The Magnificent 7
No time to do the Orange? How about these quick fixes?
1 A QUICK RUSH ON THE “CROC” The Crocodile River is Joburg’s secret. Drifting downstream on a rock-solid inflatable two-person “Crocodile” and shooting burbling rapids, it’s easy to forget that you are just 30 minutes from the heart of Africa’s richest city. In places the river winds under high cliffs and between treecovered hills, making it feel as if you’re paddling on a lost river in Africa. — Paul Ash Local adventure outfitter Paddle Power ( paddlepower.co.za , tel: 012 205 1278) offers half-day trips, led by experienced river guides, R320, including an ice lolly.
2 CONQUER THE VAAL Parys, on the banks of the Vaal, is Gauteng’s top rafting destination. The short section of the Vaal boasts famous rapids such as “Gatsien” and “Big Daddy”, which sound much scarier than they really are — the rapids range from Grade 1 (“easy” on a scale of one to six) to Grade 3, depending on water levels. In peak season, the river attracts up to 2 000 rafters a day, many there for their first exhilarating taste of whitewater rafting. — Claire Keeton X Factor Events ( x-factorevents.co.za tel: 082 924 3941) runs half-day trips (R250pp) and full-day trips (R400pp).
3 A DESERT GEM The Karoo seems an unlikely place for a whitewater adventure — until you launch on to the Great Brak River near Middelburg. Fed by clean water from the Orange-Fish River tunnel, this river has many enjoyable rapids up to Grade 3. On our short visit we bounced along through easy and fun whitewater on a two-hour trip. On longer trips you return to the main camp each night. — Claire Keeton Karoo River Rafting ( karoo-riverrafting.co.za , tel: 084 429 9944) offers trips lasting from one hour (R350pp) to two days (R1 500pp including accommodation in tents or cabins). The season runs from August to May.
4 ALONG THE MIGHTY TUGELA Known to some old rivermen as “the Beast of the East”, the Tugela is known for its sheer spectacle. On its banks in a remote valley near Weenen is Zingela, a rafting camp that beats all others. You can chill — the accommodation is spectacular — or go rafting and acquaint yourself with the infamous “Washing Machine” and “Finger Rock” rapids. — Claire Keeton Rates at Zingela Safaris ( zingelasafaris.co.za , tel: 036 354 7005 start at R375pppn self-catering to R950pp for fully catered luxury accommodation. Rafting is extra, from R250pp.
5 A WEEKEND IN SWAZILAND The Usutu is a wonderful river. Wide and placid for the most part, it has sections where the flow barrels between rocks, making fine rapids with names like “Holomi Station” and “Initiator”. Most rapids are Grade 3 but some, as a guide once put it to me, are “Grade 4 with attitude”. Go with a guide and you will be thrilled. — Paul Ash
Swazi Trails ( swazitrails.co.sz, tel: +268 241 62180 offers a full-day trip from R1 300pp. Discounts available.
6 THE GLORIOUS PALMIET One of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets, the Palmiet offers a winter’s day of paddling happiness on tea-coloured water in the utterly unspoiled Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Trips are done on Crocs or — if the water levels are low — on one-person Gecko tubes. — Paul Ash
Gravity Adventures ( gravity.co.za , tel: 021 683 3698) offers winter-only trips, starting at R650 (R575 on Geckos).
7 FUN ON THE ASH RIVER, CLARENS Those who know come for the fast water that flows like chilled, green-gold champagne all year round. The Ash has a few big rapids (Grades 3 and 4) and plenty of easy ones, as well as meandering stretches on which children can raft with no risk of flipping. The crystal water comes from the Katse Dam in Lesotho and through the Trans-Caledon tunnel, which means rafting is year-round. — Claire Keeton
Clarens Xtreme (clarensxtreme.co.za), tel: 058 256 1260) offers half-day trips from R450pp.