Holiday company details

Far more than just a wet roller coaster ride, river journeys take you through areas of natural beauty and cultural diversity in some of the world's remotest places. River life relies on the necessities, great food, sleep, fun and sun. There are no hassles, no stress and time won't matter as you drift between pristine white sandy beaches punctuated by unbeatable white water. Calmer parts of the river allow for a unique reflection on life. Water By Nature offer trips which are all about adventure, excitement and discovery. We have spent our lives sharing gorgeous places with fellow adventurers, this is our passion. Our guides are exceptional individuals, living exceptional lives. In addition to having first class river skills, they have phenomenal knowledge of history, culture, flora, fauna, campfire cooking and star gazing. You will arrive a client and leave as a friend. Any of our destinations offer a unique experience. Sample Victoria Falls from beneath, the most spectacular rafting put in point in the world, the beauty of Patagonia and the Rio Futaleufu, or the unique exploration of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, we have something for all adventurers. Bring the family to Morocco or sample the friendliest locals we have encountered in Turkey. Visit ancient Aborigine dwellings and spot the rare Platypus on our Franklin River Journey in Tasmania, Australia. We’ll guide you down the most exciting rivers and introduce you to our favourite destinations in style. If you enjoy it half as much as we do, you'll have the trip of a lifetime.

Lets face it, there are many choices today when it comes to going on a white water rafting holiday, so why come with us? Well, we are certain that Water By Nature's service, enthusiasm and staff will make your trip a special one, but if you want some more reasons then:

• Water By Nature runs and operates all its own river journeys.
• 80% of our clients return for a second trip.
• The people who own the company run the company. Mush is on your trip because he is a true owner operator and wants to stay in touch with the clients and make sure things go as well as planned.
• The best in rafting equipment - AVON self bailing rafts, high float buoyancy aids, adjustable helmets and spray jackets for those cooler days. We are always striving to keep at the forefront of rafting technology in order to make everyone's trips that bit more safe and comfortable.
• The best in camping equipment. As guides who spend months on the river, we like to have our creature comforts and feel you should too. So not only do you enjoy roomy tents, you also bed down on Thermarest mattresses that then convert to camp chairs for around the campfire. Believe us, you will appreciate the difference these things make.
• Without a doubt we believe in safety kayakers on every trip, no matter what the water level. We feel that they are an integral part of running a safe trip.
• What you see for the price is what you get. There are no local payments for the rafting trips. Your accommodation is included the night before and the night after and, except for the in town meals, all your food is included.
• Our prices may seem more reasonable than you would expect, but this does not mean a compromise on quality. Our prices are realistic, without any hidden extras.
• Our team in the office will have done the trip and therefore can put you on a trip suited to you! We have a number of optional extras that we are very familiar with and we will be delighted to advise you on them to complement your rafting holiday. We really know our destinations.
• You get a cool rafting t-shirt!!!

Okay, I want to go, but which trip is right for me?
Basically all our rafting trips share similar ingredients so you might want to decide what else will make the trip special for you. If you would like to see lions then perhaps don't go to Turkey for rafting. Similarly the only way you will see Everest from Zambia is by postcard! The best thing to do is to call us and talk it through. We have all done the trips many times and can also help you with the best treks to do in Nepal or advise you on the best places to go on safari in Africa. We will make sure you go on the rafting trip that will truly meet your expectations in every way.

Hamish McMaster "Mush"

Expedition Leader & Owner

After his 18 years running rivers to every corner of the world, Hamish loves nothing more than to get out on trips with his clients. Water By Nature has cemented its name in the Adventure Travel business in the past 8 years and is at the forefront of exploring new and exciting destinations. Mush is proud of his team and his company who are all "living their dreams" and sharing that philosophy with all who join them.

Koryn Gould "The short one"

Expedition Leader

This boy is an absolute star! Not only is he a dynamo around the campsite, but his river skills are world class too! Koryn has been with Water by Nature since its infancy and is one of the most regular sights on our worldwide expeditions. Koryn inspires confidence in all his crews you can be sure he will run the "perfect" line every time. He has rafted more than 75 rivers in five continents.

Mike Abbott "Mikey"

Expedition Leader & Kayak Instructor

Mikey was born in a kayak! He has accomplished many first descents in India and Tibet including the famed first descent of the Tsangpo featured in Outside Magazine. Mike runs our kayaking trips in New Zealand and is a fantastic "confidence builder" for all our clients. He has also joined us in Morocco and the occasional raft trip. This boy loves his job! Mikey is definitely the guy you want as your safety kayaker!

Stan Ricketts "Caveman"

Expedition Leader

Stan has some of the best river skills in the world! Originally from South Africa he learned to raft on the Tugela, Orange and Zambezi Rivers. Now a 16 year river veteran this is the guy you want at the helm of your raft in Chile, Nepal or the Zambezi. Stan inspires phenomenal confidence in all his crews and remains our most requested river leader. He is a phenomenal cook, wildlife and bird guru, has great stories and is a real character.

