KENYA WHITE WATER RAFTING 
 

A water rafting expedition is one of the most adventurous and enjoyable ways to experience the wildlife  and natural environments of a country.
White Water Rafting Safaris at the Savage Camp in Sagana River Base have talented and internationally experienced guides who are at hand to make your adventure the most memorable in your life.
Situated just 95km from Nairobi along the main Nairobi - Nanyuki road, the Savage Camp is arguably the finest campsite in East Africa and despite being so near Nairobi, it’s secluded and secure.
It is the base for the majority of our activities as well as being an excellent location for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi.

This can be done in Tana River, Athi River, Mathioya River and the Uaso Nyiro Rivers in Kenya and The Nile in Uganda. One needs no previous rafting experience and has the option to paddle as part of a team or ride in an oar raft where the guide rows the boat.

• The river programmes always include:
  • A professional and experienced guide in command of each boat.
  • A full river briefing before you set off, plus specific briefings before each set of major rapids.
  • Top-of-the-line river equipment. Our boats are made by AVON.
  • Comprehensive safety ( 3a) and first aid equipment. All guides are CPR trained.
  • The opportunity to bring cameras or video in our water proof boxes, or to rent proper waterproof still cameras
  • Customised food catering, including complementary beer and soft drinks
  • Courtesy transport from Nairobi to and from the river.
  • And you need to bring: Swimsuit, River Sandals or Trainers, a change of clothes, Sunscreen and a smile.

Athi River

Alt 800 - 600m

Flowing through Tsavo National Park, we raft up to 80km’s of Kenya’s second longest river with three days and three nights on the river. The river gives an awesome mixture of relaxing calm water with game viewing  and abundant bird life interspersed with some great whitewater
The trip is fully self supported with our guides providing all meals during your three days on the river.  This trip is a must for those of you wanting a full wilderness rafting experience in the wilds of Kenya.

Day 1
Depart Nairobi around 0800, for the 3 hour drive down the Mombasa road to Kibwezi. Here we will leave the tarmac, and take a dirt road for the 35 km to our put in point on the river. Lunch of cold cuts, salads, bread and cheese, cold beer or soft drink, then the afternoon spent drifting / paddling slowly down six kilometres of river. Superb bird life all around, particularly the kingfishers, heron and weavers. The night's camp as with all our night stops on the river, will be upon a sand bank, at a point accessible to our Land Rovers which carry all food and equipment. Four course evening meal, plenty of cold drinks and the evening around a camp fire. Retire to one's sleeping bag as you wish with the sounds of the river and "Africa", lulling one to sleep.
Day 2
After a leisurely breakfast and having packed up and loaded the camp onto the Rovers, we continue down river. During the first kilometres or so we will recap on the previous afternoon's safety briefing and continue to practice the basic techniques of paddling the raft, ready for the class III white water sections soon to follow. Again aviflora abounds and as we approach the boundary with Tsavo East National Park, so to does the animal life: Numerous species of antelope, giraffe, buffalo; sometimes elephant, and more rarely, one of the big cats come to the river to drink. Crocodile are a certainty, hippo almost as certain.
Day 3
Four kilometres of calm water then it's into the class IV white water proper, for about 6 km. Larger and more exciting than on the previous day. This superb section is followed by several sections of calm water interspersed with more, though shorter sections, of exciting class III white water.
Day 4
Quite a short day on the river today, again with several sections of good class III rapids, with scenic calm water between. Arrive at the parking lot near Tsavo Safari Camp around 1100, and after an early lunch and having packed away the boats and river gear, we depart by road for Nairobi.
Total Distance covered on the river - about 82 km. but is dependent on time available and prevailing water level and conditions

Mathioya River

Alt 1,600 - 1,160m
2 Day Trip

A trip down Mathioya is often combined with the River Tana thus making it a 2 day trip based out of our Sagana site.
Because the Mathioya is a narrow, low volume river, the water is not particularly "big".  However it is fast flowing and many of the rapids are technically very difficult. (class IV and V). There are numerous holes and hydraulics. Fallen trees are another potential hazard. Two short portages required. Descriptions of the rapids are not given so that clients can still be facing the unknown at each bend.
With a runable distance of 22km length and with over 450m of descent, this river offers some of the most demanding and continuous White-water to be found in Kenya.
Previous experience is required.


The Tana River

Alt 1,200 - 1,100m

Our premiere one day trip is  ideal for people with a day or two to spare when visiting Nairobi. This will be an exciting day of thrills and often spills
With a great mix of high action whitewater (up to grade V) interspersed with scenic calm water where birdlife abounds.
Just 95km from Nairobi, the Tana River offers an exciting day of White-Water thrills (and often spills).
The adventure starts with 3km. 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 km section follows, and now we have an hour or more to relax, view the abundance of birdlife around, cool off with a swim or just work on the sun tan.
The final 7 km of river back to the campsite starts with some easy class III waters where we go over paddle commands again.
Numerous smaller rapids brings 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. We reach the take out point / campsite about 5 hours after setting off, where a full barbequed lunch awaits us. Plenty of beer and soft drinks included.
We now have our own idyllic camp site at the take out point. Fishing, bird watching, swimming for the kids, watered lawns to pitch tents on, plenty of shade, tables and benches, toilets and shower. Fire grills etc. It's free of charge to river rafters and their family.

Ewaso Ng'iro River

Alt 900 - 750m.

When water levels are suitable, this river is without a doubt the best combined white-water river / scenic river expedition any of our guides have ever done.
This is a similar trip to the Athi, with three days and nights on the river. The river runs through Samburu National Park, where both the animals and river are wilder.  Trip length and nature are as for the Athi River with more serious and sustained water.
This river is very rainfall dependant so contact us for more information on water levels.

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