White Nile paddling

In February 2009, I had a fantastic two-day white water rafting on the White Nile River in Uganda. The trip started in Kampala with an early pick up from my hotel. A group of friends and I were driven to Jinja, the source of the Nile, for breakfast, a briefing and to get kitted up with lifejackets and helmets and then onwards to the river. We were in the river by 10:30 and our guide, Reuben, took us all through a practical safety demonstration of what happens if the boat flips and what to do or not do in the boat—we’d all been in the water before we hit the first rapid!

And there the fun began—several grade 5 rapids, long pools to relax in between the white water and many smaller grade 3s; the rapids all having names and ‘Big Brother’ and the ‘G-spot’ were ones to remember as our boat ploughed through the wave trains, span around in eddies and climbed vertically into waves (don’t worry the guide determines how hair-raising to make it)! At lunch time we tied our two boats together (ours and the ‘oar boat’ taking our kit) and the safety kayakers joined us for sandwiches and pineapple as we drifted through a long pool. Monkeys danced on the trees, fish eagles swooped overhead and the sun beat down, we all took the opportunity of a swim in the deep blue waters.
The afternoon session started with ‘overtime’, which is essentially a mini waterfall! Mooring up against a small rapid, we took the boogie board and fins and went for surf—paddling out into the current and catching a wave—it’s a superb feeling being held in place while the river rushes towards you and the wave holds you on the river, leaving you free to slalom from left to right!

It’s quite a physically tiring day and that made the ice cold Club beers all the sweeter as we set up camp at Itanda Falls—an un-runnable grade 6 of enormous proportions. We made camp and sipped our beers as the sun went down. Reuben set about cooking up a delicious steak, hot potato and salad dinner (all included in the price). We hired local villagers to look after the fire and guard the boats and then settled down for the night—tired and happy! The sound of the water through the night adds to fond memories.
After a full English breakfast, we set off under a hot sun and followed the river and rapids for another 12 km, finishing at the ‘Hairy Lemon’ backpackers for Cokes and Clubs and then back to Kampala for 6. I arranged the two-day white water rafting trip through Nalubale Rafting on the White Nile River in Uganda. I planned the trip from Kampala, although it can easily be arranged from outside of Uganda. Nalubale were excellent in their organisation and safety, and the guides and safety kayakers all a pleasure to spend time with—an awesome trip which I cannot recommend more!