ZIMBABWE RAFTERS SHINE IN THE WORLD RAFTING CUP SERIES HELD IN KENYA

Zimbabwe’s national whitewater rafting team closed out the 2026 World Rafting Cup Series in Sagana, Kenya, with a fourth-place finish in Africa and seventh place overall in the world rankings, a creditable showing against some of the sport’s most established nations on unfamiliar water.

The result came at the conclusion of a landmark event held on the Tana River in Murang’a County from 9 to 12 July, which marked the first time in history that a Rafting World Cup Series had been staged on African soil. Organised by the Kenya Rafting Federation in collaboration with the World Rafting Federation and the International Rafting Federation, the championship drew 35 teams from 18 countries, competing across the Sprint, RX and Slalom disciplines on Sagana’s demanding Grade III and IV rapids.

Sagana, home to Rapids Camp on the Tana River, is Kenya’s only internationally certified whitewater venue, having earned International Canoe Federation certification during preparations for the 2008 African Olympic canoeing qualifiers. The site was selected for its technical rapids, reliable water levels and purpose-built facilities, and its hosting of the inaugural African leg of the World Cup Series is regarded as a milestone for the sport’s growth across the continent.

For Zimbabwe, the competition carried particular significance given the country’s own deep rafting heritage, anchored by the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls, long regarded as one of the world’s premier commercial and competitive whitewater destinations. Members of the Zimbabwean team noted that conditions on the Tana River differed markedly from the Zambezi’s famous rapids, requiring quick adaptation during the early stages of competition. One veteran paddler, who has represented Zimbabwe on the Zambezi since 1992, said the team had struggled in its opening race but grew increasingly confident as the championship progressed, crediting the warmth of the Kenyan hosts and the similarity in climate to home for helping the squad settle in.

The fourth-place African finish places Zimbabwe among the continent’s strongest rafting nations, reflecting the depth of paddling talent developed on the Zambezi’s world-renowned rapids, while the seventh-place global ranking underscores the team’s competitiveness against nations with far larger rafting programmes and more frequent access to international competition.

Officials within Africa’s rafting community described the Sagana event as a springboard for the sport on the continent, with organisers expressing hope that more African countries will establish national federations in the coming years to support bigger continental competitions. For Zimbabwe, the result offers further evidence that its rafting community, built around Victoria Falls’ tourism-driven paddling culture, is capable of holding its own on the global stage.