The rivers springs out as the nameless stream at an altitude of 900 metres (3,000 ft) near the village of Močioci, in the Ivanjica municipality.

It receives the waters from the Kadinjača well, Matin Potok and Jančica stream from the left, and Presečka Reka, from the right.

In the base of the karst plateaus of Okruglica and Zimovnike, the stream carved impressive limestone canyon-like valley.

Inside this elbow turn is the smaller curve of the Mali Rzav, and the two rivers get at one point less than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) apart.

[2] The Veliki Rzav receives from the left the Katušnica river and continues to curve to the north in the mountain region, between the villages of Razložina and Čičkovo, making another sharp elbow turn to the east, between the Lipovac and Gradina peaks, southeast of the town of Užice.

After the village of Roge, the river continues on the southern slope of the Blagaja mountain, receiving the Mali Rzav from the right.

In 2018, survey of the section downstream from the Mučanj mountain began, in an effort to protect the surrounding valley as the special nature's reserve.

The cliffs in the area of the Močioci village are considered for possible introduction of the griffon vultures from the Uvac Special Nature Reserve.

There are couple of nesting pairs of golden eagle, in the Orlovača canyon, and in the entry section of the Veliki Rzav ravine.

The reservoir will be 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long and up to 600 metres (2,000 ft) wide, and is planned to permanently solve the problem of drinking water for the towns and municipalities of Čačak, Arilje, Požega, Lučane and Gornji Milanovac.

Instead, a temporary reservoir Ševelj was formed, until the project becomes fully operational, but during the prolonged heat periods, like in 2021, it fails to provide enough drinking water.

The environmentalists are divided on the issue, with some claiming the lake will not disturb the nature, only enhance it, while the others insists it will "permanently destroy the river, and plant and animal life in its surroundings".

There are 8 beaches along the Veliki Rzav-Rzav route (Bosa Noga (Bare foot), Sonjine Oči (Sonja's eyes), Pogledi (Gazes), Urjak, Žuta Stena (Yellow rock) etc.

[3] At the Sonjine Čari narrowing there is a canal for rafts and small boats, but it is passable only during the high water level.