White Water Rafting
White Water Rafting on Kenya’s rivers is an experience that leaves many guests to Kenya in total awe. First, it is the only experience where nature viewing is done in a complete opposite way: guests view Kenya’s scenic valleys, birdlife, forest and nature from the river looking out to the land. Second, the program is of varying time lines and goals. The shortest program lasts around 4 hours where guests can enjoy nature and a relaxing glide on the river to as long a 7 days. The goals can be a personal discerning experience or a team building experience for companies and organizations around the world. Third, the experience gives guests the opportunity to undertake an adventure like no other activity in Kenya.
White Water Rafting Programs: Sample Half-Day Scenic View Rafting Program On The Tana River
Just 95 kilometer from Nairobi, the Tana River offers an exciting day of White-Water thrills (and often spills). The adventure starts with 3 kilometer of easy class II and III white-water, where there is plenty of opportunity to gain and practice the paddle skills required to run the lower part of the river. A 6 kilometer section follows, and now guests have an hour or more to relax, view the abundance of birdlife around, cool off with a swim the Tana is very warm in comparison rivers in the United States or Europe, (around 20C) or just work on your sun tan.
The final 7 kilometer of river back to the campsite starts with some easy class III waters where you go over paddle commands again. It is then into the first of the 3 big rapids (class IV or V), with names like Captains Folly (guides all fall out here sometime during their stay with us), Can of worms (because of its four 90 degree bends in succession) and the Sphincter flexor!!
Subject to water levels guests may be able to “surf” in the “fish eye”, and then swim the next couple of minor rapids. Numerous smaller rapids bring one to the last of the big ones – spasm, a series of drops over a 3/4 km section with a big surprise half way through. You reach the take out point / campsite about 5 hours after setting off, where a full barbequed lunch awaits guests.
The scenic float trip is of 3 – 4 hours duration over about 12 kilometer distance. From the sides of the oar-boats you view the abundant birdlife that inhabits the lush riverine forest bordering the banks of the river. To date, White Water Rafting guides have recorded over 110 species of bird.