P.O. Murchison Falls
Radio call 8063
Via Masindi, Uganda

On behalf of the staff of Murchison Falls National Park, I would like to welcome the members of the Running the Nile Online Kayak Expedition to the Park. Our staff has been requested to provide security and assistance to the expedition in fulfilling its ambitions to become the first group to travel the Nile from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert.

It must be pointed out however that the Park's first responsibility is the safety of its visitors and staff. The stretch of the river Nile from Karuma Falls to Murchison Falls contains 52 river miles of some of the roughest sustained whitewater on earth, much of it Class V and above with standing waves that can exceed four meters in height. In addition to the challenging whitewater, this stretch of the Nile has other inherent dangers; namely that of crocodile and hippopotamus attack.

In particular, the danger of crocodile attack cannot be over-stressed. The August 1995 attempt on the river by the South African, Isabindi White Water Rafters, was terminated by two crocodile attacks after only five kilometers of paddling. One raft was sunk and fatalities narrowly avoided. Expedition members, though only five kilometers downstream from their starting point, required two days to return to Chobe over land.

In the Chobe area alone, six fatalities have occurred from crocodile attacks this past year, the most recent attack injuring a Ranger on 28-01-1996.

... I wish to emphasize that the Park cannot guarantee the safety of expedition members while on the river. In portions of the Park there are no roads, no communications, and no medical evacuation should an accident occur.

I am sending Senior Park Staff, well-versed in running whitewater, to meet you at Karuma. They will assess your planning for your transit through the protected area, paying particular attention to safety precautions and logistical support.

If your preparations meet with the approval of Park Staff, and you are allowed to proceed in your endeavor, you do so at your own risk, and Murchison Falls National Park and Uganda National Park cannot be considered liable.

I trust that you will facilitate our Staff as they try and ensure your expedition comes to a SAFE and successful conclusion.

I wish you the best and hope that we meet in Paraa.

Yours,

J. B. Nuwe
Ag. Chief Park Warden