Author: krissy k

The North Johnstone River is a spectacular haven of moving waters that offer a wide range of aquatic activities and water sports such as kayaking and white water rafting.

Raging its way through the dense and ancient Rainforest of Palmerston National Park, this river is home to an array of wildlife. A trip down the river along the 80 km course takes from 4 to 6 days and sightings of salt-water crocodiles, water dragons, eagles, pythons and bird spiders are among those often made.

Before emptying into the Pacific, the river follows a rugged terrain with fascinating rapids, hidden native caves, ancient tombs, Cicadia palms, trees and vegetation that dates back to as early as 3000 years ago.

The heavy and thick vegetation hosts a diverse specifies of flora and fauna; some of which are endemic to the Australian rainforest. With proper inspection, you can interestingly catch a glimpse of the distinctive flowering ginger and stinging trees.

The meandering stream in its high velocity creates turbulence and this intensifies as the hard underlying rocks hit a venturesome steep terrain. The kayaking experience takes a different course as water level increases and maneuvering over rocks proves more demanding.

As one paddle down the channel, the beautiful scenery of thicket vegetation and serenity of the chirping birds escalates. This captures everyone’s attention and increases the chance of flipping. However, with proper finesse, you can carve out the best of high-speed kayaking while keeping a close sight of nature’s marvel.

Some the renowned rapids shaping the river’s terrain dares even the most experienced kayakers especially when the wind speed and water velocity are near the critically high margins.

Rapids such as “Berlin Wall”, “Mordor”, “Black Ass Fall” and “Snake Falls” are quite common with kayakers who impress their peddling experience with little to no challenge.

With its enormous volume that flaws indiscriminately along the water obstacles, kayaking down the tantalizing stream brings with it challenges and daring experiences.

Being in the waters or camping on the riverside doesn’t mean you’re entirely immune to the wild predators of the remote North Johnstone River. It’s always recommended to be in a company of a well-seasoned guide who understands the terrain and can handle any emergency swiftly and professionally.

Some of the dangers of kayaking along the river is getting trapped by the rocks lying low below the water level. While such incidents are rare, they are not unprecedented and therefore care must be observed when going down steep terrains and waterfalls.

Depending on the rains and levels of water in the river, the most preferred time to make a tour and enjoy the kayaking experience along the North Johnstone River is between April and June. During these months, there is reduced rainfall with an average of 6 hours of sunshine per day.

Whether you’re rafting in groups or you’re in a solo kayak, the delightful expedition never stops invoking fun and utmost memories. If you’re looking forward to having the best of white water rafting, kayaking among other outdoor experiences; this untamed, undulating channel in between the Australian rainforest has got you covered.

River Pacuare is seen by many as being one of the most spectacular whitewater kayaking sites in the world. Kayakers go there to experience the challenging rapids and to soak in the wonderful scenery.

The Pacuare river is open for kayaking all year round. The river is at its lowest between March and April. This is the best time to kayak especially if you have little experience.

The river is usually at its highest between October and December. You need to have some kayaking experience to kayak during this period.

River Difficulty

The Pacuare River kayaking course is about 33 kilometers long. Along the length of are more than 50 rapids ranging between class II and class IV difficulty.  Class II rapids are easy to negotiate for most people.

The rapids are not difficult to maneuver but the current pace can pick up very fast. Class II rapids are usually the best for some family fun.  People of all ages can have a lot of fun trying to negotiate the class II rapids of River Pacuare.

It starts to get a little serious when we come to class III rapids. Here, some experience with a kayak can really come in handy. It is not advisable for children younger than 8 to be kayaking alone on class III rapids.

The current can become very difficult to navigate. Class III rapids are still very fun to navigate especially along the Pacuare River. Class IV rapids are the Pacuare River party piece.  They are fast moving and notoriously difficult to navigate.

You definitely need some experience to attempt to kayak on class IV rapids on the Pacuare. However, don’t be worried about missing out if you have no experience.  You can attempt to tackle the rapids with an experienced guide on a 2-seater kayak.

These types of rapids are distributed along the Pacuare river. The Upper Section of the river mostly contains class IV rapids. The Lower Section and the Upper Upper Section contain the whole range of rapids described above. It takes about 4 hours to negotiate the entire course of the river.

Best Kayak To Use On River Pacuare

River Pacuare has many types of rapids. The safest bet is to carry a kayak that will negotiate the different types of rapids comfortably. A shorter kayak will negotiate the class II and class III rapids fairly comfortably. It is agile enough to tackle those rapids.

