This section of the Highveld Croc is characterised by flat-water and small rapids.
The sections described here actually comprises two rivers, the Crocodile and its major tributary, the Jukskei. The Crocodile is not paddled upstream of the confluence of the two rivers, and the paddleable section is generally considered to be one river, called the Highveld Crocodile, starting on the Jukskei and ending on the Crocodile.
The river is close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, making it the ideal river for Gauteng-based paddlers to enjoy whitewater. It has been used extensively by K1-paddlers for tripping and racing in the past, although the popularity has decreased a bit due to access problems. In the meantime, commercial rafting has taken off in a big way, as the river has proven popular with rafting clients.
It must be stressed that although the sections are all relatively easy, they become very dangerous at flood levels, due to the weirs and low-level bridges. Another point of interest for paddlers is that the water quality has improved drastically over the past few years, and the water is now tested every second week on behalf of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
The river winds through Nature Reserves and farmland. The mostly unspoilt indigenous bush and surrounding mountains add to the attraction of the trip. Apart from the stretches described below, there are also paddleable stretches below the Hartebeespoort Dam. The Crocodile eventually becomes a main tributary to the Limpopo River.
The upper reaches of the Ngwempisi are still unchartered. The lower section through the Ntungulu Mountains though, is yet another gem. The scenery through this valley is phenomenal. It is very remote and uninhabited and you certainly won’t be disappointed by the river.
The Assegaai River enters Swaziland – where it becomes the Mkhondvo – through the Mahamba Gorge, which is short and sweet, containing some solid class 3+ to 4 drops. The river then mellows for quite a few kilometres before starting its descent into the Grand Valley. The put-in for this trip is just in time to catch this awesome descent.
This river may be only the little brother of the Usutu but it holds every bit as much action. Its Swazi name is the Lusushwana.
The section described here is a fantastic piece of river, with impressive slides and big drops providing good photographic and video opportunities. There are some steep and technical sections, requiring good boat skills and quick reactions.
The commercial section is obviously the most well known stretch to paddle in Swaziland. It is a wide and open section with stunning scenery. The section is below the three major tributaries and a paddleable water level 365 days a year is almost guaranteed. All major rapids can be portaged, making this trip an ideal introduction to real whitewater.
This is a superb piece of river and probably the most popular run for locals. For most of the way, the flood plain is very wide, with numerous channels to choose from. This produces a unique combination of big volume drops interspersed with some more creeky runs. Hence the class 3 to 4+ grading.
This section is only for those who can handle the unexpected. It lies above all the major tributaries, hence the narrow and steep nature. The river splits up every now and then, forming really narrow, fast channels that suddenly disappear over drops.
The Usutu is Swaziland’s major river and provides lots of action. It starts in the vicinity of Amsterdam before it enters Swaziland, where it is also known as the Lusutfu. It carves its way through the mountainous western part of the country before entering the eastern flats. On its lower course it first forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland and then between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. It finally joins up with the Pongola, which becomes the Maputo River in Mozambique.
Apart from the rivers that are covered in more detail separately, rivers like the Maletsunyane, the Tsoelike and Linakeng will be of interest to experienced paddlers in search of challenging runs.
A trip on the Maletsunyane can start below the Maletsunyane Falls at Semonkong, which is the highest single drop waterfall in Southern Africa. The section below the fall seems to be a technical class 3 to 5 section. It probably flattens out closer to its confluence with the Senqu.
The Tsoelike and Linakeng also have good creeking potential. There will undoubtedly be even more rivers waiting for a first descent. Read More