The ancient Egyptians
were certainly not into white water rafting on the River Nile, but
at the source of the Nile at Jinja, inhabitants have been floating
down the Bujugali Falls for centuries. In the old days, it was fishermen in
wooden canoes. Now it is thrill seekers in bright orange inflatable
paddle rafts and streamlined kayaks.
Where the Nile spills out of Lake Victoria through the Owen Falls
Dam - over which runs the Nairobi-Kampala road - it soon quickens
pace and hits a 30-km stretch of world class white water rapids.
Most are grade four to five, so you’re in for a turbulent time
on a rafting trip.
Bujugali Falls is first up: a one km wall of raging white water,
followed by a series of 12 challenging water obstacles,
like the legendary 'Overtime' - a 4.5 metre waterfall - and 'The
Bad Place' - supposedly the largest commercial rafting eddy in the
world. The idea is to flip, have a washing machine cycle good time
in a rapid, before being popped by your life jacket from the depths
of the Nile into the frothy sun.
For the real adrenaline junky, get a closer perspective of the
Nile on a river board. Surf ten kms of rapids attached to
a boogie board. The Nile is also the only river in the world where
you can raft under the light of a full moon. Thanks to its popularity,
the rafting companies are now offering 5–day kayak courses.
But it’s not all about getting wet. It’s a beautiful
stretch of river with abundant bird life and richly green forested
banks. There is ample opportunity to drift leisurely in the calm
pools between the rapids, and stop for lunch on one of the islands.
But if you want to raft the Nile you need to go soon.
The Ugandan government has every intention of constructing a hydroelectric
dam at Bujugali Falls to provide power for the country.
In a few years time the existing rapids will be flooded.
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