Kayaking on the White Nile

The White Nile flows from Lake Victoria in Uganda, over the next 45 kilometres it creates one of the most incredible and varied sections of white water anywhere in the world. This section includes countless channels varying from easy class two to some of the best big volume rapids anywhere in the world. Our Love it Live it guides know them all and have spent many hours coaching and exploring this river. They will use this local knowledge and specialised big volume experience to tailor the trip to your needs, maximising your progression and enjoyment.

The White Nile is also widely regarded as one of the best playboating rivers anywhere in the world. There are features ideal for learning to surf, for throwing huge aerial moves and everything in between. It is not uncommon for devoted non-playboaters to come to the Nile and enjoy the playboating so much that they sell their river running boat and get a playboat!

This trip is not just about kayaking. You will get a chance to see local village and how people live, what do they do for work and how different their life is to the one we know! Perhaps there are many lessons both ways that can be taken out of this experience!

Whitewater Kayaking Holidays

Due to the nature of adventure kayaking, the following itinerary has to remain flexible. The LiLi team have coached many hundreds of people with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds on big volume across Africa and specifically on the Nile River. This local knowledge will be used to adjust the itinerary to suit the individuals and to maximise progression over the course of the trip.

Arrive to Entebbe Airport where you will be picked up by our driver. He will have a Love it Live it T-shirt and paddle with your name on it! After arrival you have to walk out of the airport as that is where the drivers are requested to wait. He will drive you to the Nile River Explorers Campsite where you will be welcomed by your guide who will answer any immediate questions you have and make sure you’re settled in and well-rested for the adventure to come.

Below itinerary is for 14 days trip. For 7 days the trip is 5 days on the water with day 1 is arrival day & day 7 is departure day. Kayaking on these days may be organized if the coach will be available.

A warm up day starting either on the flat water then some easy white water, or straight to the easy white water. This section will consist of grades 1-3 and will give the guide the opportunity to introduce some big volume specific techniques.

Plenty of coaching focusing on good technique and dynamic manoeuvring on class 2/3 white water. We will explore the channels around the Superhole rapids and attention will be paid on rolling on moving water.

Whilst staying at Bujagali, we’ll be able to do some intensive ‘park and play’ sessions at the super friendly, Super Hole. This is a great play feature for learning the basics of playboating as well all the latest freestyle tricks.

A well deserved rest day off the river, giving you the opportunity to do a day of volunteering with Soft Power Health – an organisation set up by doctor and kayaker, Jessie Stone to educate and support the local community on health matters. Volunteering for Soft power is optional, but the LiLi team think it will be an amazingly valuable experience and a chance to interact genuinely with some Ugandan people and bring something positive to the community you are visiting. There is also potential for additional adventure activities, including quad biking, horse riding, mountain biking, tandem kayaking and rafting (not included in the cost of the trip). Alternatively, you could take the opportunity to partake in some of Uganda’s more stressful activities… hammocks, books, fishing, sunbathing, swimming, good food and cold beer!

As we get comfortable on the wave we move a bit downstream – after warming up at Superhole, you will have a chance to scope out the impressive Itanda where we will have lunch over the mighty falls before moving to Itanda hole – a great playspot to introduce you to hole boating basics.

A chance to refine your hole techniques at different levels of Itanda hole working on moving comfortably in a feature to starting your first holeboating tricks!

Time to to run the whole section of the mighty White Nile! You’ll get to experience Overtime and Retrospect as well as scoping out the impressive Kalagala, finishing off at Vengeance rapid.

A rest day giving you a chance to rest, relax in a hammock, read a book or take some additional activities.

The final three days will be paddling hard on the White Nile, we will spend time exploring some of the best waves in the world and getting top quality coaching on big volume play techniques (down river and wave play). It is a time to focus on your favourite parts of kayaking!

It’s time to dry your gear, pack up and get taken back to the airport for your flight home, but we know we’ll see you back here again one day – no one ever visits just once!

Due to possible traffic on the road we usually send you minimum 7 hours before your flight to the airport to avoid stress of being late.

Custom dates for this trip may be available. Please use the Contact Us form to make an enquiry.

The trip is suitable for people that have finished a basic course, feel stable in a boat, have a solid roll and are looking for the next step and a challenge bigger than class III. The course will help you step up your game under the eye of professional kayakers with a high level of coaching and guidance.

However, if you would like to start kayaking in Uganda that is also possible! That is one of the best places for that and we can put you or you and your friends on special individualised course to begin with!

Kayaking equipment is now included in our trips however here is a list if you want to bring yours

Kayak – Almost everyone paddles a playboat in Uganda. If you are not sure which boat to bring or you would like to rent, feel free to ask us for advice.

Bringing a spare paddle is a good idea. It doesn’t necessarily need to be splits as we’re usually close to where we are staying. You could arrange with others on the trip to bring a spare between you. If you need, paddles are available to rent from our sister company, Kayak the Nile.

A long sleeved rash vest to protect from the sun is a very good idea. Some people prefer to wear shorty dry tops in order to keep the water from filling up your boat. A spray deck with a well fitting waist works ok.

Sponges are very useful and difficult to come by in Uganda!

