While on your safari in Uganda, you shouldn’t skip out on the action-packed adventure of white water rafting. White water rafting in Uganda is done in the second longest river in the world, River Nile in Jinja City. Jinja is located in the eastern part of the country. What is interesting about this city is that it is situated alongside the Nile, the second-longest river in the world, on the northern beaches of Lake Victoria. The city is situated at a height of 1,204 meters (3,950 feet) above sea level on average. Jinja is 109.4 kilometers from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda via the Kampala-Jinja highway which is about a 2hr 13min drive.
Jinja city has lately earned a spot among the most recreation and leisure cities in Uganda with the recent Nyege Nyege Festival, East Africa’s largest electronic music festival, the event happens once every year and it attracts a number of people from different parts of the world.
White water rafting in Jinja, Uganda
Due to the abundance of activities available in the city, especially for tourists, Jinja is referred to as “the adventure capital of East Africa.” White water rafting is one of the must-do of these activities. White water rafting is a thrilling activity that offers an adventurous experience, leisure, and a mindblower from all other everyday work routines. White water rafting in Uganda – The activity involves individuals paddling 10 feet to 14 feet rafts with double-bladed paddles to multi-person rafts propelled by single-bladed paddles and steered by a person at the stern. The rafting begins on sections of the Nile that are not so extreme or difficult and later to certain sections of the Nile that are extreme and rough. In these sections, you will get the ultimate white water rafting experience at the Nile rapids in Jinja since they flow with more volume and force.
By now you could be wondering whether white water rafting is a safe activity to engage in. Well, I would say yes, the activity is safe and is done in paddle rafts carrying six people maximally plus a rafting guide who is well trained. Before participants get on to the water, they are briefed about safety measures and what to expect. Here participants have the choice to decide what routes to take on the Nile either the easy one which is levels 3-1 or the difficult route which is levels 4 & 5.
Participants must sign a paper detailing any illnesses, and those with conditions that preclude rafting, such as hypertension or anemia, are not permitted to participate in the activity. Before getting on the boat raft, you should wear a helmet and a waterproof jacket that is securely attached. Everyone is handed a paddle when they board the boat raft, and the guide goes ahead to show you how to use it safely and to your best advantage so that you may enjoy the raft. As the rafting proceeds, you have the assistance of safety kayakers who are qualified to provide safety while also running through the rapids in front of the raft. The adjacent kayakers and guides assist you in reboarding the raft in the event that it flips over and you are tossed into the water.
White water rafting in Jinja is an ideal activity to engage in with family and a group of friends, where great memories are created with the people you love. So as you tour Uganda, put Jinja city as it has plenty to offer, among other activities besides white water rafting includes, Bungee jumping, kayaking, boat cruising, zip lining, and quad biking among others.
What to pack for white water rafting – White water rafting in Uganda