White Water Rafting The Nile River In Uganda

If you are an adrenaline junkie, love the thrill that comes when going over the drop of a roller coaster, and crave being in water - then try your hand at White Water Rafting the Nile River in Uganda for some world class rapids and fun. There are a few things you need to know before going, to be safe, fully informed, and knowing what to expect along the way. It is important to choose the right company, know what safety measures are (or are not) available, food, bathrooms, and all the details you will find below. 

If you want to join us on the next Culture Trekking Tours Group Trip to Uganda - sign up here to get first dibs! 

I personally utilized services with Nalubale Rafting in Jinja, but this was not a sponsored trip in any way. Full cost to travel the river with them is about $150 (double check this when inquiring), and this includes pictures and pickup from hotel (if in Jinja). 

Physical & Age Requirements For White Water Rafting In Uganda

While most of the white water rafting companies in Uganda aren’t going to put physical requirements in - I would highly suggest following these guidelines to ensure you will be safe. I’m a Physician Assistant, Scuba Diver, and Olympic Triathlete - but I’m also a plus size gal, so I was a little worried about getting back up into the boat if I fell out. 

When you are rafting they give you options on how ‘hard’ or ‘crazy’ you want your rafting experience to be. While the river here is so wide, and so deep - there wasn’t a huge worry about rocks/trees/limbs for me specifically. It is the swimming capabilities and upper body strength that will be the issue for safety when white water rafting the nile river in Uganda. 

Physical Strength Test At Home

You have the option to request a trip where you DO NOT fall out of the boat, but they will go through about 5-6 exercises before the start of the trip where they do safety drills. You WILL get wet, you will have to haul yourself back up into the boat. They do help you, but it is with your life jacket, they grab the shoulder straps, do a “1-2-3” bob, then you kick your legs like a dolphin as hard as you can, and get up into the boat like you are getting up from a table without using your legs (aka all upper body strength). 

If you want to see if you can do it, I would go to a local pool - put a pool noodle on the edge of the pool on the deep end. Then try pushing yourself up out of the pool using the pool noodle (for an unstable surface), only using your arms and NOT the wall. Then swinging your leg up over the edge of the pool and climbing out (or rolling if you must, lol). If you can do this 2 times in a row without help, then I think you should be safe to get into and out of the boat with some assistance 5-6 times along this trip. 

You will also need to test yourself at home, to see if you can take a flotation device (think floating hot dog, or something to mimic a small Kayak) - grab the front of it, and then be able to wrap your arms around it and grab your opposite elbows, as well as bring your legs up and wrap your legs around it like you are making love to it for the first time, lol.

You think I’m joking, but ladies, if the Kayak wasn’t separating us, it would definitely be an awkward position of the legs. Just keep reminding yourself, it is to save your life - not make a life. To my male travelers, just think of it as getting in the best position to let out a massively impressive fart, lol - hey.- let one out big enough, might even help with propulsion with the boat, LOL. 

For Plus Size, Big Bellied, or Big Breasted Travelers

For plus size gals, this usually means the jacket is riding up over your head because the girls just don’t allow the jacket to stay down. 

If you are bigger bellied, or bigger breasted, I would bring a strap you can clip to the bottom of the clip, through the groin area, and onto the back strap of the jacket. Men, I don’t know what that will mean for the family jewels, but I’m sure you can figure that out with positioning. 

Also, No, you cannot wear a life jacket upside down like a diaper, too risky to put you face down in the water, when you need to breath through the mouth, not your arse. Although, for those who often talk out of their arse, how about you wear that life jacket like a diaper ;)

Family Friendly up to Class 2 Rapids

Most companies have family friendly rapids you can go down, where it is more of a leisurely journey. You might have a few spots you may need to get out and cross some bumpy rocks bare foot to the next spot - but don’t worry, they have porters that carry the boat. 

These family friendly rides along the river have a zero chance of ending up flipping the boat in the river, are only slightly bumpy. These rides do allow you to bring kids less than 14 on the boat with you or the elderly and still be completely safe. 

