A few years ago, my wife Carrie and I visited Africa, and of course I had to row the world-famous Zambezi river. It is renowned for having some of the biggest, most challenging whitewater in the world. Little did I know that it also included putting in at the very base of amazing and powerful Victoria Falls! The people of Zimbabwe were beautiful and welcoming. The 18-foot crocodiles on the banks - not so much. My goal was to meet the challenging whitewater on its own terms, and successfully navigate it without a flip. We did a total of two trips: a one day, and a five-day. I rowed on the five-day trip, with my new pal Hippo telling me where to go, and where NOT to go, sitting (nervously, I suspect) in the stern. Somehow he couldn't understand my desire not to flip, as he was used to the warm water being rather inviting to adventurous (and perhaps naive) tourists.
In any case, I did it (though I did fall out briefly on one. Carrie got my behind back in a flash). Besides the rapids, what I remember most are the people of Zimbabwe. Big smiles in spite of very hard lives. Welcoming and full of life. Hippo, aka Mandrise Ngoma, was our trip leader, and he not only led us down river, but also his comrades. Trainees, clients and guides alike looked up to "king" Hippo. His personality was all-encompassing, and he clearly loved the work which he did so very well. We ended up becoming friends, and now it is my privilege to introduce him, if only slightly. If any outfitter out there would like to give this great man a shot, he is willing to go anywhere in the world there is a river to run, and people to safely guide down it. He only needs the opportunity. I dare say he will shine, and your folks will love him as I do. Enough of me. Here he is (There are three more photos of him on my Photo album page. You can see when he's standing next to Carrie what a BIG fella he is! (Carrie's 6 feet tall... just kidding... )...
My full name is Moses Mandirisi Ngoma nicknamed Hippo. I was born on the 29th of March1966, in Hwange, a coal mine town. I did my education there. My ambitions then were to become a teacher due to the respect the teachers then commanded. When I completed my studies, I decided I should try Salesmanship instead. I joined a Departmental Store were I worked for 5years.
I visited Victoria Falls in 1989. That is when I was introduced to whitewater rafting by a friend. I enjoyed it so much I decided that was the job that I should do. I told my friend about my interest, he told me to apply. It took me 2 years to decide to apply for the training for the guide`s job. In 1992 my application was successful. I was called for the interview. That very year there was an intake for 12 guides, I was lucky as I was training with the experienced river guides. The training was very tough as it involved a lot of river running, but also carrying of the gear down and up the Gorge which is equivalent to a 75 story building. On my first one-day commercial trip I had to carry my (heavy metal) frame up, I will never forget the day.
I worked for my first company for 7 years, from 1992 to 1999. My highlights with that company were many: I did a lot of training like Swift Water Rescue and Paramedic training. I also had an opportunity to go to Uganda were I rafted on the Nile river. I have tried to go abroad with the help of the company, but so far to no avail. It has always been a case of so-close. In 2006 I went to South Africa were I worked on 2 rivers there. My dream is to work overseas before I retire, I still have more than 10 good years of rafting life in me. Rafting is not just a job to me, but a calling. My passion is to start a Rafting School in Zimbabwe so that I can impart all my knowledge as regards to making everyone have fun on the river(s). My other wish is that if I manage to make it overseas, I would try very hard to make sure other Zambezi Guides also get the chance to work abroad, as I believe the Zambezi has many talented guides.
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