WHITE WATER RAFTING

(FIRST COMPANY, SITUATED NEAR HAZYVIEW)

MPUMALANGA AND THE NORTHERN PROVINCE-SOUTH AFRICA
Come and experience the wonderful and unique rivers of the Lowveld. From raging white water to gentle currents. Camp in the wilderness and rid yourself of those urban blues.

1. BLYDE RIVER CANYON

Overnight and day trips offered.
The stretch of river we operate is situated below the well-known pot holes at Bourke’s Luck. The distance we paddle on the river is 8.5km long and ends at the foot of the famous “Three Rondawels”. We start off with an early morning drive (45mins) through scenic country side to the river edge. The river trip takes between 8 and 9 hours and is filled with exhilarating white water and magnificent scenery of the Canyon. Lunch is served en route.
Overnight
We overnight at a rustic camp, set in a wilderness area at the foot of the “Three Rondawels”. Reeded huts, hot showers and a convivial atmosphere ensures a pleasant end to the day’s activities. Dinner is served by candle light. The following morning after breakfast we paddle out across the dam to the end point at Swadini. The dam is also situated in the Canyon. Return transport to the pick up point will be provided from this site.
Day trip
After spending a full day on the river we then motor boat across the dam to the “Boat House”. Transport to the pick up point will be provided from this site.

Continuous white water varying from easy to difficult is encountered; some stretches will be portaged. The river is technical and requires considerable effort both on and off the water. The river flows through a deep and awe-inspiring Canyon, placing it in a class of its own.
MINIMUN AGE: 16 YEARS

2. OLIFANTS RIVER

3 day, 2 day, 1 and a half day and 1 day trips
Three day trip
The stretch of river e operate is situated between Penge and the Strydom tunnel; a distance of 60 km. Gentle to fast flowing water with a few intermittent rapids throughout the journey, the last 12 kms has lots of great water.

Two day trip
The trip starts 25 km further down stream from Penge at the confluence of the Steelpoort
river and ends at the Strydom tunnel. Gentle to fast flowing water with a few intermittent rapids throughout the journey, the last 12 kms has lots of great white water.

One and half day trip
The trip starts at the same place as the Two day trip but ends upstream of the Strydom tunnel, by about 12 kms, at Mabin’s clinic. Gentle to fast flowing water with a few intermittent rapids throughout the journey. No big white water.

One day trip
This trip starts at Mabin’s clinic and ends at the Strydom tunnel. Lots of great white water.
A few notes on the Olifants river:
The river ventures through rugged bushveld and in many places through deep gorges. Bird life is prolific and the evenings are spent on the banks of the river under the stars or in the tents provided. Transport to the river from the Strydom tunnel (Manoutse resort) is included in the price. The road journey for the 3, 2 and 1 and a half day trips approximately two hours from the Strydom tunnel. Time taken to the start of the one day trip is approximately 15 mins.
MINIMUM AGE: 14 YEARS

3. SABIE RIVER

Half day trip offered
For those of you who are “Thrill Seekers” or real “Adrenaline junkies” this river is not for you.

The stretch of river we paddle is situated between “Aan de Vliet” and “Hippo Hollow”; located near Hazyview. A very scenic journey which takes one through dense wooden vegetation. The rapids are great fun, some of which will certainly get your adrenaline pumping. A half day trip is provided with a light lunch. These trips generally start at 9h00 and ends around 13h30.
MINIMUM AGE: 10 YEARS

GENERAL:
The equipment used includes two man inflatable rafts, paddles, life jackets and helmets. You will be accompanied by professional, SARA registered guides. The guides will ensure safety both on and off the river at all times. Detailed information will be provided on bookings to ensure that you are well prepared.

(SECOND COMPANY – SITUATED IN THE HOEDSPRUIT AREA)

BLYDE CANYON ADVENTURE CENTRE

1. BLYDE RIVER CANYON WHITE WATER RAFTING: OVERNIGHT.
We are a small consortium of operators who have been awarded the exclusive traversing rights through the Blyde Canyon by Mpumalanga Parks Board. The canyon is one of the most unspoilt wilderness areas in the country. What’s more, this is the third biggest canyon of its kind in the world, after the Grand- and Fish River Canyons.
On day one, the whitewater section (8.5km) between the picnic-site and the Blydepoort Dam is negotiated. This takes about eight hours, including rest stops and a lunch break. There are 14 sets of rapids, mostly grade II and III, but a couple of IV’s and at least one grade V. The Grade V is a “must portage. We have erected a simple overnight camp in the forest just above where the river enters the Blydepoort Dam. The camp has mattresses, bedding, A-frame huts, an outdoor dining area, and showers. The toilet is primitive, but it has a great view of the mountain. The camp is situated at the foot of the famous “Three Rondavels” and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
On day two, we paddle the flat-water section over the Blydepoort Dam to the Boathouse (5km). This takes from 2 to 3 hours depending on weather we take some time to enjoy the sights along the route (e.g. the tufa at Kadishi Waterfall) The whitewater section is somewhat physically taxing, and we have to discourage people with heart conditions or other physical handicaps from taking part. However, our experienced guides (guide/client ratio: ¼) will ensure that guests with even no previous rafting experience can have a safe and pleasurable journey down the canyon. Lower age limit is 14.