Class 3 Rapids through Class 5 Rapids

Anything class 3 or above, you need to be at least 14 years old. You need to have the capability to solve complex situational problems - where you can keep calm in a stressful situation and still remember how to function. Parents I will let you determine which of your kids you think can handle situations like this, and which ones can't - just know it doe involved staying alert and making quick and calm decisions. 

In the Class 3 to Class 5 Rapid trips, they have further classifications for your trip of “easy” which means only a 15% chance of flipping the boat, the “hard” which gives you a 50% chance of flipping the boat, and then the “crazy” which is about an 85% chance of flipping the boat. 

If you panic easily in water, do not go with a group of people that all want to flip the boat. You can let the organizers know beforehand which trip would be of more interest to you - and they can arrange to either put you in the Safety Boat (that steers well clear of the crazy), or have you get out and walk along the shore until they are done with the boat flipping part. 

Choosing the Right Company For Your Trip

Something you need to know about Uganda, is that emergency evacuation services aren’t really a thing in Uganda. I don’t know if there are companies that train their guides, or if they are even required to be certified in CPR in order to be a guide. Most hospitals here don’t have helicopters, people won’t move over in bad traffic for an ambulance (usually just look at the vehicle and ignore it), and first aid kits are kinda hard to come by - even Tylenol. 

THAT BEING SAID, I would either make sure that the company you are booking with has 1-2 people who know CPR and have a first aid kit yourself - OR - make sure you and your traveling companions (at least 2 of you) know CPR and have been trained by a professional on rescue breathing. 

If you like to live life on the edge though, they have a waiver, where you are literally signing away your life - and can really call it a crazy adventure, lol. YOLO!

Because of my medical knowledge, I didn’t think too much of it until after the trip - and knew that I wouldn’t be making any boat flipping adventures personally. I booked with Nalubale Rafting and they did a great job, they claim that they haven’t had any casualties either :) happy days! They have a package deal where you get photos/videos, and can even do some camping, car camping or hostel type stays at their facility which was clean, cool, comfortable and very close to the Nile. 

Nalubale Rafting took our names, emails (for the photos), signed a waiver, then fitted us with helmets and life jackets. They have jackets from kids up to XXXL (I believe), but I’m sure. They likely could figure out bigger life jackets if needed is what I was told. As far as helmets, I have an absolutely GIANT head (no really, I get my hats custom made because nothing fits me) - and Nalubale Rafting were still able to find a hat for me. 

They load you into a utility vehicle, with wooden seats, and metal bars to get you to the river (the vehicles they put cattle and Watermelons in, lol). They have waterproof safety boxes you can put things in that will remain the safety boat & you can access on the calm parts of the river. 

There were 3-4 Kayakers, then a safety boat - if the Kayaker can’t quite keep you both stable in the water and has to bail themselves. The Safety boat can fit all people in the regular boat into their boat, and has a lot more stabilization so is much less likely to flip. 

I really did feel safe with Nalubale Rafting - you just have to make a decision on how ‘crazy’ you want to be - without panicking and putting everyone else at risk. 

Safety Briefing & Safety Instructions - YOU NEED TO LISTEN

The Rapids in Uganda are some of the biggest rapids in the world folks, you can feel the rumbling in the earth, and hear the roaring from about 10 minutes up the river. 

I know adrenaline adventures are addicting and make you feel invincible - but rapids are DIFFERENT - if you do not listen, and engrain the instructions in your mind - you are putting yourself and everyone else at risk. 

PLEASE LISTEN to the guide when he is giving the instructions, have you and your companions exhibit and physically repeat each instruction after it is given to ensure you both know what to do. When your body goes into fight or flight mode, you tend to forget everything - this is why they repeat the same instructions on the plane all the time - cuz when shit hits the fan, people get real dumb real quick. 

Know the hand signals, know the procedure for when the boat flips - repeat it 7 times in your head to really make it stick. Know when to let go of your paddle, when to hang onto it, where in the boat you can hang onto, places to avoid, what part of the paddle to never let go of, and what to do once your boat does flip over. 

