Beginner's guide to rafting in Fiji

By STAN PINNEGAR

It's really a matter of coordination, I suppose. Coordination is something I should have acquired,
if not over the years, then certainly during our bumpy, hang-on-to-your seat ride in an open truck over the rain-forested Namosi Highlands of Viti Levu.

We were off for a spot of white-water rafting with River Fiji, a Grade 2 event, which meant, I was told, that even I could do it. My understanding was that Grade 2 meant dodging a few ripples, compared with, say, a Grade 5, which was akin to paddling down Niagara Falls on a bad day.

I was also sold on the fact that one of the rafting company's regular customers was a 71-year-old New
Zealand woman who tried it once and kept coming back for more.

In the meantime we bounced along, enjoying the tropical green and breathtaking views of the distant coastline. Our journey was made the merrier by the occasional clamour of children, of various highland tribes, who rushed from dense bush with loud and happy cries followed by peals of laughter. If their idea was to startle us, they failed. We were already jumping out of our seats.

At long last we reached the Luva (Wainikoroiluva) River.

The river was free-flowing but hardly menacing, so I flagged the offer of a guide to accompany me in the rubber raft.

At first I had a lot of difficulty getting the damned thing to go where I wanted it to but eventually reached the first set of rock-strewn rapids where it negotiated itself into calmer waters.

At about the fourth rapids my boat leaped over and bashed a few rocks and filled up with water, soaking me to the waist. But not only did the boat not sink, it quickly emptied itself.

This is fun, after all, I thought, realising that it would take a major incident to sink my craft. I even looked back to see how the others were doing. I was way ahead of most of them, mainly because I had little or no control over my craft.

They caught me at the next rapids (for rapids read slightly gurgling water going over many rocks).

My boat and I had negotiated most of the rocks (yes, there was some input from me by now) and had almost made it to the river's flow when we hit and came to rest on top of a large stone. I was about to try to push off with one of my oars when a large wave picked the boat up, turned it over, dumping me unceremoniously into the river.

The water was warm, not deep. I can still swim (although that was my first swim in 45 years), and was wearing a crash helmet and lifejacket. But I was suffering from a very bruised ego.

* Rivers Fiji also runs sea kayaking, snorkelling, sailing and camping trips.
Contact: Email Rivers Fiji or visit the Rivers Fiji website.