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So today is white water rafting day. There are 5 from our group doing it, with Kiwi Scott coming in the "chicken" boat with me. He isn't on the best of terms with water either. Poor Scott got hell from everyone for going in the "chicken" boat. At least I had a good excuse. A breakfast was given to us by the rafting company and then we got into our nice snug life jackets and helmets. We were joined by 5 American peace corp folk in their late 20's and 30's who live in Rwanda but were on vacation in Uganda.
Really interesting talking to them. So many people I have met on this trip, and a lot of young Aussies and Kiwis, who work voluntarily in East Africa doing all manner of jobs, education etc. Older people also are involved heavily.
Scott and I jump in the safety boat and the rest of the group is split into two rafts, headed by a professional rafting guide. Our group is with Gumby. This American is so named because he is 6'9" tall and a beanpole. Some may recall Gumby, the plasticine man in children's TV program years ago.
There are also 6 kayaks accompanying us who will immediately get to a person in the water and guide them through the rapid if necessary and provide a safe haven until they can get hauled back on to their boat. These kayaks are a third of the size of a normal kayak and are white water kayaks, and easily manoeuvrable in the right hands. These kayakers had incredible skills and were always practicing throughout the day.
So off we go after instruction on how to get back in the boat after capsize etc. and what to do after capsize. The Nile is around 12 - 15 feet deep with no rocks to get caught in. It is the sheer volume and power of the river and the fall of the bottom which causes the swirling eddies and holes that make up the rapid. It is considered (so the say) to be one of the safest rivers in the world, where we are. They have several grade 6 rapids which are forbidden to ride as they are too dangerous. Even the kayakers don't attempt them.
The first rapid is a grade 3 which we all do comfortably. We all certainly had much white water breaking over us as we rode through.
The second rapid was quite close and grade 4 and called Chop Suey (they are all named for good reason) The safety boat took a conservative approach and down we went. Down a drop of a couple of feet, swirling deep waters with huge troughs and waves way above our heads came crashing over us or side wiping us and pushing us through and down the next drop. A drop of a metre, a 360 turn and down into a deep trough, huge waves towering above us and then spat out into calm water. This was just the very best fun! Squeals and then realising one should keep ones mouth shut during these turbulent situations otherwise you get mouthfuls of water! I had no qualms whatsoever, even after that fun ride. This was just the best fun and amazingly I had no fear at all.
The safety boat always went first, for obvious reasons, but also to show the rafting guides the lesser grade option so he could determine if his paddlers were capable of more or less, and make that decision.
Our groups raft was the next to ride and the raft guide decided they would take the grade 4 approach. We were down the bottom of the rapid and had a grandstand view of the scene unfolding. They looked fine until halfway down the last drop which they seemed to take wide. This flung them into a deep hole of swirling, high water and they were momentarily lost from sight. Scott and I issued a few expletives (smiling quietly to ourselves) because we knew they could never be butter side up when the emerged! How true! The raft was spat out, together with paddles and paddlers, all being buoyantly held up by their life jackets, through the bubbling water. When they got clear there were squeals and laughter and everyone was fully intact with no issues. It is then up to the raft guide to right the raft, which Gumby failed to do on the first attempt, much to the delight of everyone amid clapping, cat calls etc. hilarious! We found later that although Gumby was an experienced guide with over 5 years experience, he had only joined the company 9 days ago and hadn't ridden Chop Suey before. As he is basically the tiller man, he screwed up on this one with adrenalin-rushing consequences. But this is what it is all about and there is little to no danger involved. Clare did admit later that it was all she could do to stop crying as she was so scared.
We then had a calm paddle for half an hour or so, rode another rapid which was awesome and the raft guides seemed to take our lead and do the grades we chose! Now whose chicken aye?
It is at this point that we meet the jet boat, for those who opted for this half hour of fun. Those who didn't, just sat in the sun and waited.
I was having so much fun I decided to extend the rafting to a full day and do the jet boat. What the hell! Another few days and I will be home and the opportunity to do this at the source of this mighty Nile River, which is the worlds longest and flows for 4150 miles, will never come again.
The jet boat is driven by a kiwi who has been doing this for 19 years, mostly on the Shotover River. He is a good operator for sure, with everyone being drenched on many occasions after corkscrew tight turns, abruptly stopping to allow the wash to hail down on us. Lots of frivolous fun for half an hour including down, up and down a grade 3 rapid. Now that was fun with a capital F I have to say. Back to the rafts and onto an island for a great lunch in an open, thatched round rotunda-like building. Three more grade 4 and 5 rapids which were fantastic with the rafts spilling their human contents into the river on the final ride.
What a day we had. We had travelled 23 kilometres down the Nile and after an hours drive we were back at our resort. I may be tempted to do this again I reckon!
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