This section of the Umkomaas River belongs to the old classics club. It can be paddled at low and high levels. The water channels nicely instead of disappearing through the rocks when the level is low, making the rapids still fun. Stay away at a high level unless you know the river well. The gorge is inaccessible for the most part, and one of the most beautiful in the country.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3 to 4, 5 at high levels
• Length: 35km
• Duration: 5 to 8 hours
• Type: Pool-drop
• Put-in: Take turn-off (2km from Lundy’s Hill on R617) to Deepdale station. Drive 8km on good dirt road as far as Deepdale station, where railway bridge across river will be visible. Stop and walk through the veld down to the river.
• Take-out: Hella-Hella bridge. Get out 50m before bridge on right bank.
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

This section of the Umkomaas River is a very pleasant run, popular for kayakers and K1-paddlers, and very accessible. All rapids are runnable with a K1 (easier than the section below Hella-Hella), and the flat stretches are not too long. For kayakers, this is one of the better play-sections in Natal, with nice waves and holes forming at all levels.

• Ideal for: Kayak, K1, croc
• Grade: 2 to 3
• Length: 10km
• Duration: 2-5 hours, depending on playtime
• Type: Pool-drop
• Put-in: Lundy’s Hill store on R617 between Boston and Bulwer. Turn off at store and go over small bridge across river. Put in upstream of bridge.
• Take-out: Take turn-off (2km from Lundy’s hill on R617) to Deepdale station. Drive 5km on dirt road till road comes right up against river. River turns sharply to the right with the road on the left bank.
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

The Ngudwini is a small tributary to the Umkomaas and only runs after good rains. When it does, it is a very steep confined river.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3 to 4, maybe 5 at high water
• Length: 10km
• Duration: 3 to 4 hours
• Type: Narrow creek
• Put-in: Lowlevel bridge. Take turnoff going to Nature Reserve on right, approximately 2km from Hella-Hella bridge.
• Take-out: Hella-Hella bridge
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

For some unknown reason this must be the most under-estimated and un-used stretch of the Umkomaas River. Although it is high up on the Umkomaas, it’s still below most major tributaries and carries basically the same amount of water as the more popular lower stretches.

• Ideal for: Kayak, crocs
• Grade: 3 to 4
• Length: 38km
• Duration: 8 hours if the river is not high. Long 1 day, easy 2 day trip.
• Type: Pool-drop. Middle section more continuous.
• Put-in: Road bridge between Netherby and Impendle. Dirt roads normally in good condition.
• Take-out: Turn off at Lundy’s Hill store from R617 and go over small bridge across river. Take out upstream of bridge. Riverwise this is the second bridge. The first one is where the R617
• rosses the river.
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

The Umkomazana is one of the major tributaries to the Umkomaas. A trip down this stretch is a pleasant paddle with excellent scenery, suitable for kayaks and crocs. Competent K1-paddlers can also enjoy this stretch at a low level if they are prepared to portage some of the rapids.

• Ideal for: Kayak, croc
• Grade: 2 to low 4, 5 at high level
• Length: 16km
• Duration: 3 to 5 hours, depending on water level
• Type: Pool-drop mountain stream
• Put-in: Bridge between Himeville and Netherby
• Take-out: Bridge between Bulwer and Impendle
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

The Nzinga is a nice continuous small river with not too much of a gradient. It is a small tributary to the Umkomaas with a small catchment area. It is quite a long stretch to paddle and only worthwhile at a high level. You will probably be able to manoeuvre through the tree-blocks, but keep your eyes open as treeblocks do change with time. Put in right after Nzinga Falls and enjoy the ride. The rapids are interesting and require lots of manoeuvring, but are not scary.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3 to 4
• Length: 24km
• Duration: 4 to 6 hours
• Type: Continuous, small creek
• Put-in: Bridge
• Take-out: Bridge
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More

Imagine a grade 3 rapid situated between awesome Drakensberg peaks. This rapid goes on for 17km, non-stop. That’s the Loteni for you. No pools (okay, maybe one) and only a few eddies to catch. If you have the nerves for a river so continuous, enjoy the ride. On the way down a few waterfalls from small tributaries in the surrounding mountains are visible, adding to the magical experience of the trip. The greater part of this major tributary to the Umkomaas is situated in the reserve, so the surroundings are very unspoilt.

• Ideal for: Kayak, croc
• Grade: 3
• Length: 17km
• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Type: Continuous, non-stop mountain stream
• Put-in: Loteni nature reserve. Follow road past chalets, walk down to river where road gets closest to it.
• Take-out: Low level bridge where road to reserve crosses river.
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: Loteni Nature Reserve

Read More

This used to be the best kept secret of the Umzimkulu River. The valley is deep with unspoilt vegetation for most part, with many exciting rapids to enjoy. There are no cliffs to overcome in the case of a mishap, but the hills are still steep, making the valley a bit isolated. It feels very remote once you are in it, adding to the experience.

• Ideal for: Kayak, croc, raft, wildwater racer
• Grade: 3 to 4
• Length: 15km
• Duration: 3 to 5 hours
• Type: Pretty continuous
• Put-in: Farm at horseshoe bend. Take turn-off to Rock of Gibraltar. Stay left when dirt road splits.
• Take-out: Limeworks
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: Permission from farmer at put-in. Contact Oribi Gorge Hotel to arrange access. Permission at Limeworks for take out.

Read More

This is one awesome stretch to paddle. It is strictly for competent kayakers, as the river is very isolated with no proper access to the river in between the put-in and take-out points. The surroundings are naturally untouched and the rapids are big when not bordering on scary.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3 to 5
• Length: 110km
• Duration: 3 to 5 days
• Type: Pool-drop, few continuous sections and some major rapids
• Put-in: Umzimkulu
• Take-out: Farm at horseshoe bend. Take turn-off to Rock of Gibraltar. Stay left when dirt road splits.
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: Permission from farmer at take out. Arrange with Oribi Gorge Hotel.

Read More

A good section for K1-paddlers, and an annual race is held on it. It boasts long flat stretches, which are ideal for practising. A couple of grade 1 and 2 rapids are encountered, which become low grade 3 at high levels. There are 2 weirs to negotiate. They are both runnable, but scout the second weir first before running it (on the left).

• Ideal for: K1
• Grade: 1 to 2
• Length: 22km
• Duration: Less than 2 hours in a K1
• Type: Long pools, small rapids
• Put-in: Islington Store
• Take-out: Bridge at Umzimkulu town on R56
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

Read More