White Water Rafting in South Africa.
White Water Rafting or River Rafting involves using an inflatable raft to navigate a river. Some rivers are more challenging than others and operators typically use the International Scale of River Difficulty where the navigation of rapids in a river is classified as one of the following six grades:
Grade 1:
Very basic skill required, few rough areas that might require slight maneuvering
Grade 2:
Basic paddling skill required, some rough water and rocks that require some maneuvering
Grade 3:
White water with small waves and drops with no considerable danger that require significant maneuvering
Grade 4:
White water with medium waves, rocks and considerable drops that require sharp maneuvers
Grade 5:
White water with large waves, rocks and other hazards with large drops that require precise maneuvering
Grade 6:
Dangerous rapids, white water, huge rocks and hazards. Note : Our operators do not run rafting activities for this grade.
As the summer rainfall falls in the mighty Drakensberg Mountains, the Umkomaas River in KwaZulu-Natal offers paddlers a rollercoaster ride of rapids ranging from Grade 2 to 4.
The Tugela River, the largest in KwaZulu-Natal is a heaven for adventure seekers with rapids ranging from Grade 1 to 5.
The longest river in South Africa, the ever popular Orange River in the Northern Cape has a grading of between 2 to 4 and runs year around. The remote base camps and the pristine setting makes a rafting adventure here an unforgettable experience.
In Mpumalanga, the Blyde River has challenging Grade 3 to 5 white water sections and near Johannesburg, on the Crocodile and Vaal rivers, paddlers can enjoy Grade 2 to 3 rapids.
The Ash River, outside Clarens in the Free State offers Grade 3 and 4 rapids with descriptive names like Car Wash and Big Surprise.
In the Western Cape, paddlers wait for winter rainfall when the tranquil Breede River becomes more energetic and offers Grade 2 to 3 rapids, perfect for rafting adventures.