Don Johnston "Poppadom"

Expedition Leader

Originally from Colorado, Don is a regular sight on our expeditions in either Turkey, Morocco, Zambia or Chile. He is s superb linguist and will give you an extraordinary insight into cultures because of this. He has worked in a number of interesting "adventure" destinations for his other employer Medicins San Frontieres such as Iraq, Dafur, Congo and he has the campfire stories to go with it! Don loves ensuring everyone has just as much fun on the river as he does.

Amy Flynn "Aimless"

International Guide

Amy is a master of organizing and leading trips. She has worked the Grand Canyon for years and brings its great touches to Water By Nature trips. Now as a practicing lawyer, she gets less time on the river, but is always a frequent sight on our Grand Canyon trips. She even wears dresses, which has been known to shock the occasional client! Aimless loves the river, whether it be in her native California, or Nepal or Zambia.

Debs Pinniger

International Guide

Debs joined us this year in Morocco for our paddle and surf trips as well as teaching on our Kayak School. Debs has a great nature about her both on and off the river and apart from her legendary "chips from Chippenham" she is a wonderful riverside cook as well. Debs takes everything in her stride and simply loves to paddle! Not many people can say they have been taught by the World Womens Kayak Rodeo Champion!

Josh Waterson "Honeybubbles"

Expedition Leader

As an Australian, Josh uses any excuse he can to leave his country. He has an impressive list of rivers to his name and spends his year chasing the Best White Water In The World.! He is a laid back character who is rarely ruffled even in the most challenging situations. Josh's great humour and "tassie" roots underlie his great experience and ability as one of our excellent river leaders.

Olli Vann

Kayak Instructor

Olli is a fantastic instructor and loves nothing more than to share rivers with clients and offer his invaluable experience with his unique style on fun ways of learning to get down rivers. Olli being a fully qualified British Canoe Union instructor is able to offer our kayaking clients with a qualification by the end of your trip. Olli has paddled seven years in France and two years teaching kayaking on the Zambezi in Zambia. With his loud shirts and big smile, Olli makes sure you have as much fun on the river as he does.

Neville Louw

Guide

Born and bred in South Africa, Neville learned to raft on the Zambezi after he got bored running away from hippos on canoe safaris on the upper river.  Since then he has spent most of the past 12 years on the river, managing a rafting company on the Nile, and teaching Kiwis how to canyon in New Zealand.  At the moment Neville calls Switzerland home, and spends his time between trips, guiding canyoning and rafting in the Alps.  When he is not on the water, Neville spends his time cooking and gardening.  Not only will Neville bring his guests safely through the toughest rivers, he is possibly one of the funniest humans on the planet. Neville’s solid skills and entertaining antics are a bonus to any trip.

Mike Young "Grape"

Office Guru

Mike runs our US office out of Colorado. An enthusiastic outdoor man, Grape loves nothing more than to get out on the river in Nepal, the Grand Canyon or Australia (if we let him!) An extremely competent organiser, Mike will make sure all the details for your next river adventure completely put your mind at ease. Mike is the consummate Adventure Professional.

Sophie Diedrichs:

International Guide

Sophie is 100% energy on the river and in camp. She loves her job and makes sure everybody who joins her has the best time they can! She has worked extensively in New Zealand, Australia Morocco and Switzerland and will give you huge confidence in her at the back of your raft. She is a logistics guru and will make sure all of the plans for your trip are perfectly executed. 

Paul Moyoli "Doc"

International Guide

A native Zambian, Doc is a treasure to have on any trip. Not only is he Mr Zambezi after spending more than 15 years on this river, his local knowledge of history, culture and wildlife, make him the perfect choice for our trips. He has fantastic campfire stories of his thousands of trips down this river. He is one of the real characters on our trips, just wait to see what he wears the night he prepares dinner!

Pete Meredith

Expedition Leader

Pete is most at home on a river, the more remote the better. He started rafting in 1991 on the Tugela river in his home country South Africa, and spent most of his life exploring Africa and its rivers. His most recent escapade was as Expedition Co-Leader to do the first full descent of the Nile from the source to the sea featured on National Geographic Television. He'll amaze you with his knowledge on the river, wildlife and local customs.

Jon Fauver

Expedition Leader

Jon ran / migrated from the USA to the Himalaya in 1994, where he learned all about Himalayan rivers by spending a summer swimming with his kayak down the Beas in Northern India.  After finally learning kayaks worked better if you stayed in them, he spent the next five years leading rafting expeditions all over Nepal including the first descent down the Tamur River with short breaks to guide in Idaho and Peru.  Jon is currently based in Switzerland where he operates a Rafting and Canyoning company in Interlaken.

