Davao River Water Rafting

DAVAO RIVER WATER RAFTING

This is it! One of the most anticipated and probably the most challenging activity that our group will take part during our Davao adventure! we booked a reservation online on their website, we were then asked to deposit php 500 per head as a reservation fee. Here’s their bank account information:

METROBANK DAVAO RIZAL BRANCH
DAVAO WILDWATER ADVENTURE INC.
058 3058 336 735

rafting gears and equipment

Davao River Water Rafting was our only itinerary for our first day since you will need a whole day to surpass this extreme challenge. This will be my 2nd water rafting experience and it really makes my blood boil from excitement! While some of my friends were anxious and are having mixed emotions, I’m so pumped up and ready to raft! Haha After our arrival around 7am, we ate our breakfast and arranged a booking at hotel uno, we took a family room which costs 1700 for the five of us. After preparing for our first adventure, we took a cab going to the crocodile park, here’s our itinerary for the day:

• 08:00 am  --  Assembly at Crocodile Park
• 09:30 am  --  Departure
• 10:30 am  --  Arrival at Put In area, Tamugan
• 11:00 am  --  Start of Rafting
• 12:00 pm  --  Lunch
• 03:00 pm  --  Arrival at Take Out area, Purok 8, Lacson
• 03:30 pm  --  Departure for Crocodile Park
• 04:30 pm  --  Arrival at Crocodile Park

The A-team =p

By the way, before I forget, the total fee for the Davao Wild Water rafting is 1700 per head, since we already paid 500 each for our reservation fee, we just paid the remaining 1200/head at the payment booth at the crocodile park, also, here’re the inclusions of the 1,700 fee:

Package inclusive of: 

• Transportation (From Crocodile Park to Rafting Area and back)
• Packed Lunch & Bottled Water
• Use of Gears & Equipment
• Raft guide
• Souvenir Shirt
• Documentation (2 Disc per group of 6)
• Ticket to ZIP CITY, Tribu K'mindanawan & Butterfly house

note: transfer to ZIP CITY not included.

Paddles

Life Vests

Helmets

After paying our remaining fees, we proceed with the orientation. Rules and policies will be explained in detail during this time, there will also be a short video presentation which is a compilation of previous rafting experiences. We were provided with our gears and equipment afterwards. There are lockers provided for valuables since were not allowed to bring anything on the site except for some clothes to change to after the rafting since this will be a very wet ride! haha

DWA orientation!

We rode a large jeep going to the “put in” area in Tamugan, it was an hour and a half ride, you can either sleep (to reserve more energy) or enjoy Davao’s view until you arrive. Upon arrival, we first made sure that all our gears are fully secured, our guide (sorry I forgot his name) taught us the basic paddler’s lingo that will be used all throughout and on how to float properly when we fall off the raft. We then secured ourselves on the raft (There is a strap at the bottom to secure our feet, make sure you secure tightly! haha). 

Our JEEP!

The inside was soooo wide!

The adrenaline pumping experience started! Yahooooo! I was seated in front; we were arranged by our guide to balance the raft. We started to paddle and passed through several rapids, they have a name for every rapid that we passed, and there is an explanation behind every name! haha There are several instances where we fell on the water and believe me, it was fun! You won’t enjoy the experience if you don’t fall off the raft! =) There will be instances where the guide will make everyone fall when crossing a rapid, so if you’re grip on the strap is strong then you’re safe! haha

Boarding the raft! weee!

We were practicing how to pull each one off the water!

Now we're ready! Here we goooo!!!

It was scary at some point because of the river’s strong current! Most of the rapids are also full of rocks so you really need to float properly when you fall to avoid being hit. By the way, each group will also be accompanied by another guide who will be riding a canoe, he’s the one who will take pictures and some video clips during the ride, at some point, he will also be assisting everyone who fell on the water back to the raft. So it’s really safe and there’s really no need to worry at all. =p 

High Five! That’s all we can say after succeeding every rapid we pass! Surely, you will get used to the strong current and rapids that you will encounter all throughout, I think there are around 20+ rapids before we reach the take out area at Purok 8, Lacson. 

rapids! rapids! rapids!

Whew!

survived a rapid!

let's reassemble!!!

There was a point there where we stopped to take some pictures and take our lunch (it will be secured at the bottom of the raft). The adventure continues after! Weeeee! It’s soooo fun! And here comes the highlight of our rafting experience, watch carefully!

They call that rapid the “drop and suck”, and it literally is drop and suck, it was scary! As soon as the rapid started sucking our raft, we all lost our focus, we forgot to paddle and started to panic! The raft flipped over and dropped everyone, we were scattered all over the river and the current was really strong so it took us some time to reassemble and get back on the raft, I was hit by a lot of rock and I almost drown during that time since I panicked big time! I swallowed some water and was breathing heavy. Good thing I was able to get a hold of myself and immediately assumed the right floating stance and drifted seamlessly across the river. It was a “buwis buhay” moment for me! Whew!

caught on cam while the raft is starting to flip over!

almost there!

After that rapid, the succeeding one’s are not that hard to outstrip anymore, they were all a piece of cake! Lolz! Just joking. =p I think the drop and suck was the most challenging rapid we encountered. Overall, it was a SUPER fun experience, I highly suggest everyone who will visit Davao to try doing this as this will be a rare opportunity to get by! Plus it really is worth the experience, the memories will be forever engraved in your hearts! haha

more!

we can do it!!!

the end!

After the raft, you will definitely realize how valuable life is! =) Thanks for the experience DWA! We surely will be back and create more memories if time permits! =)

Mission Success! yey!

Contact info:

click the link for DWA's website.

and here's their facebook page!

Address:

PHILIP S. DIZON ADVENTURE WORLD INC.

Davao Crocodile Park Compound, Riverfront Corporate City, 

Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City, Philippines 8000

Email: davaowildwater@yahoo.com