Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking Blog

Mountains feed rivers with water from snowmelt, so why not make this fall the season to head out to that most impressive of all mountain ranges, The Himalaya for a spectacular whitewater rafting trip on what can only be described as incredible journeys. There are two main seasons for rafting in Nepal, the spring season from late February until early May and the post monsoon fall or autumn season when generally the rivers are at their biggest and the weather is at it’s best. In our opinion, Nepal has three world class river trips to run from September.

Camping on Nepali Rivers is stunning!

The Sun Kosi River is the biggest volume river in Nepal, fed from the mountains in Tibet and Eastern Nepal. Many large tributaries such as the Dudh Kosi (the river from Mount Everest) feed into the Sun Kosi, which ultimately runs into the Ganges near to the Indian border. The Sun Kosi as a river trip, is fantastic. In September you will camp on post monsoon, expansive sandy beaches and experience big volume rapids every bit as big and fun as the Zambezi River. The river trip starts near Dolaghat and runs 270 kilometres down to Chatara where you can take the 24 hour bus ride back, or the short 1 hour flight back from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. Huge waves will splash down on your raft as you paddle past villages and jungle landscapes. You’ll get to stop at temples and stupas along the way; far from being just a rafting trip, it gives us access to some amazing places. The ideal time for the Sun Kosi River is late September, early October.

A temple stop on the Sun Kosi River

A tributary of the Sun Kosi River is the Tamur River set in Eastern Nepal. Everything about this trip feels like a journey. Departing from Kathamndu, guests fly to Biratnagar and then meet our rafting bus for the drive into the Himalayan foothills. We get a chance to see and stay in a unique and largely untouched area of Nepal. From here, we have gathered over 100 local farmers to act as porters to carry all of our rafting gear for 4 days into Dobhan, where we get our first sight of the Tamur. Immediately we get into some excellent whitewater on this river fed by Mount Kachengunga, the fourth highest mountain in the world. The beaches on this river are nothing short of stunning. The ultimate time to run this trip if from mid October onwards after the river levels have dropped from their peak.

The "organised chaos" that is the hike into the river

The Karnali River is set in Western Nepal and involves a 1 hour flight from Kathmandu to Surkhet, a drive and then a stunning walk down to the river. Many years ago, this trip was very remote and involved a 2 day trek into the river, however these days logistics are far easier! The river has stunning scenery and gorgeous rapids from start to finish. “Sweetness and Light, Jailhouse Rock, Godshouse and Freight Train” are just a few of the highlighted rapids on this trip. You’ll camp in some amazing remote beaches where you’ll get a chance to swim and relax on layover day. On occasion, mugger crocodiles have been seen along with illusive leopards. The prime time for this trip is in early May or late October.

Paddling tghe big water of the Himalaya

Nepal as a destination is nothing short of spectacular. Explore Kathmandu until your heart is content, with it’s history and great range of rooftop terraces to enjoy a beer or lassi. Nepali people are incredibly kind and generous and will make it a point of welcoming you into their wonderful country. Cold water this is not. Experience some of the best whitewater rafting in the world, Nepal style!

We have recently returned from Morocco with the Ripon Explorer Scouts on what can only be described as a truly inspiring expedition. This team of 15 and 16 year olds along with their scout leader and mentor Phil, had been fundraising for more than 2 years to take part in this expedition. With super market bag packing, letters to prominent businesses and people in the community and Céilidh for donations, they reached their target and left for Morocco in late March 2010 for their two week expedition.

Trekking through the Atlas Mountains

Phase one of the trip was an 8 day trans atlas crossing hiking from the Dades valley to the river put in point, La Cathedrale. The kids did the long 6-8 hour days, camping in remote Berber Villages along the way. Looking tired, but relieved they had made it, we met them by the side of the river to take part in the river portion of their trip. The river was relatively high, however Phil and the scouts, had spent a great deal of time on their paddling to get it up to scratch to paddle the Grade 3 Ahansel River.

