The Kafue Rapids

From Great North Road

The Kafue Rapids

I know there have been many reference to Rhodwins on the Board, but not so many about the Rapids, which were on the way to Rhodwins (not sure, probably the Kafue river?) - someone will know I'm sure. Well, for us hard men and women, it was our favourite weekend pass time. Jumping off a specific rock into the river, getting yourself into the flat body surf type position to be hurled over the rocks and coming out into a pool of calm water without too many bashed and grazed knees, elbows or whatever! We thought this was perfectly safe as apparently even the crocodiles were not stupid enough to attempt this, they walked round! Here are a couple of snaps just to prove that we did it! Taken in Sept 1970 (what a memory I hear you say).

The Rapids.

To set the scene - this is my niece Debbie on the rocks with the white water of the rapids in the background and yes, we were mad and yes, it was fantastic fun. We weren't wimps who needed an inner tube to go over them! And I still have the scars to prove it!

The Rapids.

This is the 'pool' at the end of the 'ride over the rocks' - we used to get out of there quickly just in case there were any mad crocs in there. On the other side clambering over the rocks making their way upstream to the specific launch rock is my younger sister Glenda and Raymond Jeffries.

The Rapids.

Me, showing off, (what else)! Nice tan, I live in the UK now and I am even browner than that!

The Rapids.

From left, Me, Raymond, Glenda and Linda having just survived another run.

The Rapids.

From left, Des Burns, Glenda, Raymond and Me. I remember this run well, as I had slipped off the launch rock and ended up all over the place and not in the right 'position' going over the rocks and got bashed around a bit. I do not look happy!

Contributed by Moira Fenwick

February 2002