William heads for the rapids

Prince William has confirmed his passion for Africa by taking a secret adventure holiday, white water rafting on the Nile.

The 21-year-old spent three days at the Bujagali Falls in Uganda, reliving one of his most treasured childhood holiday memories with Princess Diana.

His thrill-seeking break - the start of a month long African adventure - was cleared by Prince Charles and the Queen after he convinced them the Falls are among the safest white water rafting in the world as the river beds have no rocks.

The falls are one of Uganda's most renowned beauty spots, with the river running through a narrow pass in a foaming mass creating a rafter's paradise.

The trip will evoke memories of the rafting trip he took with Princess Diana and his brother Harry on the Colorado river in America when they were boys.

This time William is joined by a party of 11, including his mentor, former Guards officer Mark Dyer, and his Scotland Yard protection officers.

But it is not known if he is accompanied by Jecca Craig, the wealthy Kenyan-born heiress, with whom he was romantically linked last month. Sources say William is expected to travel from Uganda to Miss Craig's home, a wildlife reserve on the slopes of Mount Kenya where he spent part of his gap year three years ago, to go on safari.

William has already braved one of the most spectacular stretches of the Nile at Bujagali, a technically-difficult route which has a top Grade 5 rating. He and his party later camped beside the river, where he sat on rocks to take in the spectacular views for several hours.

His aides booked the trip in assumed names for £40 a day with the Equator rafting company, taking the full rafting package, including a free phone CD of the trip, accommodation, meals and drinks. Keen to guard his privacy, the prince asked other tourists not to take his photograph.

Manager of the campsite Jason Roussos said: "William came with an entourage of 11 people, including his bodyguards, and camped at our Eden Rock Resort. He loved the campsite. They had a beer or two.

"One of his friends seemed very close to him. I think it was a s cho olmat e. They spoke Kiswahili."