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White water rafting has become a very popular sport for both
local Ugandans and the Uganda's tourists.
Although, the Nile and the Bujagali Falls have been in existence
for as long as the Almighty God endowed Uganda with this world
wonder, the white water rafting sport on the Nile has just been
discovered, thanks be to the peace and stability in the country.On
the Nile River, white-water rafting is an unforgettable experience;
most rafting operators are based near Jinja, a town at the confluence
of the Nile and Lake Victoria.
Victoria Nile White Water Rafting, Uganda.
This is relatively new territory for paddlers, with a first
descent in 1996 by |
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a Minnesotan of questionable
sanity. As such the 300-mile Victoria Nile, which flows from
Lake Victoria to Lake Albert, still holds ample surprises--the
scariest being a 55-mile stretch that drops one continuous Class
IV-V rapid after the next for 800 feet. A quarter of that drop,
by the way, takes place at 200-foot Murchison Falls, a mandatory
portage.
Jinja, near Kampala, is a good first stop for a couple of days
of relaxation. It is a quiet town with a wonderfully relaxed
atmosphere and also, it is the home of Uganda's white water
rafting industry. The rafting is awesome; they claim more grade
five rapids than the more famous Zambezi rafting. What I can
say is that at $65 it is certainly cheaper! We did the trip
with Nile River Explorers, which is run by some very friendly
South Africans who even throw in a night's free accommodation
at their magnificent campsite. It is a full day's entertainment
with the rafting rounded off by an excellent meal near the river.
Jinja is also at the source of the Nile so don't miss out on
the visit to the plaque marking the spot where the Nile leaves
Lake Victoria on its long, long journey to the sea. There is
a definite mystique attached to the Nile, something quite exciting
knowing that the water flowing past your feet will continue
its progress through the deserts of Sudan, past the Valley of
the Kings and through Cairo to Alexandria.
More than four thousand miles in length, the Nile is the longest
river on the planet. Until very recently no one had dared to
challenge this river at its source in Uganda - some of the most
powerful and sustained rapids on earth. Adrift made an historic
first descent of the Victoria Nile in July 1996, and now make
regular descents of this mighty stretch of water. Up to seven
times the volume of the Zambezi thunders between heavily forested
islands, creating massive rapids. After exploding through these
'monsters ' we drift lazily through large pools, in hot equatorial
sunshine - until the next one ! ! This is white water rafting
at it's best. |
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