Javier and crew paddling Ahansel

The Ahansel River is a gorgeous paddle through the heart of the Atlas Mountains. The first day traditionally is an excellent warm up day, with a few Grade 2 rapids to get into the swing of it. The team of paddlers, helped each other out with “T Rescues” and all arrived at camp without much action at all. Considering the water level, this was a massive achievement. Day two on the river, is somewhat of a different story. The rapids come thick and fast and we tackle some of the most challenging rapids of the trip such as “Wee Stinky” and “S Bend”. Unfortunately the gear raft got a hole late in the day, so we all camped just below Wee Stinky to make sure we had enough time to repair the raft well.

Helping Phil across the river on rescue day

The next morning was a scheduled rescue day, so we spent the morning getting guidance from the instructors on crossing rivers safely, throwbag practise and then in the afternoon, we had a scenario to practise all of our skills that had been taught. A river rescue course gives an excellent platform to give kids confidence in an environment where few people have that knowledge and skills to give them that confidence. Tonight’s dinner is pizza and chips!

The gorgeous view from "Cave Camp" on the Ahansel River, Morocco

The following day we finished off the best of the rapids and had a great night camping out under the stars at the gorgeous cave camp. Our last day sees a stunning paddle through 2 huge and high gorges to the Lake at Bin El Ouidane where we get collected by a boat that takes us across the lake and to our vehicle which takes us back to Marrakech. From here we have a few days R and R and a “short” trip back to the UK… but yes, that is another story due to volcano… Marrakech to Ripon 3.5 days overland…. but that is why they call it adventure travel. This trip was even more amazing as Phil the scout leader is a recent amputee… a truly inspirational character already planning his next trip. This time with all amputees! So if you have a group that wants a challenge, let us create the ideal trip for you.

Our team is now well and truly in the midst of our Morocco rafting season. But who rafts in Morocco and what different trips are on offer there? When many people picture Morocco, they think Sahara Desert and lets face it, the rafting wont be very good there! However Morocco is home to the Atlas Mountains and the wonderful rivers that feed from it. The best time to go to Morocco is in fact now in the spring when the run off is at it’s best, however rafting and kayaking can be done until late May when the Ahansel River gets too low to run. The Ahansel River is a perfect Grade 3 river, suitable for both first timers, families wanting to go rafting and seasoned rafters just wanting to go and explore a river off the beaten track.

Travelling Through The Stunning Gorges On The Ahansel River

The river trips in Morocco are all of different lengths. Go for a “quick fix” and stay in our Berber Camps for just £210 for 3 days including a stop at Cascade D’Ouzoud, or take your time to raft the entire river from Cathedral to the lake on our Hidden Morocco trip. Water By Nature also offers kayaking trips for Grade 3 paddlers and for complete novices, we run a 10 days kayak school in late April for you to learn from some of the world’s best kayakers. Our clients tell us, they never tire of the scenery and they say that they never realised places like this existed in Morocco.

Is This How You Imagine Morocco?

Families with children from 10 can join trips in Morocco and our most senior guest was 72. Morocco is just a short flight away with Ryanair or Easyjet from the UK and Europe, so if you are yet to make any plans for Easter, come out and join us for a unique adventure for the whole family. We can even offer a trip to the Sahara or the beach before of after your river trip. we look forward to seeing you here!

I have just been fortunate enough to spend a couple of weeks at our stunning camp in the heart of Patagonia near the town of Futaleufu. The Rio Futaleufu itself has a wonderful name in the world for its stunning big water rapids, crystal clear water all framed by pristine forest reaching all the way to the river. But its the other activities that are lesser known in the area. Amazing horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and sea kayaking are just a few of the activities on offer in the area.

Riding up the Rio Chico Valley

There are few places in the world that offer more stunning views in the morning as you wake up to the gentle sound of the river running beneath your riverside cabanas and the smell of coffee delivered to your room. In the afternoon after your whitewater rafting, why not kick back and relax in our riverside hot tub? This is far from “roughing it” adventure travel. As with all our trips though, we think it is important, to meet and interact with the locals. Our neighbours Carlos and Alicia come over and prepare Asado (barbequed sheep cowboy style) for us one night and we in fact get fresh eggs, bread and vegetables from their garden on a daily basis.

