Water-based travel is about so much more than staying on a big cruise ship. In fact, water doesn’t even have to be the main point of the trip. But adding a sightseeing experience that incorporates the water is key to making travel memories that will last a lifetime.
On my most recent trip to Africa, not only did I do a one-hour guided walking tour of Victoria Falls, but I also summoned up all my courage and did the adrenaline-pumping zip line, which runs 120 m (393 ft) above Batoka Gorge and spans 425 m (1,394 ft) from one side of the Zambezi River to the other. If you’re visiting the falls, you don’t need to go to such lengths to create memories. A leisurely sunset cruise on the Zambezi while sipping your choice of beverage and spotting hippos is plenty memorable. The African continent is dotted with places where short water excursions amplify the journey, from riding in a mokoro in the Okavango Delta to whale-watching tours near Hermanus, South Africa.
In Auckland, New Zealand, the America's Cup Sailing Experience lets you get a hands-on experience taking the helm and working the grinders on a racing yacht. For another Kiwi adrenaline rush, the famous Dart River Shotover jet offers both speed and sheer majestic beauty. For those that simply can't get enough speed, the Oxbow Jet Sprint in Queenstown flies through the water accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in only 2.5 seconds! On the far more sedate side, a half-day small group trip through Sydney Harbour is the perfect way to spend an afternoon indulging in a barbeque lunch and swimming in small coves.
If you find yourself in Europe, seemingly every city you visit offers a short one- to two-hour wine or sunset cruise that offers a traffic free way to soak up the views. My most memorable water experience, though, was hiring a private boat with captain and crew from Hvar, Croatia that stopped at Zlatan Otok, an underwater wine cellar. We enjoyed a tasting and dined in the restaurant that only served freshly caught fish for lunch and was accessible only via boat.
No matter what appeals to you as a traveller, adding even a short experience on the water can enhance any trip.
Carolyn Weppler has tracked gorillas in Rwanda, been proposed to in Paris (she accepted, naturally!), and travelled to 70 countries, counting Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Russia, Sri Lanka and even Afghanistan among her travel memories. Originally from Hong Kong, Carolyn lived in the UK before settling in Canada. A self-professed ‘foodie’ traveller, her favourite destinations are Nepal, Peru, Uganda, and anywhere else where she can roam local markets and experience new flavours.
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