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white water rafting
riding the rapids in India, Uganda and Thailand

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In summer 2002, I joined the rest of my gap year group in Uganda for a day of white water rafting down some of the best rapids in the world. There were 11 sets of rapids starting at the soon-to-be-flooded source of the Nile, Bujagali Falls. Four of the rapids were grade five (the biggest you can safely raft!). The last rapid, ‘The Bad Place' apparently verges on a grade 6. A full day with lunch was US$65 with Equator Rafts, but you'd best be quick as a dam is being built and the serene Bujagali stretch will soon be lost forever.

I rafted again a year later in India on the River Beas (bottom row of photos). The Himalayas formed a gorgeous backdrop, and although the rapids weren't as fierce (4 being the highest), it was still great fun. A morning of rafting from Manali with Himalayan Journeys was under £20.

In 2006 I went rafting down a stretch of rapids near Chiang Mai in Thailand (video above). A half-day on up to grade 4 rapids, mountain biking in the jungle and an elephant ride at a sanctuary totalled about £30.

My latest stint of rafting was in autumn 2007 in Pai, also in northern Thailand. Though the rapids were rarely bigger than a grade 3, the two day trip with 'Thai Adventure Rafting' was well worth the money. Our rafting guides were fantastic, taking us to hot springs, waterfalls and they even cooked wasps nest for us!

video

video - An elephant ride and jungle rafting in Chang Mai, Thailand
can't see the video? download flash here

maps

Our rafting maps for Bujagali Falls, Uganda [left] and River Beas, India [right].

thailand photos

india photos

uganda photos

links

• Equator Rafts, Uganda
• Save Bujagali Falls Campaign
• Rafting in the UK
• Thai Adventure Rafting

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