Some of our excursions take you to spectacular waterfalls, fantastic places to cool yourself after a long walk or a long day spent in the safari vehicle. While these are great places to enjoy, there are also a few safety guidelines which apply. Please note the following:-
Keep behind the safety railings and barriers provided
These have been put there for a very good reason!
Beware of slippery rocks
Make sure you have a good grip on your footwear when you are around waterfalls as paths and rocks can be treacherous!
Don’t jump in!
It may be very tempting to jump or dive into the cool waterfalls at the base of a waterfall, but this is never advisable. There are often rocks just beneath the water level and you will not be aware of how deep the pool is. Lower yourself in gently and take a good look around.
Don’t swim alone
For the sake of your safety, swim with others to mitigate against any difficulties which you may encounter.
Beware about periods of drought
Waterfalls change according to rainfall, and drought periods can leave their pools too dry for swimming.
Beware of heavy rain
A waterfall pool may look safe to swim in but after heavy rains, there may be significant volumes of water on their way down from the mountains. A sudden rush of water after rain can make a waterfall very dangerous indeed.
Don’t drink the water
Take bottled drinking water with you on your trip to the waterfall, as you may not know if water from the waterfall is suitable for drinking (it may look crystal clear, but looks can deceive: it may be contaminated by animal droppings deposited at a higher altitude).
Beware of currents
When swimming in waterfall pools, beware of currents and under currents which can be strong especially after periods of rain.
