UCD Canoe Club
General => Foreign Trips => Topic started by: Jevon on November 29, 2007, 12:42:00
-
So, pretty much everybody in the club has told me what to do in Uganda, but I can't say I was always listening... or sober.
I would be much obliged to all of you if would be so kind as to PM me and share your wisdom in writing, so I can actually remember some of the places and people that are recommended.
Tanks a million
-
Check out the other topics posted.
-
I know about the malaria and have had my share of diarrhea... My question is more about where to stay, i.e. which campsites in what towns, who are the best guides, what are the best rapids that are still open, who makes the best tropical drinks (that aren't filled with tropical diseases), what is the best meal, who are the cheapest hookers? You know... the insider details...
-
Jevon- a word of advice
Don't sleep with ugandan hookers-since about 83% of ugandan women have aids i would say its a pretty bad idea
Don't use ugandan condoms- they are the latest in condom speedhole technology i.e. THEY DON'T WORK!
Check out silverback for us and see if its turned into the deathpit it was becoming when we left- if it has- don't paddle it. Sadly total gunga-one of the best rapids on that stretch is now nothing more than a couple of waves (sob). Following rapids are fun:
ribcage: don't go into the pourover (that was a painful swim)
50/50 (that was a more fun swim)
Buboga
all of the day two section (i swam down that entire stretch- ahhh memories!)
The following rapids will probably kill you (since you've only been paddling about 2 months!):
Hypoxia
silverback
itanda
the dead dutchman (for obvious reasons)
Enjoy!
-
Probably also wanna avoid anything that's not on the commercially rafted run.
Also, there is an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda at the moment, 58 people infected. Might be an idea to check the WHO for update on disease outbreaks.
-
...jesus christ...I recently read a book about ebola and it's victims...can't remember what the hell it was called though....Sounds like the worst thing you could ever get.... :o Nothing pretty about that disease... :'(
-
Probably also wanna avoid anything that's not on the commercially rafted run.
Also, there is an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda at the moment, 58 people infected. Might be an idea to check the WHO for update on disease outbreaks.
yeah, Roger Daltrey is one of the world's experts.
-
i think the most important thing to come to terms with before you go jevon is that your going to get beatings that you cant compare to anything on irish rivers...like getting sucked under boils and eddie lines....and no matter what anyone tells you there are rocks, make sure you get a proper buoyancy aid
-
i didn't really want to post here because i think most people are tired of hearing the same old, same old, same old, same old, same old, same old, same old(you get the point)...... stories about uganda.
But if you are really dying to know just exactly what its going to be like, and you watch just one video, watch this one>>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B2-bFCNq-w&eurl=http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=766395327 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B2-bFCNq-w&eurl=http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=766395327)
enjoy.
rich
-
YAYAYAY!!!!! Ican't wait I can't I can't wait!
Thanks ritchie, I needed that!
-
so who was it that told me Uganda was cheap?!? Kayak the Nile is asking for 60 pounds ($120) for one day of kayaking!!!! After the first day, it is a mere 45 pounds ($90) per day... They are proud that this includes lunch and accommodation, but according to Dave B. camping at Nile River Explorers costs $3, and lunch is worth like 50 cents... How important is it for me to take these lessons? Are there other good local, cheaper guides that can show me the river for Ugandan prices?
oh yeah, and does anybody have a lonely planet for that area that I could borrow??
-
I am now opening a book on this guy's survival chances!!
All bets considered... ....including...
drowning
death by other means
contacting one ( or more of the following ) AIDS/HIV, other STI, malaria, dengue-fever,
Losing boat/paddles
Peter
-
Kidnapping perhaps?
-
yeah... so I'm gonna go with Bex's point and do my darndest to stay away from the Ebola...
-
Oh, speaking of ebola, how about bets on what part of Jevon's body starts leaking blood first?
(http://www.leyada.jlm.k12.il/proj/abola/ebola.gif)
Say hello to my little friend...
-
Jevon, oh jevon- wait until you see the water. Then decide whether or not you'll need professional lessons.
Uganda IS cheap-if you go out with lots of experienced paddlers who'll take you down the rapids. Get a couple of lessons from Kayak the Nile then find people who you can tag along with- but let them know that you're a beginner so they'll know what they're getting themselves in to
Hmmm-what are jevon's chances:
drowning: 30-40%
death by other means: attack by ugandan longhorn-20%. Shot by Bujagali guy with rifle 40%. Eaten by twinky (that tiny white dog from ATV) 80%
contacting one ( or more of the following ) AIDS/HIV, other STI, malaria, dengue-fever,:use trust condoms and its 99.99%-pretty good odds!