Unlike Scuba Diving, where you can follow the bubbles up to the surface, or the pool where you naturally bob back up - when you are in river rapids, it is like being in a washing machine. The white of the rapids makes it extremely difficult to know which way is up - this can lead to panic, increased oxygen consumption and a desperate need to breathe (called air hunger- which is a reflex you can't control). 

Good rule of thumb, stay calm, do slow jumping jacks in the water to get out of the washing machine.  Feel where it feels most calm to swim - and then follow the flow of water to shore & swim like hell. Push away from the boat, spot the shores, and swim for your life - or do what your safety Kayaker yells. Once you are out of the rapids, always float or go down river with feet out in front of you, this helps you bounce of trees/rocks/islands you may encounter until the safety boat or Kayak gets to you.

If you panic, you will get drug under again and again - you cannot fight Mother Nature - she will always win. The problem with panicking isn’t just in the immediate moment, if this is your first encounter with air hunger or being humbled by Mother Nature - it can also lead to shock.

So watch your companions for ‘staring off into space’, pale skin, feeling cold (even if the outside air temps are warm). If you notice these symptoms keep your companion warm, get them to a safe place, provide a hot drink or room temp, and reiterate that they are safe & have them talk about a situation or memory where they felt safe or comfortable.  Sometimes debriefing after the initial shock has passed about what they could have done differently also helps. 

Overcoming A Long Time Personal Fear Of Drowning

When I was around 8-10 years old I went Tubing down the Provo River in Utah, the rapids weren’t even that big. My Dad was teaching my older sister how to navigate the river by pushing off things, and which area of the bridges are safest to go under. 

He was a bit distracted, and didn’t see we were headed to the ’crazy’ part under the bridge. I just remember him saying ‘hang on’ - and the next thing I remember, was looking at brown water rushing towards my eyes. In a way it felt like flying, I felt like I was in a dream, very sleepy and went back to sleep. Until I felt some very painful pressure on my arm - I tried to push it away, but it came back - and the next thing I remember is coughing really hard and my Dad’s panicked pale face saying ‘I thought I lost you’ and crushing me in a hug. 

I must have hit my head or something, is all I could gather that happened after all these years. There was a spot under the bridge where it is a bit hollow to help water flow and decrease the deterioration of the bridge with constant water flow/pressure. I got stuck inside the bridge pole underneath the bridge & was so out of it, didn't know how to or realize I needed to get out. 

Going on this White Water rafting trip on the Nile in Uganda, was for me, overcoming a MAJOR long time fear of drowning - but it was always something I wanted to try. I remember watching ‘The River Wild’ with Meryl Streep when she took the villain down the river on the rapids - just thinking how brave and badass she looked and wanted to do that one day. 

So while some of the information in this article might be a bit ‘over the top’ - I wanted to include as much as I can, to help put a healthy dose of fear or respect for Mother Nature that people often only get when faced with life threatening situations we have no control over. 

I’m happy to say that I conquered that fear, I felt very safe on the boat and with the members of our team. They were kind when I chickened out at the boat flipping on the Class 5 Rapids. When they told me to follow what my heart was saying, I responded with, ‘while I think going through the crazy rapids and flipping the boat would be an incredible feat, I feel like I did what I came here to do. I flipped the boat in the Grade 3 rapids, I feel like I proved to myself I could do it - and don’t feel like I need to risk myself and others when I’m already panicking looking at the Grade 5 Rapids and knowing everyone else in the boat wants to flip it. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself so I think I’m going to go into the safety boat’. 

While it would be a badass thing to do, I watched the momentary chaos and panic in several peoples faces - hanging onto the boat like crabs on a crab pot with fish in it. The boat flip, only 3 heads bob up out of the water at first, the chaos of the rest of the people in the boat scattering - Kayakers going after them (good job on communicating and coordinating guys) - and then seeing their panicked looks, white faces, shaking hands as they came up out of the water. 

I was SO GLAD I made the decision I did, I know that haunted look people get when they are humbled by Mother Nature. The reality of realizing your humanity, and knowing you aren't as invincible as you thought - I saw it reflected in their eyes, and have no regrets. I didn’t come be humbled, I came to learn my limits, and now I know I can face my innermost fears and overcome them by being careful and smart. 

