safaris whilst maximising safety and support by providing top guides plus appropriate and well-maintained equipment and vehicles. The guides themselves are key to your safety on the river. Their training is stringent and qualification requires that they gain extensive experience before formal examinations. The guides are totally familiar with the areas and environment in which they operate and have both formal training and experience with game found in the area.
Hippos are the obvious challenge on the river and the rules are pretty simple.
When approached they back off into deeper water, the canoe trail therefore generally follows the shallows and before crossing or approaching deeper channels, the guide will always announce the approach of the safari by banging the sides of his canoe or slapping the water with a paddle. Close encounters with large game including buffalo and elephant do occur and the guide's actions are always aimed at keeping the safari safe and at the same time not putting animals under pressure. Large cats are found throughout the valley - they tend to shy away from man and are in fact often difficult to find. Crocodiles are found in large numbers on the Zambezi and will usually disappear at the first sight of an approaching canoe trail. From time to time poachers come into the valley - National Parks patrols and concession holders generally deal them with swiftly whenever they're found.