Frequently asked questions

The Kayak the Nile base, where we begin most of our kayaking trips and tours, is conveniently located on site at the Nile River Explorers campsite in Bujagali.

The campsite overlooks the calm waters of the River Nile and has one of the best sunset decks in Uganda. The lively bar and comfortable clean accommodation provides the perfect surroundings for relaxing after a long day kayaking on the water. Options for accommodation include camping, safari tents, dormitories and private rooms.

We also recommend having a look at the newly opened Kalagala Site. It’s got a wide range of accommodation options from their beautifully upmarket Wild Waters Lodge with luxury tents overlooking the rapids to the more basic Overland Campsite with safari tents, dorms and camping, they are sure to be a fit for any budget and all needs. We offer all our activities from here as well. Please note it’s about a 40min drive from Jinja town.

If you are joining us for an introduction to whitewater or multi day course both accommodation options are ideal places to be based.

If you have any other questions about accommodation or would like to reserve your nights at either options please include it in your message when you book.

We try to make paying as easy as possible at Kayak the Nile. Most people choose to pay in cash to avoid the bank surcharges, however card payments are also available.

We Accept:

• Ugandan Shillings (UGX)

• Kenyan Shillings (KSH)

• US Dollars (Unmarked, USD dated 2009 and above)

• British Sterling (GBP)

• Euro

All you need to bring for our introduction to whitewater day and other activities is yourself and:

• Clothes you don’t mind getting wet in (shorts, t-shirt, swim wear)

• Any medication you may need (e.g. asthma pump, epi pen)

• Dry clothes for afterwards.

The guides all carry a first aid kit on the water where your medication will stay dry and easy to access.

The following will make your day more comfortable:

• Suncream – high factor and plenty of it, the river is notorious for washing off ‘waterproof’ suncream.

• Bottle for water – You can fill this up from our office before you leave if you don’t have any water.

If you need to leave belongings with us whilst on the water, you can do so at our office, which is manned during the day and locked when unoccupied. We also have a safe here for valuables/small items such as keys, phones and wallets.

For those who have booked a holiday/coaching course with us we will provide you with a kit list if you need to bring anything more than the above.

Water Levels:

Water levels are consistent all year round here, because the Nile is dammed just after it leaves Lake Victoria. In an agreement between the countries that the Nile flows through, there’s a minimum flow that must be released from Lake Victoria to feed the Nile into Egypt. This minimum flow makes for great kayaking, and if the dam does release more water for a few days then there’s still awesome kayaking. There’s daily fluctuations as the demand for power, and therefore the amount released, changes from night to day but there’s always something to run and surf here. Usually we’ll experience lower water in the mornings and higher water in the afternoons.

Seasons:

It seems in recent years the rainy seasons have become less predictable but in general rainy season is twice a year, once in April – May and the again in October – December. That said the sun still shines during the rainy season, and the rain still falls during the dry! Rainy season doesn’t really affect the river, but it can make it slightly more challenging to get to it, with the road becoming quite muddy. One thing is for sure here; it’s always warm!

On the section of the Nile that we kayak (from Jinja to Busana), there are no hippos and 99% of the crocodiles have been wiped out. These animals were plentiful in this region prior to Idi Amin’s rule in the 1970s, however they have since all been poached out of the area.

After over 20 years of rafting and kayaking and hundreds of thousands of customers enjoying the Nile there has never been a crocodile related incident.

If you want to see these animals on the Nile, you need to take a 8hr drive to Murchison Falls National Park.

The Nile River Festival this year is from January 23rd to January 25th 2026. Everybody is welcome and the more the merrier. Come enjoy sunshine, kayaking and great competition. See our dedicated webpage for more info