Tales from an African Paddler

Lake Kariba - 1996

 

A few pictures from my first kayak expedition - Lake Kariba, 285km, 12 days, 1996.

Joined by Rob Bolton, Dave McKenzie and Jon Wiseman, we did this in fiberglass racing K2 kayaks (no hatches or decking).

 

We improvised bouyancy by pushing different sized beach balls up the snouts. We moved like a rocket in the skinny kayaks, helping us get ahead of more than one hippo charge. Wildlife was ever present, from elephants to crocs; at night we would cover our kayaks in spikey acacia branches to prevent the hyenas from biting through to our stores.