However, a shorter kayak will struggle when it comes to class IV rapids. A longer kayak is less agile but it will comfortably tackle class IV rapids due to its speed.  The safest bet is a longer kayak.

It might be less agile than a smaller kayak but it will help you out massively on River Pacuare. Always consider the possibility of carrying an inflatable kayak. It is easy to carry and still very stable.

Attractions Along River Pacuare

There are many animals for you to see along River Pacuare. You might get a chance to see otters, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and many more. You might even get lucky and see a black panther.

There also hundreds of beautiful birds and insects for you. The scenery along River Pacuare is also very spectacular. The river is full of many spectacular waterfalls. The forest that runs along the river also makes for an incredible sight.

Possible Dangers Of Kayaking On River Pacuare

The biggest danger of kayaking on River Pacuare is the strong rapids. You should not attempt to kayak on any rapids above class II if you have no experience. If you have to kayak on dangerous rapids, makes sure you have an experienced instructor with you.

In addition, make sure you maintain a safe distance between you and the animals. Some animals might feel threatened and they might attack you if you get too close.

Ottawa river is one of the prime whitewater kayaking destinations in the world. It is a beautiful place to enjoy the thrills of whitewater kayaking. The best time to kayak here is between the months of May to September.

This time is during spring and summer. During this time, the weather is usually conducive and the river water is really warm. A trip to the Ottawa river can range from a day to even two weeks. There is a lot of kayaking to be done on the Ottawa river.

The Kayaking Course

The Ottawa River is divided into three whitewater kayaking sections. The first section is the lower Ottawa River whose rapids range between class I and class II difficulty.

This is the best section for beginners who do not have any experience with whitewater kayaking. It is also the best place to teach children how to kayak. This section of the river is the safest but you will still have a lot of fun.

The second section is the middle Ottawa River. The rapids here range between class III-IV difficulty. Anyone with prior experience in whitewater kayaking will make it through and have a good time while doing it.

This section promises to be a lot of fun but it is also very technical. It will put your kayaking skills to the test.

The third section is the main Ottawa River. This section is mainly made up of class IV difficulty rapids. Some prior experience in kayaking will do you a lot of good in this section.

However, it is not reserved for kayaking experts only. If you are confident in your kayaking skills, you should definitely try to navigate this section. You are guaranteed to enjoy every moment of kayaking on the Ottawa River.

In addition, the waters of the Ottawa River are warm and welcoming. The river has a few hydroelectric power plants that have caused the formation of dams.

The water in the dams is heated up by the sun before it is released downstream. This creates a great environment for kayaking downstream since the water is already warm.  This would be a great place to try out the two person kayak.

The Best Kayak To Use On The Ottawa River

Due to its diverse ranges of difficulty, you can use any type of kayak to the Ottawa River. However, if you are kayaking in the main Ottawa River section, you can consider using a longer, faster kayak to negotiate the difficult rapids.

You can also choose to bring with you an inflatable kayak. It is easy to carry and it offers the same amount of stability as other kayaks.   Make sure you bring a patch repair kit if you opt for an inflatable model.

What Will You See?

There are a lot of things to see while kayaking on the Ottawa River. The wildlife that you will most probably see is elk and bald eagles. If you are lucky, you might even spot a bear.

The scenery along the river is also very beautiful. There are sections with sandy beaches, huge cliffs, and spectacular mountain views.

Possible Dangers Of Kayaking On The Ottawa River

The waters of the Ottawa River can be a cold especially if you choose to kayak during early spring. During this time, make sure you have enough gear to repel the cold water.

If you do not have enough experience, avoid kayaking on the difficult rapids. If you must kayak there, use a two-seater kayak and have an experienced instructor guiding you at the back. In addition, make sure that you keep a safe distance from any animals you meet on the river’s course.

The Alsek River offers one of the most spectacular kayaking sites in the world. It offers a chance to kayak along the spectacular Alaskan landscape. Kayaking trips to the Alsek River are available during summer time during the months of June and July.

It takes at least a week to cover the entire Alsek River. Make sure you carry enough supplies and warm clothes. The temperatures here are still low even during summer time.

River Difficulty

The Alsek River mainly has rapids of Class II to class III rapids. However, there are challenging and exciting class IV and class V rapids as well. The rapids begin once you’ve passed Lowell lake. They begin as class III rapids and they are pretty fun to negotiate.

The glaciers running along the river make this a truly unforgettable experience. In addition, the river is punctuated by beautiful waterfalls running from the mountains.

The next section is the party piece of the Alsek River. It is known as Turnback canyon. It features one of the most turbulent and violent whitewater sections in the world. You have to be a kayaking expert to navigate this section.

