Whitewater rafting is a perfect way to combine a love for the outdoors and the rushing thrill of taking on natures elements. There is nothing quite like driving through a rushing whorl of water, having it spray up in your face, bouncing up and down in your seat feeling as though you are only moments away from disaster. Best of all, whitewater rafting is one of the safest adventure sports there is, with national safety standards followed by every major outfitter in North America.
Every state and province in North America offers several whitewater rafting experiences on various river routes. Beginners can try out smaller rapids, in the Class I-III range, while thrill seekers can try out rapids classified IV and V. If you are an ultra adventure seeker, however, you might be out of luck. North America does have a few of the most dangerous Class VI rapids, but they are seldom used by even the most hardy rafting enthusiasts and no outfitters offer tours on them. If you are truly looking to defy death, there are several other locations in the world that do offer incredibly hazardous raft rides. Africa, for example, offers several tours of Class VI rivers, where the adrenaline...