Stan and crew with a successful run through "Mundaca"

Patagonia is also an amazing destination to come with your family. There are plenty of activities on offer for the family, from horse riding to fishing… and you will catch dinner. Our guides know the area well and can offer safe and fun activities each and every day, and with plenty of variety thrown in. We all know how important that is with kids! Family holidays with a difference, come and check them out for yourself.

Amazing Fishing from El Limite to our Camp

We are very fortunate to team up with Peter Cox from Ireland, 2007 Landscape Photographer of the Year. In conjunction with Water By Nature, he will run a photographic workshop on the Zambezi River from 2nd – 10th  October 2010. Participants will get tuition from Peter on improving the technical elements of their photography as well as creative improvements in their photography. Peter’s goal is that photographers come away from the trip not only with some stunning images, but also to have a greater awareness on how to use the camera effectively. The Batoka Gorge and the Zambezi River gives a stunning platform to teach photo enthusiasts of all levels.

Peter will take workshops morning and evening and also give participants and insight into sports photography as you shoot rafts coming through some of the Zambezi whitewater rapids. Every day you’ll be looked after on the river and in camp by a dedicated crew of river professionals from Water By Nature to give you more time to do what you love doing, shooting photos. We will even take a power source, to help with charging batteries. Zambia’s weather is hot and settled in October when the trip takes place and you’ll be treated to some stunning cloud formations. A full breakdown of the itinerary and necessary camera equipment is available on the Water By Nature website. Places are strictly limited to 16 photographers so to secure your place on the trip, please book online.

With the recent cold snap hitting the UK, we are already thinking about trips to some of our warmer destinations. It’s easy to get excited about going to the Zambezi or Morocco when you experience weather like this. But despite all the chaos caused by the snow and plunging temperatures, we are treated to some spectacular vistas from the office and lets face it, we have been out there having fun not only building the predictable snowman, but also building a raft out of snow much to the bemusement of passing motorists.

Welcome to our winter office..... brrr

So for your 2010 escape for your summer adventure, call the rafting specialists… we are in the office!

Water By Nature are proud to announce 2 amazing new trips for 2010. Nepal and Zambia have been two of our more popular destinations for clients, so it made sense to offer more choice for our customers. In Nepal, we have chosen a wonderful introduction to expeditionary river trips, on the Karnali River in Western Nepal. Despite the trip starting and finishing in the vibrant city of Kathmandu, travelers will get the chance to explore Nepal’s Wild West. On the river, you’ll experience some wonderful jungle, big water rapids and spectacular beaches. The lower reaches have incredible wildlife such as mugger crocodiles and large catfish. You may even like to try your hand at fishing for dinner! But don’t worry, we’ll feed you wonderful cuisine along the way.

Young Gurung lads in Western Nepal

Our new trip for the Zambezi features a choice of activities after a four day river trip, rafting the best rapids on the Zambezi River. This trip was made famous in 2008 when we took Jack Osbourne and Elijah Wood on the ITV Celebrity Adrenaline Junkie series. Just like them, we’ll fly you back in style to Livingstone after the rafting trip to a wonderful hotel on the banks of the river. The following morning, you’ll get to experience some of Livingstone’s best adventure activities and you get to make the trip as relaxing, wildlife focussed or adrenaline charged as you wish. Your choices will include, walking with Elephants along the banks of the Zambezi, a Lion Encounter, high tea at Livingstone Island, Tiger fishing, Jetboating and gorge swing. On your last day in Livingstone you can choose from a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, a kayak trip on the Zambezi, a microlight, or a Bungy jump from the world famous Victoria Falls bridge spanning the Zambezi.

Bob in the spray of the Victoria Falls about to start the raft trip

We look forward to seeing you on these trips in 2010 and you seeing for yourselves what makes both of these trips amazing. This is just a snapshot of what Water By Nature does. For information on our other trip types, then please take a visit to our website and plan your 2010 adventure holiday.