2. BLYDE CANYON WHITE WATER RAFTING: DAY TRIP. 6AM TO 6PM.
This is quite a busy day. It includes the whole of the Blyde Canyon Route, except that we hire a motor boat to take rafters from Wet Camel to the pull-out-point. If you are really pressed for time, this is your option, but you miss out on the tranquility of spending a night in the Canyon. Extreme whitewater rafting. 8km of intense rapids. Class 3-4 rapids. You’ll find wave trains, standing waves, pour over and holes resulting in exciting and unforgettable rafting. Duration: 8 hours

3. OLIFANTS GORGE RIVER RAFTING: TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
Minimum 6 per group.
A new rout through the Olifants Gorge between Kromellenboog and Manoutsa, ending just below the Strijdom Tunnel. This is a spectacular trip along 45km of hitherto unknown canyon lands, gorges and ravines. Great wilderness appeal, but not as physically taxing as the Blyde Canyon route. Ideal for family trips and corporate team builds. We also use this route for the special environmental awareness course that we offer. The lower age limit is 12, but minors must be accompanied by parents. The first day sees relatively few rapids, but the current is swift and we cover 30km with ease. We spend the night on the river bank, pitching camp on a sandy beach flanked by steep mountainside and baobab trees. On the second day, the gradient steepens and the rapids get bigger and more frequent. Difficulty ranges from grade II to IV. The grade IV rapids can be walked quite easily while the boats ghost run.

4. OLIFANTS GORGE RIVER RAFTING, DAY TRIP 9AM TO 3PM:
Ideal introduction to white water rafting. Excellent day-trip for guests who find themselves in the area of Hoedspruit. 12km of rapids from Mabinz to Manoutsa. Rapids from grade II – IV. Easy walks around the grade IV’s. We break for lunch on a private beach.

5. LOWER BLYDE, MILD RIVER RAFTING TRIP THREE TIMES PER DAY:

An easy, scenic, 2 hour rafting trip down the lower Blyde, downstream of Swadini. Lower age limit: 10 years, if accompanied by parent or guardian. Tariff includes light snacks and drinks. Grade II – III.

GENERAL:
No alcohol to be taken before, of during rafting. We provide beer and cider in evening on rafting trip. Guests are welcome to pack their favourite tipple. We provide non-alcoholic liquids during the day (juice, cool-drinks). We require indemnity forms to be signed for river rafting and abseiling. Summers are hot, winters are mild. Best rafting season: October to May. It has rained so much this season, that we anticipate rafting till as late as July or August.
WHAT TO BRING ALONG:
*Sunblock *Strops/old tackies
*Peak cap *Toothbrush & toiletries
*Spare set of clothes *Camera at own risk(we pack it in
a barrel)
*Sleeping bag on Olifants Gorge trip

We are a registered rafting operator with the Southern African Rivers Association(SARA) and our guides are registered members. We place a high premium on safety.

WALKS & HIKES AROUND GRASKOP AND SABIE

LOERIE TRAIL

THE LOERIE TRAIL IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DAY TRAILS. APPROXIMATELY 10KM. THIS WALK WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH PINE AND BLUE-GUM PLANTATIONS, AS WELL AS THROUGH INDIGENOUS FORESTS AND GRASSLAND. THE TRAIL’S STARTING PIOINTS ARE THE CEYLON FOREST STATION OR MERRY PEPPLES HOLIDAY RESORT AND RETURN TO BOTH . MAP AVAILABLE AT INFORMATION CENTER.

FOREST FALLS NATURE WALK

A 3,2 KM CRESCENT ROUTE. THE STARTING POINT IS AT THE GREEN HERITAGE PICNIC SITE . THE REFRESHING WALK TAKES YOU THROUGH FRAGMENT PINE FORESTS TO THE FOREST FALLS , THE ONLY FALLS WIDER THAN IT’S HEIGHT.

SECRETARY BIRD WALK-MAC-MAC POOLS

- 3KM CRESCENT ROUTE . THIS WALK STARTS AT THE MAC-MAC POOLS AND WORKS IT’S WAY THROUGH THE SURROUNDING VELD AND SCATTERED INDIGENOUS TREES. THERE IS VERY LITTLE SHADE ON THIS ROUTE AND PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT SUNBURN MUST BE TAKEN. AN ENTRY FEE IS PAYABLE AT THE GATE. PICNIC SITES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. Entrance fee applicable. Daily from 07:-17:00.