Erin Galey

International Guide

This girl = energy! Erin is the latest asset to the team after she guided with us on the Grand Canyon 2 years ago. A passionate paddler, she has a contagious personality you will automatically be drawn to. Her latest ambition to head into the world of American documentary filming is being realised this year. We are very lucky to be able to benefit from her talents on the river and behind the camera.

Raju Thapa Magar

International Guide

Raju is always a hit on raft trips with his mix of Nepali wit and western humour complimenting his superb raft guiding skills. His passion for Nepali rivers sees him join us every year but his experience has also led him to the USA and Japan. Raju has been guiding for over 10 years and is one of the best guides in Nepal. As one of 5 children, Raju is a fantastic cook and normally has clients spellbound as he whips up everything from cakes to his traditional Dhal Bhat over an open fire.

KC Gareth Wilson

International Guide

KC was born in New Zealand and grew up in the outdoors, fishing & hunting rabbits.
Having to give up Rugby after not making the All Blacks – he discovered White water rafting.  
After training in New Zealand, he got his big break in Africa on the Zambezi River in 1996. Since then he's been travelling following the rafting seasons in New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Chile & Uganda.

Dave Leathborough "Leafy"

Professional Cameraman

A veteran cameraman from the Zambezi, Leafy has spent many years filming rafting and kayaking adventures and major Adventure sport competitions around Southern African, Chile and Nepal. Currently Leafy runs his own photographic and video production company in the UK, but prefers to take his cameras to the more beautiful places of the world such as the Grand Canyon. A truly talented individual, he will provide you with lasting memories of your trip with Water By Nature. Dave’s Top Tip: “As you re-surface, wipe your nose!”

Dave Humpleby

Expedition Leader

Dave was born in the white water capital of England, Bognor Regis. Since then his rafting has taken him all over the world with his passion for running rivers. Dave can be seen on our trips as far afield as The Grand Canyon and Chile although he returns to his favourite, the Zambezi as often as he can. A wonderful joke and story teller from his 15 years on rivers, Dave loves river life. Now in full-time training to be a Paramedic, Dave is a true river professional.

Tyler Dinsdale

Professional Cameraman

Tyler began part time guiding in his summers, whilst retaining his full time job as a lifeguard in Canada. Soon the river took over his life and he moved to Australia for a year and worked on the Tully in Queensland. Since then he has traveled from river to river and country to country. New Zealand, Uganda, Zambia and Canada to name a few. Now, a dynamic paddler, he turns his love of the river into capturing your memories from the trip in his amazing photographs.

Neil Brown "Biff"

Trip Leader and Safety Kayaker

Biff has spent the last 18 years chasing whitewater around the world. Now based primarily in Switzerland, Biff loves nothing more than getting out on an overnight trip and sharing his love of the river with his clients. Morocco has always had a special draw for Neil, as a culinary expert specializing in riverside cuisine! A truly talented river professional of the highest order.

Dave Prothero

Expedition Leader

Dave has spent his life on rivers. He has incredible confidence running rivers from his vast experience around the globe in such countries as Honduras, New Zealand and India. Everything for Dave is “awesome” as he continues to follow rivers around the world. With his trademark hat he’ll always greet you with a smile. His cooking skills are second to none, being a trained chef, he can whip up some amazing feasts over an open fire. He loves reading and boxing in his spare time

Rayno van Heerden

Professional Cameraman

Rayno started guiding rafts on the White Nile in Uganda, aged 16. Inspired to do something with his life he got a degree in Economics from his native South Africa, funding this with guiding on the Tugela River in Zululand.Deciding that economics was possibly not for him, he decided instead on a career in rafting, kayaking ideography and partying. He has filmed for 3 years on the White Nile as well as in Patagonia. He is still looking for a "real" job after 9 years on the rivers of the world....

Heather Kirkpatrick "Kirkus"

Expedition Leader

Heather loves both the rivers and the mountains. She has raft guided extensively in Australia with Tasmania's Franklin river being her home turf. She has also worked in Siberia, Costa Rica, India, France, the Grand Canyon and Turkey. She also works as a field training officer instructing survival skills in Antartica where she claims the first descent of the Pagadroma Gorge on ice skates!

Gaby Campbell-Lloyd

International Guide

After following her "worse half" to the Zambezi, Gaby fell in love with kayaking on the Zambezi River. She grew up amongst the rainforest of tropical north Queensland – Australia. Playing on the rivers in any floatable contraption she and her brother could get their hands on… Thus started a hunger of adventure, which has led her all around the world with her partner in crime KC – paddling in Africa on  the  Mighty Zambezi, White Nile  Uganda, Switzerland, New Zealand, USA, and of course Australia.  

Marc Gacond

Video Cameraman

Marc has been kayaking since age 7. 4 times Swiss Champion in freestyle kayaking. He has rafted and kayaked in Switzerland, New Zealand, Peru, Honduras, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chile,  and Nepal. He has superb camera skills having worked for the last 4 years in the film industry as a production assistant and  location manager. He has a strange accent and vocabulary having been taught English by "kiwis:  

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