When the best and most gorgeous rafting trips in the world are discussed, it’s hard to go past the Rio Futaleufu in Patagonia. Set in the stunning Region X in Chile with its spectacular mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers and native forest, the Futaleufu River offers the most avid adventurer, an experience of a lifetime in our home away from home. We have a stunning ranch on the bank of the river where you’ll stay in cabanas (cabins) looking out over the river, enjoying a glass of red wine or an ice cold beer contemplating just how great your rafting was today!

The view from your cabana in Chile

You’ll be accompanied by a team of world class rafting guides, who are not only the best in the industry and will safely guide you down the river during the day, but they transform into supreme chefs in the evening, making you one of wonderful meals they prepare on the trip. You will sample not only wonderful western cuisine, but also traditional food from Chile such as Asado, Porotos Granados or Pollo Arvejado. Our cabins offer you a comfortable alternative to camping, each set up with comfortable beds and mattress and a chair to sit on your balcony and overlook the Futaleufu.

Stan and crew paddling through "Himalaya" on the Futaleufu River

In addition to rafting all the best rapids and sections of the Futaleufu, including Bridge to Bridge, Inferno Canyon and the Terminator section, travellers get the chance to explore some of the side valleys of the region including the Azul Valley. During our week’s adventure we horse ride into the Azul Valley and then take inflatable kayaks back out to the Futaleufu. For many of our clients, this day, is one of the highlights of the trip for them. Come and experience one of the best rivers in the world.

Dates Available:

26th December 2009 – 2nd January 2010
6th February 2010 – 13th February 2010

Agreed by many as one of the last few great rafting expeditions in the world, the Omo River in Ethiopia has long held a draw for the most avid adventure traveler. The mixture of travel into deepest darkest Africa combined with fantastic wildlife viewing and incredible tribal interaction have made this trip a favourite since it was run in the 1980′s. Recently some negative press has been given to EBCO, the Ethiopian Power Authority for the impact of what the Gibe III power project half way down the river trip, will have on the famed tribes on the lower reaches of the river. This has meant them influencing the Ministry of Tourism and no more permits are being issued at this time for running the river.

Young Mursi Girl Chatting With Our Guests

The trip is split into  two unique sections. The Upper River is a phenomenal insight into the wonderful wildlife of the area. Abundant hippos, crocodiles and bird life can be seen from our rafts, with incredible campsites (some with hotpools!) at every turn of the river. We have on occasion even seen lion from the rafts! As the trip is so long, we require a resupply at Bele Bridge for fresh produce (of AMAZING quality in Ethiopia) and people who may just be running the Lower Reaches of the river, made famous by the tribes of the area. Bruce Parry made a high profile BBC TV programme in the area called Tribes which focused on Bruce living with the Karo, Omorate, Bodi, Hamer, Mursi tribes. On our trips we call into tribal villages along the way and get a real chance to trade and interact with these wonderful people. It is like going back in time.

Hamer Tribe Watching Us Raft Past

The Gibe III project is providing excellent resources for what is a relatively poor African Country, however with all projects such as this, there can be negative implications for some people. Our job is not to get into this discussion, but to share with as many people as we possibly can, the amazing scenery and wildlife of the Omo Valley. On our last trip in August 2009, we were treated to some wonderful hospitality by the dam builders when our trip arrived at the coffer dam, our boats were transported to the other side of the dam fully loaded whilst the clients and guides were treated to a wonderful meal of Italian food (the dam is being built by Italian Engineers)

Jane Portaging Her Raft Around Gibe III

Potentially, this river can be run for another 3 years whilst the main dam wall is being built and we are trying our best, through dealings with Ministry of Tourism and Embassy officials to share this with more of you. The only thing that is certain, is if they do allow more trips on this river, it should be on the top of your MUST DO list!

T.I.A. ? This Is Africa ? This is a saying that you learn quite quickly once you set foot on the Dark Continent.  It’s a term used by many expats to accompany the sighs of frustration that come on a daily basis when you’re trying to accomplish even the simplest of tasks here in Africa.  The lack of urgency in dealing with simple business deals by the Africans, the difficulty in obtaining many goods and services, and the general Hakuna Matata attitude can have the typical westerner throwing their arms up in the air, gritting their teeth, and mumbling curse words under their breath.  Then the reality of the situation sinks in and you start to understand that you must go with the flow and take things in stride.  It’s Africa.  Things move slower.  Goods are harder to come by.  And business takes longer to transact.  That’s the reality of the situation.  Love it or leave it.

