Rift Valley Adventures loves a journey, even better when students and groups are involved. Always dynamic and up to date with the latest adventure activities, the past year has seen RVA instructors, friends and our kids playing on the many secluded, clear rivers that flow from the forested slopes of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Range. The craft we have been playing with range from conventional kayaks and canoes to our latest acquisitions – Stand Up Paddle boards, tubes and lilos. So what are these?
Stand up Paddle Boards or SUPs as they are more commonly referred to, are large inflatable and very rigid boards and as the name suggests you stand up on it and paddle downstream running small rapids. Wickedly fun and a brilliant activity for everyone – don’t be afraid you can all do it. The boards are extremely stable and together with protective gear – helmet, wetsuit and buoyancy vest you are well protected. The thrill of running a small rapid, followed by cruising downstream, water cascading over river stones…. what can I say it’s a great experience and good for the soul.
What is a Liloing and Tubing?
You know those blow up single mattresses you sleep on when camping, we use them to run rivers! Very simply you lie down on the lilo and drift downstream and don’t be afraid to run a few rapids, these things can handle small drops as well as other river craft. We have done overnight trips with drybags strapped to the lilo, day trips fishing with the kids or simply exploring new areas with a picnic attached. Glorious days indeed.
Tubing is just as fun and on the right river even better. It has come a long way from the patched spare car tube we used to use. We now have seriously tough purpose designed down river tubes of extremely high quality. As with SUPs and lilos, tubing involves a downstream journey with all the protective water gear as seen in the photo below. What makes this a great activity? Apart from the obvious outdoor fun, tubing gets you in the river, with the occasional swim.
Whether its an SUP, Lilo, tube, kayak, canoe or raft, Rift Valley Adventures has the craft, skill and expertise for your down river experience. Running rapids, slowly making your way down stream, exploring beautiful gorges covered with ferns, clear water washing away the hectic pressures of the world and getting back in touch with nature in the true Kenyan outdoors can only be beneficial for us all…..I think you get the drift.
By Nick Miller…
