South Africa has fantastic rivers, so when it comes to River Rafting, you'll be spoiled for choice. River rafting can be either gentle or terrifying, depending on the river. Some, like the Doring in the Cape, are fast-flowing and steep. Others, including the Orange River, are calm and undemanding. You need to be reasonably fit for the really wild rivers, but most people who can swim can cope with gentle conditions.
The most popular - for good reason - is the Orange, which forms the country's northern border with Namibia. It's a long, green-fringed oasis running through the mountainous desert area known as the Richtersveld. Incredibly scenic, it also has a few fun rapids.
The section below Augrabies Falls is similar, and there is a one-day rafting trip above Augrabies which features some exciting but not radical rapids. The Gorge section of the Orange is a lot more technical and has some high-volume rapids.
The Vaal, a tributary of the Orange, has some fun little rapids and is very close to Johannesburg, so it's a popular destination for corporate trips. Also near Johannesburg, the Crocodile River offers a pleasant day out with some small and mildly challenging rapids.
The Doring River in the Western Cape has a short season towards the end of winter, and offers fantastic, quite technical white water, but it's pretty cold.
The Palmiet River is absolutely wonderful. It runs through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve and offers fantastic technical rapids and wonderful scenery. The trip offered takes one day and includes all meals and sometimes a visit to a winery.
Wild 5 White Water Rafting in the Oribi Gorge of KwaZulu Natal -- Half day, full day and two-day trips offered down the Umzimkulu River.
Wild water rafting on the Umzimkulu River provides a fun filled adventurous day outing. It comprises of two routes, one, a relaxed paddle with three memorable rapids and a second more exciting route which lasts a full day. The full day trip will comprise of rapids from grades 2 to 4, depending on the river conditions. Both trips include refreshments on the river and lunch back at the Hotel afterwards.
The first route allows one to enjoy the scenery and birdlife of the valley as well as a little excitement of the rapids. Qualified guides (SARA) are on hand through the spills and thrills to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Rafting operates all year round and booking is essential. A minimum of four people is required per trip. During the low level months, tubes, are also used to traverse the river.
The Molenaars is a very technical, white water river that only works for a few days immediately after heavy rain in its catchment area, so it's not easy to plan a trip. The Sonderend River is a smallish river where you can do a fun day trip or overnighter.
There are two trips on the Breede River: a one day wine tasting trip near Worcester, which is really just an excuse to have a lovely picnic and sample some local wines, with a little bit of paddling thrown in. Lower down, near Swellendam, two-day trips are run on some small rapids and quite rocky sections. This section is used mainly for corporate trips.
There is some fun canoeing in the lakes area of the Garden Route, especially Wilderness and Knysna Lagoon. Other enjoyable flatwater trips include the two self-guided excursions near Port Alfred, one of which is up and down the conveniently tidal Kowie River. The other is a short paddle up the Kleinemond River to a wonderful overnight spot, called Kayak Camp.
Far more luxurious would be an escorted trip through the spectacularly beautiful and biologically unique Kosi Bay lake system. And, also in the Maputaland area of northern KwaZulu-Natal, there are fantastic escorted one-day trips on Lake St Lucia, where you may see crocodiles and hippos, and on Lake Bhangazi, also part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.
The Umkomaas River on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast offers fantastic paddling with some fun, challenging but not too technical rapids. Just north of Durban, the Umgeni has some delightful little rapids. The section paddled is part of the gruelling two-day Dusi Marathon.
The Buffalo River used to be the border between the kingdom of Zululand and the British colony of Natal and is near some fantastic historical sites. It's a lovely river with some quite challenging rapids. Standard trips are two days. The Buffalo is a tributary of the nearby Tugela River, which also has some pretty impressive white water with some very scary rapids indeed.
Felix Unite River Adventures offers you a choice of two base camps in South Africa –- these camps are ideal for family or corporate groups as well as being great conference venues.
Breede River Day Trip : (Swellendam – Western Cape) -- Relaxing, drinking and eating are all that you have to worry about as you paddle lazily along in 2 man inflatable “crocs”, taking in the sun and fresh air of the Breede River.
We cater for young and old, families, groups and Corporates.
The birdlife is abundant and the vegetation lush. All in all, a lazy, tranquil and scenically beautiful trip. For the more active, volleyball and sundry (beach) games can be organised - just ask us!
In the case of Corporate groups, we can tailor make your trip to incorporate work sessions.
Orange River Canoe Adventure: Graded as an easy “two”, the great Orange River adventure is safe for the whole family, with a choice of four or six day packages. The Orange River forms a natural border separating southern Namibia and South Africa and flows through the magnificent Richtersveld region.
River Rafting (& White Water) in SA:
180º Adventures have offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, and activities countrywide.
Active Africa Adventure Tours is a Western Cape-based adventure tours covering the full adrenaline spectrum.
Adventure Purists offer various adventure package tours which include a variety of activities across South Africa.
Felix Unite River Trips offers a variety of river activities on the Orange and Breede rivers as well as overland safaris and tours.
Gravity Adventure Group runs somewhat more exclusive trips for small groups on the Orange (including the whitewater gorge section), the Doring, the Palmiet and the Molenaars, when conditions permit.
Hardy Ventures run rafting trips on the Blyde, Olifants and Sabie rivers.
Intrapid Rafting will take you on trips varying from the gentle to action-packed whitewater rafting. They run along the Orange River, Doring River, River of Milk and Honey, Enchanted River, Back of the Moon and Palmiet River.
Otters Den, a river lodge on an island in the Blyde River at the foot of the Drakensberg near the Kruger Park, offers whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, kayaking and abseiling.
Travel Unite is a Cape Town-based tour company operating in southern Africa, offering whitewater rafting as an option.
Wildthing Adventures operates on the Orange, Breede and Doring rivers. |