It is warm all the time, if it rains it can get mildly chilly but this is rare, and you will probably still be fine in a 
rash vest/thermal.

Roof rack straps also a very useful bit of kit that many people over look.

Also obviously… helmet, spray deck, buoyancy aid, booties and all the normal gear you 
would bring on a paddling trip.

Don’t bring white things! The orange mud will engulf them.

Board shorts and t‐shirts fill most people’s wardrobe/bags, though it is good to have at least one jumper/hoody. It occasionally gets a bit cooler after rain. Trousers and long sleeves are a good idea in the evenings, to protect from mosquitoes.

The temperature in the day averages between 20 and 30 degrees and about 20 at night.

There are safes at both the campsites so it is possible to lock up your things, if you are bringing valuables locking them up is a good idea… things do go missing if they are not looked after. Please bring your own lock to use at campsite locker.

It is a good idea to keep valuables/sentimental items etc to a minimum. You can’t lose/break/damage what you don’t bring!

The region of Uganda we will be in is very safe and friendly if you take sensible precautions. Violent crime is almost unheard of.

Make sure you contact your local GP well in advance of the trip. You might need vaccinations to go to Uganda and some take a while to sort out. It is mandatory to present a certificate of vaccination for Yellow Fever on arrival at the airport.

Don’t forget your anti malarial tablets! Most types of tablet you need to start before getting here – speak to your doctor they will tell you everything you need to know about this.

Bringing a basic first aid kit is a good idea, you will most likely need it for cleaning and covering cuts! Cuts get infected easily in Uganda if you don’t look after them. Your Love it Live it guide will be carry a first aid kit on river.

Mosquito repellent and sun cream are important and necessary.

The Ugandan currency is the Ugandan Shilling, and it is valued at approximately 4750 to a pound and 3700 to a US Dollar. There are numerous ways of getting money whilst in Uganda.

Perhaps the most straightforward method of accessing Ugandan money is to use an ATM when you arrive. There are cash machines in Jinja and the airport that accept Cirrus, Maestro and Visa. It is possible to withdraw money with Mastercard in the airport and with varying degrees of success in Jinja.

Either pounds or US dollars can be changed easily enough in Jinja. Smaller notes give considerably worse exchange rate so bring only £20, £50, $50 or $100 notes.

Obviously, bringing large amounts of cash opens you up to loss or theft so we wouldn’t advise bringing big wads of money.

Only bring $ notes from the year 2009 or later, they do not accept pre 2006 notes anywhere in Uganda and notes between 2006-2009 are also becoming limited in use!

DO NOT bring travellers cheques, the exchange rate is terrible and they are difficult and take a long time to change.

DO bring $50 to pay for your visa on arrival.

You obviously need your passport.

You will also need your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.

We suggest you bring proof of purchase of your insurance as well as a copy of the policy if possible.

A photocopy of your main passport page, your proof of insurance and any other important documents can be very useful if anything gets lost.

The accommodation cost included in the trip is for camping, so you need your own tent. If you prefer not to camp, upgrades to dorm beds and more luxury accommodation are available at an extra cost (please let us know in advance if you want any upgrades so that we can reserve the accommodation that you desire).

You do NOT need cooking equipment or excessive camping gear, we will only be staying on well equipped campsites.

A head torch or torch normally comes in handy as it gets dark by 7pm.

And please also bring, a light sleeping bag and thermarest/sleep mat.

Uganda have recently introduced an e-visa system which is mandatory for all tourists; it can take up to 2 weeks for the visa to be approved so don’t leave it to the last minute. To apply for the e-visa please visit: http://visas.immigration.go.ug and follow the steps (see accompanying document for further instructions).

You will need to bring a printout of your e-visa approval letter and $50 in cash to present at immigration on your arrival.

You must bring your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate or you may be refused entry.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.

One of the LiLi team will meet you at the airport. It’s not the most enormous airport so keep an eye out for us and we will find each other without any problems.

Please let us know if your flight details change, ideally take a mobile phone with our number (+48 695 137 302). Most British contract phones work fine in Uganda, (sometimes you have to tell them in advance that you are travelling here to get it activated for travel).

We are officially a Travel Operator which allows us to provide you a basic insurance which is now included in all our Trips ! This is the best insurance we can provide, in case you want to get extra coverage or higher insurance sums please consider getting additional external insurance. Those are sums for European trip,
Our Insurance* includes:
– MEDICAL AND IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE EXPENSES – 30,000 EUR in Europe or 50,000 worldwide
– CONSEQUENCES OF ACCIDENTS – 4,000 EUR in Europe or 4,000 Worldwide
– TRAVEL LUGGAGE – 200 EUR in Europe and 400 Worldwide
– Sports Equipment – 700 EUR
– TPL – 50,000 EUR
COSTS OF RESIGNATION FROM OR DISCONTINUATION OF A TOURIST EVENT – Up to 4,000 EUR

You will find all terms & conditions in separate file that shall be sent in the same email as pre-trip info upon booking or upon enquiry *All details, explanation for zones and insured and guaranteed sums and more are in terms & conditions file, please make sure to read it.

We strongly advise you to get fully comprehensive flight travel and medical insurance.