1

some of the river is always closed (or if not closed, the rapids are underwater) in the high season.Best rafting is around September/October/November but the falls are less spectacular. Go there to enjoy the falls, the rafting isn't spectacular and its a long old slog. The zim side is much nicer, the park is much better and its a lot cleaner and emptier, but in high season you'll get bloody wet

2

As ric says, the rafting depends on the water being low enough for there to be rapids, but I'd disagree that it isn't impressive, I've been 3 times (sorry, not in May) and all of them were excellent.

Ric, I didn't bother with the rafting at Jinja because it didn't look as good as Vic Falls, but perhaps it was better there before they built the dam?

3

Kaz/Ric,

Thanks. I've done Jinja rafting twice...last month being the most recent. The new 'course' starts well but misses my favorite rapid from before the dam was built. still an awesome day, very fun. 8 rapids in all.

If it's open, I'm definitely doing the Zambezi. My guide in Jinja was actually from Vic Falls and he told me the Zambezi is the best spot in the world but May is not the best time (no news there). Even if it's high water and half the course is closed, I still want to experience it.

MHC

4

Hi there,

The rafting seasons closed a week ago on the Zambezi and the whole river is closed. Water levels depending the river should open for high water season last week of May.
Fantastic rapids and brilliant guides.The Zambezi is definately the best one day rafting trip on the planetxx
Have fun if you do eventually head this way,go down the river and have the most fun anyone can ever have.
Cheers

5

Hi there,

The rafting seasons closed a week ago on the Zambezi and the whole river is closed. Water levels depending the river should open for high water season last week of May.
Fantastic rapids and brilliant guides.The Zambezi is definately the best one day rafting trip on the planetxx
Have fun if you do eventually head this way,go down the river and have the most fun anyone can ever have.
Cheers

6

I strongly disagree that the Zambezi is the best rafting on the planet. Its challenging, the rapids are big but the day is filled mostly of long slogs of paddling between rapids or being pulled by the tow boat which gets tiring after a while. In my opinion (which of course is by no means universally binding!) it was overrated. Sure the rapids are immense, but i just didn't find it much fun and the scenery isn't up to other locations. I actually found Jinja (of 2010 vintage) to be much more fun. sure the rapids are smaller but the day was just more fun with swimming, larking about on the boats, jumping off them, less dangerous flips and rapids you could actually feel that your input was making a difference. It was more akin to thrashing around on a motorbike than charging around in a big V8 muscle car of the zambezi if i can think of a motoring analogy!

both though were miles less enjoyable than the Buena Vista area of Colorado, which has the best rafting i have ever done, less grade 5 headline makers, more 3 and 4 actual navigable rapids where you had to do the work rather than the Zambezi which was everyone duck and cover and hope for the best.

7

the guides are fantastic in all of these locations, though it must be said, the expat guides in Jinja are just awful people as soon as they are out the water (from much, much experience of them coming to kampala)

8

I agree with ric's assessment of the expat guides. I had a guide from Canada that was a complete tool. He wasn't friendly and belittled some of the guests, which was reflected in his tip from all aboard. The Ugandan guides were more friendly. I made it to Jinja just before the dam was completed and feel fortunate to have been able to run Bujagali Falls before they went under water.

I have to also agree that the Arkansas River at Buena Vista, Colorado is better than the Nile. Early June is the time to do the Arkansas because the snow melt is at its max, the weather is warm and the Royal Gorge can be pretty crazy during this time. Some of the guides in Colorado suggested the Gauley in West Virginia too but I found it disappointing compared to the Arkansas.