This is a pretty unknown section to paddle, although everybody knows about the river, due to the Mac-Mac Falls, which is a well-known tourist attraction. The section described here is the last 17 km of the river to the confluence with the Sabie River. Pine plantations surround the greater part of this section, but the vegetation on the river-banks is so thick that you hardly notice it.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 2 to 4, but some sections are easier than others
• Length: 17km
• Duration: 4 to 6 hours
• Type: Mountain stream, gets steep every now and then
• Put-in: Bridge where dirt road crosses river. The dirt road turn-off from R535 is 21km from Hazyview on the way to Graskop.
• Take-out: Confluence with Sabie River, same as for upper Sabie
• Levels paddleable: Any
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: Permission from Sappi Office when doing the upper sections. Permission from Induna Adventures at take-out. Induna’s office is just on the other side of the tarred road at the take-out.

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This gorge has some of the most dangerous rapids in the country. The N4 runs next to it on the northern side and a railway line with its service road on the southern side, but the vegetation is so thick that you don’t notice it. Also keep in mind that the flat sections near the two bridges are likely to have some hippos in it.Ideal for: Kayak

Grade: 3 to 5
Length: 15km
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Type: Short steep technical rapids
Put-in: Bridge of N4, or further downstream reachable from the railway service road
Take-out: Bridge of N4, or before that at any of the rest areas on the N4
Dam controlled: Kwena Dam, but Elands River and other tributaries join below dam
Permits: None Read More

The Crocodile is one of the major rivers in Mpumalanga. It is fed by lots of small tributaries and also the Elands River. It runs into the Komati River just short of the Mozambique border. The stretches below Montrose are inhabited by herds of hippo, and apart from the gorge, should not be paddled by sensible people (some might argue that the gorge should in any case not be run by sensible people).

The section described here is the course of the annual Lowveld Crocodile Marathon, held over two days. It is characterised by lots of weirs, low-level bridges and trees, for which one should be on the lookout. The description below applies for a typical race level of 10 cumecs, as supplied by Kwena Dam.Ideal for: K1

• Grade: 1 to 3
• Length: 33km, 24km
• Duration: 3 to 5 hours, 2 to 4 hours
• Type: Narrow, fast
• Put-in: Below dam wall
• Take-out: Above Montrose Falls
• Dam controlled: Kwena Dam
• Permits: None

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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

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This relatively unknown section is popular with the local K1-paddlers, and ad hoc races have been held on it.

• Ideal for: K1
• Grade: 1 to 2
• Length: 24km
• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Type: Narrow, small rapids
• Put-in: Bridge at Sappi factory, below weir
• Take-out: Last of the three N4 bridges crossing the Elands
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

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The Elands is a small tributary to the Crocodile River. It is famous for its waterfall at Waterval-Boven, which has become a tourist attraction. The Elands is easily accessible as the N4 runs along it all the way from Waterval-Boven to Montrose, making different put-in and take-out points possible.

The section described here is quite long, and only worthwhile to paddle at medium to high levels. When the water is up, expect a fast, exciting run. The section used to be very tight with some tree-blocks, but flash floods have scoured it open. It does not mean that there are no strainers anymore, so always be wary.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3
• Length: 22km
• Duration: 3 to 5 hours
• Type: Narrow, continuous gradient
• Put-in: Walk down from the parking area, 1km below tunnel at Waterval-Boven. At lower water, walk down from Waterval-Onder where the road comes close to river.
• Take-out: Bridge at Sappi factory
• Dam controlled: No
• Permits: None

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The scenery on this trip will impress anyone, no matter what your frame of reference is. It goes through a very deep gorge with steep-sided cliffs. It is a very isolated piece of river and one is very unlikely to meet anyone else in this mountain wilderness.

• Ideal for: Croc, kayak
• Grade: 2 to 3
• Length: 45km
• Duration: 2 to 3 days
• Type: Pool-drop
• Put-in: Penge, or Mabinz for a day trip
• Take-out: Follow dirt road next to Manoutsa down to river. Take-out is upstream of the weir.
• Dam controlled: Loskop Dam, but it is far upstream. Water level not really dependent on dam release.
• Permits: None
• Commercial operators: Blyde

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This is a very similar section compared to the previous one, except that the most difficult section is on the first half before levelling off on the last couple of kilometres.Ideal for: Kayak

• Grade: 3 to 4
• Length: 34km
• Duration: Long one-day, easy two-day trip
• Type: Pool-drop, continuous at places
• Put-in: At the huts of the Bobbejaan hiking trail next to river
• Take-out: Just upstream of Loskop dam (where Roan Lodge used to be), near the well-known Kanongat
• Dam controlled: Witbank Dam
• Permits: Permission for entering hiking trail on farm, call (013) 282-6101. Ask for directions to the huts. A 4×4 or at least a vehicle with high clearance is needed. Same applies to take-out on farm. Ask permission and use a 4×4. Also permit for take-out. Contact the Manager of the Loskop Dam Game Reserve at (013) 262-4190.

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This is a must-do for competent kayakers, and even skilled paddlers with crocs can enjoy it. It goes through spectacular gorges and has continuous rapids when the water is up. Witbank Dam controls the flow of the water, and prolonged rain is needed before enough water is released to make it paddleable.

• Ideal for: Kayak
• Grade: 3 to 4
• Length: 26km
• Duration: 5 to 7 hours
• Type: Pool-drop, continuous at places
• Put-in: Hotel next to river
• Take-out: At the huts of the Bobbejaan hiking trail next to river
• Dam controlled: Witbank Dam
• Permits: Permission for entering hiking trail on farm (call 013-282-6101). Ask for directions to the huts. A 4×4 or at least a vehicle with high clearance is needed.

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The Olifants River is a major river of Mpumalanga, with paddleable stretches in the High- and Lowveld. The upper stretches are unfortunately dam-controlled. Most of the paddleable sections go through unspoilt gorges, providing stunning scenery. Loskop Dam and the whole section below it has hippos and crocodiles, making it less suitable for water-born expeditions. It eventually runs into the Limpopo River.

Apart from the Wilge, the Olifants has another major tributary, called the Little Olifants. The Little Olifants is paddleable after good rains, when it is continuous but not too steep. Strainers are a problem on this river, as the river does not run most of the time and the vegetation has invaded the riverbed. Few paddlers ever attempt to run it and it is not described in detail here.