Losing boat/paddles: 50-70%. Swimmers tend to lose things more easily-i learnt that lesson!!
-
This has to change my survival betting odds...
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686252_1690372,00.html
but seriously:
1. no one can hook me up w/ the lonely planet...?
2. are there really no other good local kayak companies? I know I need the lessons...
3. how badly do I need to bring my own gear... i.e. paddle, helmet... boat. (I'm not even sure I can.)
-
1. no one can hook me up w/ the lonely planet...? Easons, look for the East Africa version. Or ask some of the people who were there recently.
2. are there really no other good local kayak companies? I know I need the lessons... There is only Kayakthenile ( KTN ). There are other rafting companies but only one kayaking company.
3. how badly do I need to bring my own gear... i.e. paddle, helmet... boat. (I'm not even sure I can.) there are no shops out there. Search the web for instructions on how to fly your boat and gear over. You'll need spare paddles as well. No one will lend you gear out there. The river eats gear and people.
-
yeah you can borrow my bradt book but i want it back!
-
You can rent gear off kayakthenile but its gonna get pretty expensive when you add in the lessons. You could rent a boat off them but if you want to continue paddling it'll work out cheaper to just buy a helmet, bouyancy aid, blades, spraydeck etc instead of renting.
-
YOu don't need a guide book. It's so much more fun to figure it out yourself.
The local boaters simply won't give you lessons, Jamie at kayakthenile has the monopoly out there, they all work for him and they don't do freelance.
YOur chances of bringing your own gear is getting less every day.
-
your own gear? do you even have your own booties yet?
-
Cian, I appreciate your concern, and I haven't been to Uganda or anything... but I think the water there is supposed to be pretty warm. I don't think I'll be needing any booties.
-
ah jevon i really hope your messing
-
Booties aren't necessarily for warmth-they're also used for when you're walking to/from the get in. Also your feet can get pretty sore if they're bare all day in your boat-booties help to pad them against the hard plastic. Seriously Jevon-i lost my booties in Uganda and it was a pain in the ass
-
it was a pain in the ass
Where did you lose them? ::)
-
what's next? Are you gonna tell me I need a I life jacket too?!?!
This all sounds like too much work...
I've decided to just bring my speedos and do some extreme whitewater swimming... That's what everybody says is going to happen anyway, so why bother with guides and equipment? I'm gonna throw in a mouth guard, jump into Lake Victoria and aim for Egypt! Plus, bodysurfing's a blast, I don't need no stinkin' boat... or that crutch called a paddle. If I drink enough cane spirit the night before, the alligators will think I taste funny and spit me out. Then when I get tired of swimming, I'll kill an alligator or two and eat their livers for extra strength and use their scrotums for booties, their testicles for buoyancy, the pelvis for a helmet and ride the carcass down the rest the river. I'll arrive in Cairo the best equipped man on the river!
-
Okay.
-
by jev, was nice knowin ya :'(
-
I quite like the appetite for adventure...you go for it dude!
-
but we want to see photos!!
-
I'll do my best, but I'm not sure a camera will fit in my Speedo...
-
i'm sure there'll be loads of space in there ;) or else ask one of the hippos to film it for you
-
I don't think I'll be needing any booties.
if you look around below the "death pit"(exactly as it sounds) chances are you'll come across my old teva's... that is of course a scavenging local hasn't got to them first...
.....my only advice is go for kayakthenile and you'll come back with the kayaking fever and great stories to tell everyone.....
if you go at it alone, you will either come home in a box / or have a really really shit experience that'll scare you off kayaking and probably the water(i'm being serious here). Myself, simon and connor all know first hand what happends when people fuck up, and it isnt one bit pretty.
kayakthenile is expensive but well worth the experience, you get all the gear, you get thought by top class paddlers and its all perfectly safe.
I'd just save up and go for the 2-3day option.
hope this helps,
rich/
-
i'm sure there'll be loads of space in there ;)
burn.
-
There has been an outbreak of the ebola virus recently - mostly in west uganda though , but just so that you are aware of it, think it starts with flu symptoms but can be very serious
Have a look: http://allafrica.com/stories/200712111137.html
-
thanks for the Info... I have a few family friend doctors in the area, (the people I'm visiting) and they have said that we are pretty much completely in the clear
-
Hey Jevon, I agree 100% with Ritchie here, real fuck ups are not fun on that river and KTN are a savage group of people used to working with all types of paddlers. Go with them, you won't be let down and you'll do far more then you expect. Plus, try and outdrink Jack, I tried and failed (I hurt pretty bad afterwards) However I do know one man who did, it took a full week and several bars, but he won so it is possible.