Danish family on adventures in Africa: River rafting from Kunene River Lodge: The family friendly option

Thursday 15 August 2019

River rafting from Kunene River Lodge: The family friendly option

River rafting near Epupa Falls - peaceful floating down the river

Lunch break, Angolean island, river rafting near Epupa Falls, Namibai 2019

We tried river rafting two different places at Kunene River. It was like day and night, or perhaps one should say "the good and the ugly" ;-)

Both places, the water level was low because of wintertime (the dry season). It´s winter in Namibia when it´s summer in Denmark. During the wintertime, the water level in Kunene river depends on how much water Nampower releases from the turbines at the great dam at Ruacana.

The whole family (father, mother, son and daugther) went on a raft. Starting from the nice and friendly Epupa Camp, we drove seven kms. up river to the starting point and a sandy beach. There were no crocodiles nearby. On the riverbed, we got our life jackets and helmets were checked, and we got safety instructions. The guides were professionel guides.

Launching site, river rafting, near Epupa Falls, Namibai 2019

The family friendly option

The trip down the river was very peaceful and it is actually on the verge of unfair marketing to call it “river rafting”. It´s really peaceful drifting down the river. Sometimes you pass small rapids, but you have to be extraordinary clumsy to fall into the water!

We should have taken the canoes instead. That would have been nicer. Still, it was relaxing to drift down the Kunene River and enjoy the surroundings. We saw several small Nile crocodiles and the big ones are also around (up to 5 meters). Don´t swim. Keep your arms and legs inside the raft.