faq

Nalubale Rafting

- How cold is the water?

The water is usually around 25 degrees Celsius.

- Will I get wet?

Yes, soaked head to toe on Grade 3 and Grade 5 trips. Expect splashes on float trips.

- What should I wear on the river?

Board shorts, long sleeve t-shirt, flip flops or sandals that you don't mind getting wet.

- What should I bring?

An adventurous spirit, some high factor sun cream, a change of clothes and money for a tshirt, photos and/or videos, any medication, asthma pump etc. We'll provide everything else. Don’t forget the sun cream!!

- Do we go if it rains?

Absolutely!! You are going to get wet anyway.

- Can Nalubale Rafting make special arrangements for groups?

We can customize any of our trips to the needs of groups larger than 15 persons.

- What safety measures are in place?

On all our trips we provide life jackets and helmets specifically designed for rafting on Grade 5 rivers. All grade 3/5 trips are accompanied by safety kayakers and an oar boat with a comprehensive first aid kit. All staff are first aid trained and has vast experience from white water rafting. We review our Safety Operating Procedures regularly and train rescues and emergencies regularly.

- What does ‘Nalubale’ mean?

The Baganda, the tribe living by the lake, believed that Lake Victoria and the people living around it were protected by a female spirit called Nalubaale. To this day, the Baganda people refer to Lake Victoria as Lake Nalubale.

- Do you operate on week days?

We operate on all days of the week, year round, except for 25th December.

- How soon in advance must I book?

For all our trips you can book as late as the day before. However, if you want to make sure there is room for you, then a week in advance should do the job.

- How and when do I pay?

Please pay in Jinja on the day of the trip, before the rafting starts. We accept payment in cash (Ugandan Shillings, US Dollars), by credit card (VISA & Mastercard) and all Travellers Cheques. Kindly note that the follwing fees apply:

All credit card payments: +8%

- Is transport from/to Kampala included?

Yes, free transport from/to Kampala is included in all our trips except for float trips! We have 3 pick up points in Kampala. Use our online booking form and indicate which pick up point you’ll be at. Expect to be back in Kampala between 5 and 7pm.

- Are tips expected?

No. But all of our river crew certainly appreciates it when clients choose to tip.

- Can I bring my camera or video camera?

We recommend that you leave these things at home on our full day and two day trips. There is very limited waterproof storage space on our rafts and as you will be paddling or holding on in the rapids, you’ll have no chance of getting any shots or footage of the action - even if you do have waterproof equipment. More information about our photo and video service here.

- What should I leave at home?

Jewellery, watches, wedding rings, piercings, engagement rings, speedos.

Uganda and the source of the Nile is right on the Equator. The elevation of the river is around 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) above sea level. The location and the elevation combined with the reflection coming off the water, makes spending a full day on the river a challenge for every skin type, no matter how dark or accustomed to the sun one is.

We STRONGLY recommend that you use a high quality sun block on the day you go rafting and for added protection, wear a long sleeve t-shirt.

Haven’t got any sun block or long sleeve t-shirt? No problem, you can buy both t-shirts and sun block at our base before you hit the river.

Sun burns & rafting on the Nile