Posted on July 30, 2016
The Nile can be smooth and calm or raging & wild. We’ve ridden along the banks of the Nile and seen people going about their business. We’ve also enjoyed the water itself. A big treat of the Nile Horseback Safari is the change to swim with your horse in the Nile. We kept the saddles on (although without stirrups) for extra security.
A quiet bay is chosen which has a deeper channel running through it so that for a couple of strides you can feel the immense power of your horse swimming underneath you. It’s just a short hack from our lodge and we choose to do it early one morning before breakfast.
Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!
One day on the itinerary is free to join a white water rafting trip. Even if you have done it before, this is such a fun day on the river. There are options depending on how brave or cautious you are. Everyone journeys together down the Nile (for about 2-3 hours) and encounters 8 rapids with lovely leisurely sections in between where you can paddle and enjoy the view.
The pilots are very skillful and so you can join a boat which is going to give you lots of excitement but 95% chance will not chuck you into the river.
Lots of fun and water, but we did not tip up.
Or you can join a boat which will take the challenging route at each rapid and you might just be in the water a lot! You could even come down in a tandem kayek.
Some had lots more thrills & spills
But an even more leisurely option was a sunset boat trip.
On the trip we stayed at four different lodges. One was in the rain forest, but the other three were alongside the Nile in stunning locations.
The calm waters of the Nile at Holland Park
Stunning view from our cottage at The Haven
But one of the most amazing places I’ve ever stayed at is Wild Waters Lodge, which is actually on an island in the middle of the Nile. You and your luggage travel out by boat and the lodge and rooms all overlook fantastically noisy rapids.
Photos don’t do it justice at all, so you will just have to visit for yourself!
From the Nile we continue onto visit the Mountain Gorillas at Bwindi.
To read about other days on this trip, click below.
Riding by the Nile and Lake Victoria
If you would like to join this fantastic riding adventure in Uganda, here is a link to our website with more details of the ride, the itinerary and the forthcoming dates and prices.