Thurs was pretty standard - taught Michael, and had a lesson with Beata which was good, but whatever I did on Thurs is completely outshined by the amazing Friday I had!
WOW! Rafting was SUCH fun! I was pretty scared at some points. Actually pretty much every time we were approaching the next rapid! (By the way 'we' throughout this is me, Sam, Carys, Beata and Andrew) The price of the rafting incuded being picked up from Kampala in a big bus at 7.30am (which we actually all nearly missed coz we were outsude the wrong shop! All was fine though) and being driven about 1 and a half hours to Jinga where the raftin began. We were provided with some breakfast and tea/juice and then changed into our rafting gear -shorts and a vest/tshirt and applied huuuuge amounts of suntan lotion as we were going to be on the river in the sun for at least 5 hours. Suntan lotion was also the only thing we were allowed to take with us, apart from any medications etc, no shoes allowed! We were given our life jackets and helmets and then got in the truck to take us to where we were starting. On the drive to Jinja we'd been through proper rural Africa, past mud huts and other small villages etc. All amazing to see. There were 5 of us in our boat, plus Juma our instructor who was great. He has been rafting for something like 9 years so was clearly very experienced. He told us that they are actually building a dam on this stretch of the Nile so in a few months you wont be able to raft of this stretch of water which is a shame but apparently the rafting will continue, just starting in a different place. Anyways, there are different grades of rapids, the highest being grade 5. The first half of the day consisted of about 7 rapids, including 1 or 2 grade 5's I think. We started off with a few grade 1 and 2's as training and practised what to do when we flipped over and how to get back in the boat etc. I found it impossible, but did actually manage it once later in the day! There was a safety raft that came with us and each boat was accompanied by 2 amazing kayakers who, as well as showing off their amazing skills, were there to pick us up when we fell off/got into any difficulty and couldnt get back to our boat. So it was all very safe. The other raft (of 4 with an instructor) - flipped on the first rapid after the practise session. Glad we didnt coz that would have been scary, but we did flip twice, in Grade 5 rapids. It's not too bad really. Though on one called Retrospect, I had that feeling of being in huge tumble drier not knowing which way was up etc. Then when I found my way upwards I hit my head on the boat and was pushed under again - was a pretty scary time! But I was picked up by the safety raft so it was fiiiine (this was in the afternoon). Lunch was pineapple and biscuits while sitting in our rafts in the sun on the Nile. Was amazing. And so surreal that we were on the Nile! The first rapid after lunch was a waterfall! Which was sooo scary, but so exciting, and we didnt flip! We went first and the other raft followed, it must have been at least a 6/7 foot drop! But WOW what fun, especially to see what we'd just been down. We had to walk around one Grade 6 rapid, which was huge and long before our last rapid which was also pretty long with 2 potential waves that could flip you. But we help on tight and paddled hard and actually ended up 'surfing' for a few seconds in the second wave. This is when the raft gets caught in a wave and you kind of bob in and out until it releases you. Hard to explain, but hugely exciting to be caught in a wave on a raft! At the end of our amazing rafting experience we were taken to the campsite where we were provided with a well earned BBQ. We are all really quite burnt, despite constant reapplication of the factor 30! It's mainly my forearms, knees and shoulders, and nose - but not too bad! We were allowed to take life jackets and helmets off during flat patches of water when we just floated along the calm beauitful water, think we saw a monitor lizard on the size at one point - well a very large lizard anyhow! And also some amazing birds - eagels and all sorts. Sam decided to go back to Kampala on the free shuttle bus that evening but Carys and I decided to stay in the (free) dormitory rooms, also included in the price. So chilled in the bar in the evening. It was a backpackers campsite so there were lots of other backpackers and mzungus. Met some cool people. The view from the camp and bar was absolutely amazing - photos or descriptions really cant do it justice! Sunset was incredible, and I woke up about about 7.30, just after the Sun had risen. Was so beautiful. The sky was so clear and amazing. Stomach feeling a bit vulnerable again in the morning though, so Carys and I decided not to go to see the source of the Nile (which may not actually be the source of the Nile apparently) like we thought we might on our way home. We walked down to the River to paddle our feet in and watched these Kayakers practising all their amazing tricks. It must be so exciting to kayak on the Nile! Though so scary because the rapids are biiiig! We got a lift with a couple of Israeli guys who were getting a taxi to Entebbe to go home and they kindly dropped us in Kampala. Very hot today, so a very hot and sticky journey home. But nicer than being stuck in a matatu definitely! England vs Wales tonight which should be fun - though I have no energy left at all! May have to have a nap... Sorry all this is a bit disjointed, just writing what comes into my head! SO much fun though! X
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