Rafting the Nile River!

No time wasted by us. As soon as we arrive back at Backpaker's we inquire about the River Rafting with Adrift on the White Nile. Supposedly, this day of rafting will include 4 grade 5 rapids(the highest grade of rapid allowed to be rafted by comercial expeditions). Were in!

Two 'gap-year' British kids, Andy and Emily. Cool, small, and yong group to take on the the best the Nile's got to offer....

Early the next morning we get picked up by the huge over-lander truck and are on our way to Jinja. There are a few more people who have joined us in Kampala and we are to meet up with more in Jinja. The group ends up at 14 total tourists. In addition to the four of us we are joined by three Irish tourists. Two boats hold 7 tourists and one guide each. Our guide, Aussie Glen, seems much more outgoing than the other boats guide, which I think aslo reflects the groups main differnce.

The trip's cost included three meals, transort, and a full day of rafting. It was well worth it. The breakfast and dinner were 'not much to write home about', but the lunch was a phenomenal smorgessboard of sandwhich makings, fruit, and salad. Even I was able to eat enough...

The rafting itself wasn't good, it was the best. This day of rafting was by far the best full day of rafting that I have ever done. We were able to jump out and swim with the current in between rapids(even though we found out later that there are crocodiles in the river). There were plenty more rapids than just the 4 grade 5's. But, the 4 grade 5's were incredible. Our crew was pretty solid and we were able to hit all four perfectly. We never flipped, that is, not until there was nothing we could do about it. The whole day was fantastic and really fun. Although, the first three of the four grade 5 rapids were pretty 'big and bad' it wasn't until the last that we knew we were in for it. The last of the four is really a grade six. So, we pulled the raft out and re-enter the 'grade 6' 3/4's of the way down it. This grade six is called 'the monsters' and where we entered is just before one of the largest rafted 'holes'(meaning literally a hole in the water created by all the force, which sucks you down) in the world. This hole has been fittingly named 'the bad place', and we headed for it. Glen, our guide told the four of us(the 3 Irish tourists only did a half day) that we would flip, there was no question in his mind. So, we re-entered the rapid and took 'the bad place' head on, and we flipped. After the flip, I was submerged for a good while, then I got my first gasp of air and was under again. This repeated itself for a few times and I found myself in the wash-out downstream. Soon, I spotted one of our rescue kayaks and grabbed on. He towed me back as I regained my breath, wow.

When we had all been rescued and brought back to shore we had our bbq and shared our feelings of exileration with one another. Then, it was back on the over-lander truck where we were treated to as many beers as we wanted. I took advantage. And after an hour we were back at backpackers. What a fantastic day. I think everytime I go rafting I tell myself that I am going to try and do it more, it really is an exhilerating way to spend a day. Hopefully, I will have more opportunities to feel the exhileration of rafting again soon....