What to Bring, What To Wear, What To Leave Home

The number ONE thing I would say to wear for this is a rash guard with UPF rating - both shirt and pants - long sleeved and long pants. You are on the river for about 3-4 hours, full sun exposure, even putting sunscreen on - the water doesn’t allow it to stick and the constant movement, rowing, and in and out of the boat rubs the sunscreen off really quickly. 

You can’t wear shoes in the boat, I tried to wear sunglasses and it didn't work - they almost cut my face when they were hauling my white ass back in the boat. Pants come off all the time the water, so either wear pants with strings, or just wear a skin (aka rash guard). I wouldn’t wear any shoes, they will get pulled off in the water and you don’t want anything that is going to create any kind of drag. 

Washing machine rapids lead to birds nest hair - so ladies - put a little lotion or conditioner in your hair and put it in a tight braid - you can thank me later. 

I would NOT wear prescription glasses, even if you wear contacts - the contacts I wore nearly washed out of my eyes twice. Another gal on our boat, she lost hers after the first rapid - and then, was only seeing blurs and shapes the rest of the trip.

If you lose them during/in the rapids - put a few extra pair in your bag for the safety boat. The calm parts of the river you can replace them with the baggie you bring. Having a Ziplock bag that is easy to Zip and Unzip is really helpful and easy to throw back and forth between the safety boat. 

See if they would allow you to bring some sliders (shoes), or basic flip flops for walking past the Class 6 Rapids or around the areas of the members of the boat want the boat to flip at. 

Warning: there are spiders above, and plants that can cut your feet below - so pay attention to what the guide says, and where to walk or not walk. 

I also wore a gaiter around my neck, on the slow parts of the river, I would pull it up over my face/nose/neck to keep the sun off. The helmet they give you covers pretty much the rest of it - you might be able to fit a low profile baseball cap under the helmet if you have a small enough head (I don’t) but make sure it has a small bill on it - and water will easily run off of it. Just know they may ask you not to wear it for safety in not having your helmet slide around on your head. This river is POWERFUL y'all, she don't mess around with NOTHING. Even my GoPro I attached to the helmet - they tied a string around it, just in case it was ripped out of the attachment that is literally built into the helmet itself. 

Food, Beverage, Photos, Bathroom Breaks

Food, I would eat a medium breakfast before you go - if you eat too much - with how tight the life jackets have to be - it can make it hard to breathe, lol. 

Our company provided a snack break after about the first 3-4 rapids (for us there were about 10 in total). The snacks provided are Watermelon (2 per person), Pineapple (2 per person), and some biscuit crackers - they also provide bottled water. The fruit rinds go into the river for fish food, and the bottles and trash go back to the safety boat. Fear takes away hunger, but you need the sugar source to continue paddling/rowing - your Lats, Delts, upper back and obliques are gonna be sore if you don’t row every day back home. 

They offer several water breaks along the river, and remind you to put sunscreen on again and again. Maybe just for me, because I’m so white it is a bit blinding LOL - but was grateful they were stubborn with me about insisting I put on sunscreen. (Thanks guys - sorry I’m so stubborn). 

At the end of the rafting trip, you all celebrate surviving with some soda (coke products) or beers (Nile or Craft I think is what they had). Kinda fun to have a Nile Beer after white water rafting the Nile river. They ask before the trip for vegetarian or beef burger, they have ketchup and then fruit to munch on. The burgers are about 6” in diameter and are HUGE. 

Photos are included in the rafting package, and pickup from your hotel if arranged beforehand. We got about 100 photos/videos approximately - individual, couples, and group photos when walking past the class 6 rapids. They let you know on the boat when the camera man is coming up for some of them - so you can prepare. Those at the front are captured a bit more, than the ones at the back. 

There are bathrooms at the office, but then on the calm parts of the river we go for ‘swim breaks’ - usually number one (peeing) is fairly easy to handle; but if you need to go number 2 (Pooh) - well best thing to do is pull the britches down in the water, grab behind the knees and start making logs to float down the river. Use your hand to do a bit of a wash, then hand sanitizer from the safety boat if able. 

Is White Water Rafting In Uganda Safe? 

