Rafting Jinja for beginners?

I'm currently working in Southern Sudan with a friend of mine. We are planning on spending a week in Uganda before heading back home in September. We've heard that rafting in Jinja is awesome, but we have a couple of questions/concerns.

I have rafted about four or five times, all on the same river in the USA, with mostly class three and a few class four rapids. I've never done any class five. My friend has never rafted before. So, my question is this. Is rafting the Nile in Jinja okay for beginners? Has anyone had any good or bad experiences that they want to share?

I rafted with nile River explorers and they were excellent. Lots of safety and turning the raft over for great practice for what was to come.
There is another rafting company as well and i have heard good things of them as well.
It costs about USd100 a day with brecky, a nights accomodation, Lunch and transport to and from.

they actually have a class 6 rapid you cant go on, about 2 class 5s and plenty of 4s, I think 11 in all for the day.
it was a great safe day at bujagali falls.
Cheers.

Simsy
I was recently asked what time of the year are the rapids at their gentlest and what months most awsome?
Can you help with a reply?
Thanks

I'd say 90% of the rafters in Jinja have never ever rafted before. Like me. So yes it is for beginners. That being said, it is extremely rough, but is safe (your swimsuit pops you up in less than 20 s). There are two companies, which are plusminus the same: Adrift and Nile RIver Explorer. They both come with free accommodation. Nile Rivers Explorers is a waste dump (piss, vomit etc - they have a bar that goes on until the wee hours for all the overland trucks) while Adrift is nice and stylish.

When you flip and are down there, there is no difference whether you are experienced or beginner;-) But it makes a difference how strong your paddling team is.

I didn't have any comparable experience before rafting the Nile and even though I thought I was going to drown at one point, I am glad I did it. It was a pure adrenaline rush! Better than Zambezi that we rafted a few weeks ago.

I rafted with Adrift with a an iron lady called Jane - don't know if she is still there but she was the best.

Gidday Ann, sorry i am not sure of the best time, other than to say it was on the smaller side thus at the end of the dry season.
apparently this is a good time to go. Well, thats what we were told.
Great fun and soon to be no more once that dam goes in.
Cheers.

I'd never rafted before rafting at Jinja. It was bloody awesome!! Though if you are not a confident swimmer, you might find parts of it a little daunting. At the really rough parts, you have the option of doing the "chicken run", where they will put you in the safety raft and skip those particular rapids.

Have a great time!!

Hiya! I'd never rafted before and was terrified! But most people rafting with you are in the same boat (to excuse the pun) as beginners and so there is plenty of flat-water training before hitting the big waves. And if you bottle it, then you can always ride the safety boat or walk around the biggest waves. But a word of warning - you will 100 % for sure, definately flip at least once so I hope you like the water!

I actually loved it so much I went back a few months later but the second time I opted for Tandem Kayaking which goes along exactly the same route and can also take beginners. It was even more intense than rafting as you are so close to the water but you ride with a professional in the seat behind you and so are well taken care of. Mind blowingly good fun!

Prices for all companies went up in the new year so guide book prices may be out of date. Have an amazing time!

You'll get thrown out of the boat, but the water is deep so little chance of getting trapped or bashing rocks. Good, fun day though not very technical, just duck down in the boat and cling on over the rapids.

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I had never rafted before and had no problem at all. It was awesome. There was even a guy who couldn't swim at all and he made it too.

Thanks so much everyone for your input. We're definitely going to try it.