Victoria Falls In High Water

Water By Nature runs whitewater rafting trips in three countries in Africa.  I happen to find myself in the heart of southern Africa at the moment in the wild country of Zambia.  Zambia is home to arguably the greatest whitewater-rafting trip in the world, a multi-day expedition down the Mighty Zambezi River.  As a Water By Nature trip leader this destination is doubly challenging: there is the dynamic of organizing logistics in Africa combined with the intimidating force of one of the greatest rivers in the world.

A Successful Run Through "The Midnight Diner"

This isn’t my first rodeo as a Water By Nature trip leader.  Before Zambia, I was leading the Water By Nature operations in Turkey and Morocco.  As a result I have experience dealing with logistics in remote and non-western locations.  But there’s something about Zambia that’s different.  For example, friends have been waiting for 6 months for car parts; propane may or not be available; supermarket shelves are not always full; and your credit card gets rejected on a regular basis not for insufficient funds but because a network connection cannot be established.  These are the types of things that you need to deal with on a regular basis.  Once you commit yourself to this way of life then things are less frustrating and in general easier.

Another wrench thrown into the fray for us here at Water By Nature was one by Mother Nature.  Just as high water plagued us in Morocco, the Mighty Zambezi was a wee bit full when we arrived here at the beginning of August.  Call it the effects of climate change or just call it bad luck for the 2009 rafting season, but either way, a new plan had to hatch because the upper section of the river, rapids 1 to 7, was closed.

Our trip was scheduled to launch on August 9 while the upper river was going to open on August 10.  One day does not make a huge difference in water levels but one day can make a large impact on local politics.  Not wanting to create a political row we employed that all-so-sfamiliar term in the adventure travel world: Change of Plan.

What was to result was a fabulous trip for all those involved.  We started our rafting journey by hiking down to rapid 7B and continuing on to rapid 21 on the first day.  The second day of rafting took us down to the Narrows and a new beach camp on the Zimbabwe side of the river.  The third day culminated at Moemba Falls with Gin and Tonics on the edge of the lower waterfall.  And the fourth day was the most unique of all.  We started with a helicopter ride back to Victoria Falls where we rafted the top section of the river all the way down to Number 25,  the best day trip of rafting in the entire world.

Floating down to camp

This trip was full of firsts.  It was the first time anyone had journeyed past Rapid 25 this year.  It was the first time a rafting trip did the river in this particular order.  And it was my first trip on the Zambezi as a trip leader.

The river did not fail to live up to its reputation.  For many years it’s been one of my goals to guide here and thanks to Water By Nature I’ve achieved this one particular goal.  Depending on who you talk with in the whitewater world there are two rivers that continually rank as either one or two as the top rafting trips in the world: the Zambezi River and the Rio Futaleufu in Chile.  Being an experienced Futaleufu river guide I was eager to get to the Zambezi and decide for myself which is the better of the two rivers.  I thought the answer would be easy to find.  One has to be better than the other.  But the fact of the matter is that both rivers and both trips are so different that it is not really fair to rank one above the other.  Both are the best in whitewater.  The size of the Zambezi definitely impressed me as did the world-class camping and stunning scenery.  In completing my first river trip on the Zambezi the conclusion is quite clear that this is one of the best holidays in the adventure travel world.

Now that the upper section of the river is open for rafting the rest of the Water By Nature season will operate as per usual; that is 4-day and 7-day rafting trips starting from below Victoria Falls at rapid Number 1. However, there is still the unpredictability of Africa.  Anything and everything can happen here.  That’s part of the beauty of living, working, and traveling on the Dark Continent.  Africa is predictably unpredictable.  And remember when you’re traveling here on your next holiday: This Is Africa.  It may seem elementary but Africa is not just another continent, it’s a whole different world. See you out here!

Bob Vranich