Sagana Savage Wilderness – White Water Rafting in Kenya

Savage Wilderness is a sporting adventure company specialising in white water rafting and kayaking trips along the Sagana River. Sagana Savage Wilderness was born in 1990 and was the first company in Kenya to start kayaking and rafting trips along the Sagana River. Since then, Savage Wilderness have built the exhilarating Sagana River activity camp where wild children zip line over treacle-coloured waters and exhausted adults BBQ sausages next to icy pools.

I believe that Savage Wilderness exists in its own sunny microclimate. Both times I’ve been we’ve emerged from the rain and drizzle of a Nairobi morning into a sublime sunlit stillness, where the murmuring of the river is interrupted only by cormorants or the sleepy shuffle of languorous monitor lizards. Savage Wilderness Sagana River Camp occupies a tranquil spot on a calm stretch of the river, here palm trees soar above the golden waters and the manicured lawns surround a turquoise pool.

Savage Wilderness, Sagana River Camp describes itself as an adventure paradise. Camp activities include zip lining, a hugely terrifying bungy jump, night walks, rock climbing, archery and team-building activities. 

It does accommodate large groups of corporates or schools, which I found off-putting before I went, but the grounds are enormous, and groups can easily co-exist without being in each other’s space. Instead, I found Savage Wilderness a serene spot, where I spent as much time staring into softly flowing water as I did, with adrenaline surging through me on white rapids.

White Water Rafting at Sagana Savage Wilderness Kenya

Ah, the adrenaline! We went there primarily for the white water rafting, and it was simply fearfully ferociously fabulous. I’m confident in the water, but there were undoubtedly some hair-raising moments – I think this is how it should be – if we wanted to drift peacefully down a river, then we’d SUP, but this is white water rafting on a croc and hippo filled river. If you don’t come back with a few grey hairs, what’s the point?  

What Happens White Water Rafting on the Sagana River 

The instructors at Sagana Savage Wilderness are excellent, they were calm and collected even when faced with my overly dramatic screaming daughter. Your group will be driven upstream, where you will board the boats and spend some time practising paddling and how to follow instructions. Your trip will vary depending on the water level; on our trip, the first set of rapids was close to the start and arguably the hairiest, causing one kayak to nearly capsize. The journey isnt all rapids and there are very quickly sections of the river that are calm and you are invited to jump in and swim around which makes the fear of capsizing less intimidating. These include the fantastical Devil’s Toilet Bowl, an exhilarating rock slide into a whirlpool. While the kids only wanted to risk their lives in white water, I enjoyed the leisurely moments of drifting down the impossibly scenic Sagana River. The rapids on the Sagana River run from Grade 1 to Grade 4 and takes approximately 3 hours. A similar trip can be taken on kayaks along the river, with some reasonably technical drops. Additionally, you can book a multi-day rafting trip – which starts further up the river. 

Catering and Leisure at Sagana Savage Wilderness 

Savage Wilderness has two pools, each with shelters that have BBQ facilities and firepits. There is an onsite bar and a pool table, plus activities like zip lining, rock climbing, archery, and nighttime adventure walks.. and they can organise games on the lawn. After a day’s rafting, gin and tonic on the lawn was about as strenuous an activity as I was prepared to undertake. 

Accommodation at Sagana Savage Wilderness Kenya

The accommodation at Savage Wilderness comprises 33 neat little banda’s: basic but clean with ensuite bathrooms with hot water and decks to sit and watch the river flow by. There are no mosquito nets, catering facilities or towels so bring your own.  

Savage Wilderness also supplies tents with mattresses, blankets, sheets and pillows; in our case, we used these for the children, and the adults had the banda’s. They are good quality, canvas black-out tents that sleep three – the mattresses are thick and comfortable. Toilet facilities and showers are located nearby. 

Savage Wilderness Activities

Sagana Savage Wilderness is based on the Sagana River and was created to harness the beauty of the natural environment by kayaking and rafting on the water. However, over the last 30 years, the company has grown in professionalism and expertise and is now one of Kenya’s leading adventure tour companies. 

My children’s school use Savage Wilderness not only for kayaking and team building and to lead school trips up Mount Kenya. They are a very viable option for adventure sports in this country. Trips include submitting Mount Kenya, kayaking breaks in the Kakamega Forest and Tana Rivers, camel safaris in Soysambu, and Maasai Mara safari trips. 

How Much Does Savage Wilderness Cost?

• Accommodation Costs; Banda 4000 PPN / Tent 1750 PPN
• White Water Rafting – KES 7300
• Kayaking 4500 KES
• Archery 2500 KES
• Bungy jumping – 6000 KES
• Rock climbing – 2500

Further Information for Savage Wilderness Kenya

• Crocodiles and hippos do reside along the Sagana River. However, none have been seen near the Savage Wilderness Camp for many years. 
• A white water rafting trip is approximately 3 hours long.
• You need a minimum of four people.
• Bring closed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.We forgot them but were able to rent old shoes for a small fee. 
• You can hire a photographer who will take photos the entire length of your trip for 2,000 KES per boat. 
• Banda’s and tents provide bedding but not towels or toiletries. You will need to bring your own.

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