The rapids here are Class V difficulty and above. Even kayaking experts will have a hard time navigating this section when the water level is high. Most rafters and kayakers even choose to fly over this section in a helicopter!

If the water level is low, you might be able to tackle Turnback Canyon with an expert on a 2-seater kayak. It promises to be a scary but unforgettable experience. The rest of the river is littered with class II and class III rapids. These rapids provide plenty of fun and they do not need a lot of experience to navigate.

The Best Kayak For Kayaking On The Alsek River

The Alsek River is mainly made up of class II and class III rapids. This means that you do not need a long, fast kayak for this river. A smaller kayak will offer the best experience since it has the agility to cope with class II and III rapids. You can choose to carry an inflatable kayak. It is easy to carry and it offers optimum stability.

If you want to tackle the infamous Turnback Canyon rapids, you can consider carrying a long and fast kayak. If you want to tackle it with an expert, then a 2-seater kayak is the best option.

What Will You See?

The Alsek River kayaking course is full of beautiful scenery and wildlife. You will get a chance to see moose, bears and even wolves. You might also get a chance to see mountain goats and eagles. The scenery all around is quite spectacular.

The glaciers are the most amazing sights. Some glaciers are really massive and awe-inspiring. The Alsek River water continues to increase as its tributaries continue to add water to it. The convergence points of the Alsek River and its tributaries are awesome sights.

Possible Dangers Of Kayaking On The Alsek River

The obvious risk here is the water temperature. You have to ensure that you are warm enough to tackle the Alsek River. You also have to ensure that you maintain a safe distance between you and the animals. Some animals like bears and wolves are extremely territorial and they might attack if you get too close.

In addition, do not attempt to kayak at the Turnback Canyon section if you do not have enough experience. There are other rapids on other parts of the river that are safe and fun to navigate.

The White Nile River is a renowned whitewater kayaking mecca that stretches a section of the Ugandan highlands and forms one of the tributaries to the Nile River- the longest river in the world.

The White Nile attracts kayakers and nature enthusiasts from various parts of the world into the tourist-boom East Africa Region. Rafting and Kayaking are the main water sport activities in the area which are suitable for families, groups and even solo paddling.

From its source in Jinja, only about 50 kilometers of the river are regularly explored via kayaks. The endless channel that flows past the adventurous Murchison Falls though Lake Albert and into Sudan is considered less friendly.

Paddlers looking forward to enjoying a kayaking session, often begin their adventure at Owen Falls in Jinja town or downstream at the renowned Nile Explorers Camp (NRE). In between the two major starting points is a stretch of approximately 5 Km Grade 1-2 whitewater with a couple of Grade 2-3 rapids.

Further, into the massive waves are grade 4 and grade 5 rapids. A short intense rapid called the “Ribcage” is quite popular with kayakers who have some experience with the river since a number of channels along the crashing wave trains heads to Bujagali Falls.

River obstacles and huge bedrocks are located along the channel of rolling and breaking waves. The other impressive rapids that can be paddled with ease are the “Waterfall of Overtime” and the “Playspot Superhole”.

On the verge of completing a successful adventure in the White Nile River are the renowned 6-grade rapids; Itanda, Kalagala, and Hypoxia. Those daring to paddle along these marvels often get scared at an ordinary site of violently splashing waves.

The while Nile has a remarkable safety record due to the friendly terrain and a large number of professional & fun guides who are always on standby. This is, however, not to say that safety is always guaranteed; in fact, some 6-grade rapids are considered risky for amateur kayakers.

Over the past years, the river has been free of dangerous and untamed animals. It’s only on certain occasions that locals report cases of Crocodiles in the deepwater zones. This means high-end vigilance is advised when enjoying your kayaking session.

Kayaking the big water rapids of the White Nile will take you not more than 3 days. The typical paddling sections take only two days but to enjoy the scenic view of the Nile as you gracefully get lost in the wild will cost you an additional day.

The Murchison Falls is a good stop-off to rest and enjoy the sight of wild animals in the secluded Murchison Falls National Park. Here you get a chance to take free pictures and gaze at the sight of Chimpanzees, Hippos, and Crocodiles.

Uganda is an East African country with two rainy seasons; from Mid-march to May and from Mid-September to November. While there’s no good reason to evade these rainy seasons; you may want to visit the country during the less-rainy months of December to February or the driest ones from June to September.

Since there are no distinct seasons unlike in the tropical countries; the paddling season is more like the whole year. Kayakers flock to the White Nile any time of the year and this is the only kayaking destination with no specific paddling months.

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