After all the precautions I gave you, and my own internal worries while facing a personal fear of mine - I do think that white water rafting in Uganda is safe.....as long as you know what you are getting into. Take the precautions, LISTEN to the safety briefing - do the safety checks and re-hash with your partner or the guide before getting in the boat. If you are confused about something on the practice safety runs, then ASK - it is a TON of information in a very short amount of time. 

Likelihood of drowning, I think, is very low if I'm honest - IF you can stay calm. If you don't stay calm, you put yourself and everyone else at risk. In the 6 years Nalubale Rafting has been running, they have never had a near-incident or drowning. 

They are a bit cavalier in their approach, but to tackle these rapids with visitors from around the globe, you kinda have to be. I did feel very safe, they were able to help haul my ass into the boat several times, and even were able to kayak me to the safety boat, even with all the drag on the Kayak lol - y'all are CHAMPS at Kayaking. 

Ugandans aren't disagreeable people, they are happy, don't like to argue, and they aren't going to tell you to (frankly), "shut the f-up and listen to these instructions & stop talking". Same thing in the boat, if you aren't listening for their calls to paddle, stop, get down, back paddle, right, left, turn etc... they can only do so much. If you don't listen, you can cause the whole boat to miss the exit and go down some very dangerous Class 6 Rapids. So please listen to your guide, it is supposed to be fun, but in order to be safe, you really have to have the WHOLE boat - in sync, call out fellow passengers, repeat calls for paddling, and keep your paddling in sync to really be effective. 

Is White Water Rafting In Uganda Worth It? 

Water sports in Uganda (on the whole) is a very very untapped area of adventure, and white water rafting is definitely worth experiencing because of the quality of rapids they have. The staff are accommodating, supportive, and just plain fun to go down the river with - by the end - the fears I had were gone and the cheeks on my face hurt from the smiles and laughter. 

I'm so proud of myself for doing this, grateful I was able to be with the guides I was & how kind they were, helping me through each step. The fellow guests and making me feel included, and not stupid for choosing to opt out on the boat flipping. 

There is a bond that comes when you experience something hard or scary with strangers - and by the end of the trip I knew I had made some new, and beautiful friends. 

I hope you take what I have said with a grain of salt, absorb what applies to you, take the precautions, respect the might of Mother Nature, listen to your guide and have an experience of a lifetime. I guarantee the price is worth it. The people are what make it fun, having the photos/videos included is priceless and I'm in awe of the skills of the staff on this trip and being able to navigate the river and knowing when to push us and when not to. 

If you want an amazing river guide - Juma is fantastic, fun, strong, and witty. Huge shout out to our Kayak guide Nasser, and Emma in the safety boat - the safety Kayakers: Piggy, Nicolas, and Jalalu. To the amazing photographer Abed, and the director of Nalubale Rafting... Davis. 

It was an amazing day, and can't wait to bring my own groups out to utilize your fantastic services in the future. Cheers and until I see you next time. 

If you are interested in joining me in Uganda or on our next Culture Trekking Tours - group trips - sign up here for first dibs. 

Where to stay in Kibale - Near The Rafting Site And Jinja

I stayed at The Haven, near the Nile River with large windows overlooking the class 6 Rapids roaring down the valley. It is a bit out of the way, down some bumpy roads, but has really good internet, power, hot showers, is clean, varied food options, clean pool, amenities, a fan for the hot days, and provides some incredible white noise to fall asleep to - either in your room, or out on your private patio with a hammock available to string up should you so desire. 

The hotels can be a hit or miss, but I wish I could have had 2 nights here at the very least to be able to enjoy the views, amenities, and the rafting trip down the Nile. It is outside the hustle and bustle of town, and feels very safe. It was set up about 18 years ago, I believe by a German/Belgian guy that still lives there on a daily basis welcoming guests and helping to manage the property. 

Here is a map of other accomodations nearby though, I would try to stick to hotels that are rated 3 star or higher. Pay attention to security, hot water, cleanliness, and amenities available that are important to you. 

Like it? Pin it for later! Sharing is caring ;)

Latest Articles On Culture Trekking