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10 African Rivers To Raft

10 African Rivers To Raft

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From the Zambezi to the Nile, rivers are the lifeblood of many African communities, and the best way to experience their natural power is to jump in and get wet. From tranquil and scenic to heart-racing wild, these 10 rivers in Africa are worth the ride.

www.bbxrafting.com
www.bbxrafting.com

1. Zambezi River, Zimbabwe/Zambia

One of the world’s most gnarly stretches of whitewater is found just south of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The ride is an almost non-stop class IV and class V monster rapids from put-in under the Victoria Falls Bridge to the take-out some six tumultuous hours later. There are two dozen named rapids along the way, including Gulliver’s Travels, which is almost a kilometer-long stretch of Class V whitewater, and one of the day’s biggest challenges. Rafting is best between August and January when the water is at its lowest – and wildest.

www.smh.com.au
www.smh.com.au

 2. West Nile, Uganda

Africa’s other premier whitewater playground is Uganda’s White Nile River. Here trips range from half-day to three days on the dam-controlled river, where rapids gets wilder the further downstream you go. Try the full-day adventure from Nile River Explorers, which takes you down a 25-kilometer stretch of mostly class V whitewater just upstream from Lake Victoria and the town of Jinja that includes a 12-foot waterfall drop.

www.saoutdoors.co.za
www.saoutdoors.co.za

 3. Orange River, South Africa/Namibia

This isn’t the most adrenalin-rushing whitewater on the continent, but a six-day kayak trip down South Africa’s longest river, the Orange, is superb in its own right. Flowing north from the Drakensberg Mountains through the majority of South Africa before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean just south of the border with Namibia at Alexander Bay, the most fascinating part of this river is found in the Richetersveld mountain desert, where one company, Umkulu, runs six- and eight-day guided back-country river-camping adventures in inflatable kayaks.

www.fluid-junction.com
www.fluid-junction.com

4. Mathioya River, Kenya

Experienced paddlers will love the class V rapids on Kenya’s Mathioya River, which offers the country’s most technical whitewater. A low-flow river (rapids are harder to navigate safely), it drops 450 meters in 22-kilometers and offers a non-stop thrill ride.

www.123rf.com
www.123rf.com

5. Blyde River, South Africa

With 14 sets of rapids spread across 8.5 kilometers you are guaranteed fun action rafting the Blyde River south through the famous canyon of the same name to the take-out at Blydepoort Dam. There are two class IV rapids, which are the adrenaline highlight, but the scenery makes up for any slow sections on this full-day trip. There is a campground at the take out that is quite scenic should you wish to spend the night by the water.

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6. Ahansal River, Morocco

Flowing through the Atlas Mountains, Morocco’s best rafting experience is found on the turquoise waters (so strange for a river) of the Ahansal just a few hours drive from Marrakech. Here you can experience North African culture and stunning mountain scenery on an organized rafting trip lasting between two and four days. Rapids here run the gauntlet, but most are classified as class III and IV.

www.kenya-vacation-guide.com
www.kenya-vacation-guide.com

7. Tana River, Kenya

Beginning with an easy stretch of Class II and III rapids, Kenya’s Tana River, located north and east of Nairobi, makes a fantastic one-day intro to rafting. Rapids increase in intensity as the day continues with the final section consisting of class IV and V whitewater.

rafting.co.uk
rafting.co.uk

 8. Breede River, South Africa

With rapids not getting wilder than a Class III, a Breede River rafting trip is perfect for families and novices – and also for running in a funyak (an inflatable kayak). The location, less than two hours drive from Cape Town, also makes it an easy Mother City day trip. The most popular stretch begins near the town of Worcester and takes you through a scenic wine and fruit-producing region. Most people choose to ride in inflatable kayaks.

savagewilderness.blogspot.com
savagewilderness.blogspot.com

9. Athi River, Kenya

There’s nothing quite like watching elephants and giraffe stroll by as you shoot down whitewater, which is exactly the experience rafting the Athi River near Tsavo National Park. Three-day trips are run from early April to late July and then again from late October to mid January. There’s class III rapids plus plenty of wildlife – including crocs.

www.news.nationalgeographic.com
www.news.nationalgeographic.com

10. Blue Nile, Ethiopia

This remote whitewater experience takes you down one of the Nile’s main tributaries, the Blue, which begins in Ethiopia’s Lake Tana and then flows towards Sudan and finally into Egypt where it dumps out into the Mediterranean Sea. The best whitewater is found on multi-day trips.