Combined Rwenzori and Rafting Trip in Uganda

Looking for a unique adventure on the African continent and still wondering where to go? The Pearl of Africa – Uganda has got you covered with amazing and adventurous destinations that will make your travel one of the best memorable in your lifetime. Among the destinations in the country that must catch your eyes and thoughts include the world’s longest river – River Nile and the third Africa’s highest mountain – Rwenzori. With the combination of the two destinations, you will surely yawn for other holiday plans in Uganda. For this combined trip, one can either start the journey from Rwenzori Mountains National park or even set off from Kampala to Jinja for water rafting and after proceed to Kaseese for mountaineering.

White Water rafting experience

In Uganda, white water rafting experience is one of the adventurous that travelers shouldn’t miss out during a safari. The experience takes place in the district of Jinja where the Nile flows upland out of Lake Victoria.

Companies to book with for the experience

There are a number of companies that organize white water rafting at Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile and among these we recommend Adrift as the best option for the experience. Other companies that organize the activity include Nalubale rafting, Nile River explores and others.

White water rafting is organized and done in grades starting from grade I to grade vi. In each of the grades/levels, there is a different experience to encounter.

Grades/levels of white-water rafting

Level I – In this stage, the water is moving over shallow riverbed

Level 2- Here, the waves start making fun splashes though the rapids are easy to navigate

Level 3 – In this stage, some technical skills are required due to the fun waves and rapids

Level 4 – More technical skills are required here due to the different obstacles like rocks in the white water

Level 5 – In this level, you will hinder major obstacles and high rapids that are difficult to avoid

Level 6 – In this last stage, you will face navigable white-water rapids and obstacles

During every level of the experience, there is a lot to expect like lots of thrills garnished with spills of water and splashes with a matter of fact, white water rafting brings a traveller out of his/her comfort zone.

During the experience, you will have a life time memory as each rafting trip is filmed and kept in the record. The rafts are done at different grades of rapids and the higher the grade, the fast the rapids become. With the lower rapids, you will gain confidence as you get used to the rapid until you reach grade twelve, the most turbulent grade along the rafting route.

Cost of the experience

The cost of white-water rafting ranges from USD 125 – 140 for the non-residents, USD 100 for the East African residents and UGX 250,000 for the Ugandans.

What to pack for the experience?

For your safety during the experience, you are advised not to enter the water without the helmet and thus the rafting company provides helmets and life jackets to all the rafters before embarking on the experience. Also, you are advised to carry some swim gaggles to help you prevent water from entering your eyes and also wear very tight clothes to feel light.

From the adventurous experience in Jinja, you will proceed to the challenging experience on Rwenzori Mountains in the district of Kasese.

Rwenzori hiking experience

In this combined hiking trip in Uganda, you will hike up to the summit of the Rwenzori Mountains for about 6 to 9 days where you will enjoy the beautiful view and several features like waterfalls, lakes, rivers, rocks and the rare vegetation zone of the mountains. Protected by Rwenzori mountains national park, the mountains stand as the first highest mountain in Uganda and the third highest African mountain after Kilimanjaro of Tanzania and Mount Kenya. The Rwenzori Mountains are a range of mountains located in the eastern equatorial Africa on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The highest peak of the mountains – Margherita on Mount Stanley, one of the 6 massifs of the mountain reaches a height of approximately 5,109 meters and it’s known for being permanently snow-capped and glaciated. For one to reach to this highest summit he/she has to climb through different massifs and among these includes; Mount Speke at 4,890 meters, Mount Baker at 4,843 meters, Mount Emin at 4,798 meters, Mount Gessi at 4,715 meters and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4,627 meters.

For a perfect and safe hike to the mountain summit, there are two routes to use including Kilembe route which is governed by the private organization and the Central Circuit Route which is governed by the locals. All these routes can perfectly help you reach to Margherita though with different features on the way and at different costs.

Book your combined white water rafting and Rwenzori hiking trip with Rwenzori Expeditions for the best offers and amazing experiences.