Your guide to the best whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing

Christmas is fast-approaching and I wanted to offer some ideas of what to buy the whitewater paddler in your life. I’ve started fairly big but in future posts will be offering slightly less extravagant gift ideas. Actually, I have chosen the Coleman Inflatable Kayak as a good alternative to spending A LOT of money on hard shell kayak.

An inflatable kayak is a good option for the beginner kayaker, particularly if you are not sure how long their hobby is likely to last. Inflatable kayaks offer better stability in the water for the beginner, buffer any impact against rocks etc. and are much easier to transport.

On the downside this is such a basic beginner’s kayak, that there should definitely be someone more experienced available to monitor. Also, they are not good in fast flowing rivers or extreme (too hot or too cold) conditions.

The Coleman inflatable kayak is perfect for gentle paddling on a slow river or a lake, so if you are family paddlers and want something to suit all ages and abilities, these kayaks are probably best. To accommodate the recreational family outing they are available in one or two person designs and are padded for great comfort.

You can also get the Coleman inflatable kayak as a sit on-top or a sit-in (with an open top) depending on your preference and usage,

If you are buying one, don’t forget the pump (for those with less energy there is a very useful rechargeable quick pump from Coleman) and, of course, your life vests.

Coleman inflatable kayaks are available from Amazon.

If you want a more hardwearing inflatable for the more experienced kayaker then I’ll give you some more ideas soon.

The river Nile, near Jinja, offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and river surfing that are on a par with the mighty Zambezi, but without the crowds. The rapids are big and intimidating, but it doesn’t deter the adrenalin seekers who come for the one day fix, or an overnight adventure. Once you’re hooked you can learn to kayak and plot your own route, or even head down the river in a tandem kayak or on a riverboard.

Uganda may not be your first choice of location for a whitewater holiday but as this article at iAfrica shows there are some great whitewater adventures on offer as well as the opportunity to experience extreme wildlife and activities in a beautiful and friendly part of Africa.

In the first of the videos to be featured on the Best River Adventures blog, this one from St Cloud State University shows how to be safe when whitewater canoeing.

Advice includes how to pick a paddle, what clothing to wear (a very important part of choosing your equipment that many newbies forget) and how to be safe on the water.

It’s not going to win anything for production values but is fantastically useful if you or a member of your family is heading out on the river.