This is a short but fun trip with great scenery. The spectacular Dante Falls is also on this section, which has been run a couple of times by very experienced kayakers.
- Ideal for: Kayak
- Grade: 2 to 3
- Length: 5km
- Duration: 1 to 3 hours
- Type: Gorge, pool-drop rapids
- Put-in: Closest bridge to Montrose where N4 crosses Elands River
- Take-out: Montrose
- Dam controlled: No
- Permits: None
After the start there are a couple of interesting rapids, followed by a weir and, directly after that, the spectacular waterfall that should be portaged on the left bank by most kayakers. It is a broken waterfall, about 25m high in total. After this, the deep gorge starts. There are some nice rapids, all in the class 2 to 3 range. The Elands enters the Crocodile about 1km below Montrose. One has to paddle upstream to Montrose, negotiating flat pools with hippos and portaging two small waterfalls.
A really short, but enjoyable trip can be done from the put-in at the bridge to the weir. One can hike the 300m to the N4 on a small track going up from the weir.
This river description is taken from my book “Run the Rivers of Southern Africa”.
If you have any pictures or recent information on this section of river to share, please contact me:
blog@cellierskruger.com
I appreciate any contributions to keep this content up-to-date.