FANIE BOTHA TRAIL

DURATION OF THE TRAIL – 5 DAYS. TOTAL DISTANCE : 79KM. OVERNIGHT HUTS AVAILABLE AT CEYLON,MARITZBOS , HARTEBEESVLAKTE , PRESIDENT BURGURS , MAC-MAC AND GRASKOP. THE HIKER STARTS AT CEYLON PLANTATION AND FINISHES AT EITHER GRASKOP OR GOD’S WINDOW . HOWEVER , THE TRAIL CAN ALSO BE TACKLED OVER THE WEEKEND. TWO CIRCULAR ROUTES WITHIN THE MAIN TRAIL, MAKE SLEEPING OVER FOR ONLY ONE OR TWO NIGHTS POSSIBLE .

BLYDE RIVER CANYON HIKING TRAIL

THIS TRAIL TRAVERSES HALF OF THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON NATURE RESERVE, AS WELL AS PRIVATELY OWNED LAND, FROM PARADISE CAMP (ON THE GOD’S WINDOW LOOP ROAD) TO BOURKE’S LUCK POTHOLES. A REASONABLE DEGREE OF FITNESS IS REQUIRED. SELF-GUIDED.
DAY ONE: PARADISE CAMP TO WATERVALSPRUIT APPROX. 3 KM.
DAY TWO: WATERVALSPRUIT TO CLEARSTREAM APPROX. 13,5 KM.
DAY THREE: CLEARSTREAM TO OLD MINE HUT AT BOURKE’S LUCK POTHOLES. APPROX. 13,6 KM.
RESERVATIONS: TEL. (013) 7671833
FAX: (013) 7671855
GROUPS OF 30 PERSONS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.

FOREVER BLYDEPOORT

FOREVER BLYDEPOORT OFFERS GUIDED (Arranged by Graskop Info Centre) OR NON GUIDED HIKES.
SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED:
AN EXPERIENCED GUIDE, WILL EXPLAIN THE FAUNA, FLORA, GEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE AREA AND TRY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ENJOYABLE YET INFORMATIVE HIKE.
THE TRAILS RANGE IN LENGTH AND DIFFICULTY FROM AN EASY 1 ½ HOUR HIKE TO A FAIRLY STRENUOUS 5 ½ HOUR HIKE, DEPENDING ON THE DEGREE OF FITNESS, AND THE TYPE OF HIKE YOU’R LOOKING FOR.
THE HIKES AVAILABLE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. KADISHI-TUFA TRAIL – THIS TRAIL TAKES 1 ½ HOURS TO COMPLETE AND IS FAIRLY EASY. IT RUNS ALONG THE KADISHI RIVER WHICH IS A TRIBUTARY OF THE BLYDE RIVER. IT INCORPORATES A LOVELY TUFA WATERFALL WHICH IS A RARE PHENOMENON INVOLVING TH BUILDING UP OF THE ROCK BEHIND THE WATERFALL, AS OPPOSED TO THE ERODING AWAY OF THE ROCK, AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH CALCIUM CONTENT OF THE WATER AND THE RESULTANT CALCIUM CARBONATE PRECIPITATION. THE VEGETATION IS DENSE RIPARIAN FOREST AND THE SPOOR OF BUSHPIG AND BUSHBUCK IS COMMONLY SEEN.

2. LEOPARD TRAIL – THIS TRAIL TAKES 4 HOURS TO COMPLETE AND REQUIRES A REASONABLE LEVEL OF FITNESS. IT OFFERS SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE BLYDE RIVER, BLYDEPOORT DAM, THREE RONDAVELS, MARIEPSKOP AND THE OTHER FEATURES OF THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON. A VARIETY OF BIOMES WITH THEIR SPECIFIC VEGETATION TYPES ARE ENCOUNTERED ON THIS TRAIL (INCLUDING FYNBOS-TYPE VEGETATION WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY FOUND IN THE CAPE.) ALTHOUGH LEOPARDS ARE SELDOM ACTUALLY ENCOUNTERED IN THE TRAIL DUE TO THEIR SHY AND NOCTURNAL HABITS, THEIR SPOOR IS OFTHEN SEEN.

3. GUINEA-FOWL TRAIL – THIS TRAIL TAKES ROUGHLY 3 HOURS TO COMPLETE AND REQUIRES A REASONABLE LEVEL OF FITNESS. THIS SCENICALLY DIVERSE TRAIL OFFERS LOVELY VIEWS OF THE CANYON’S FEATURES BEFORE DECENDING INTO THE LUSH VEGETATION OF THE KADISHI RIVER VALLEY. A SMALL TUFA WATERFALL IS ENCOUNTERED AT THE POINT WHERE THE TRAIL CROSSES THE KADISHI RIVER.

4. A 5 ½ HOUR HIKE – BY LINKING ALL THREE HIKING TRAILS, AN INVIGORATING 5 ½ HOUR HIKE IS ACHIEVED. THIS IS ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR GROUPS SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN HIKING.

TRANSFERS CAN BE ARRANGED AT THE GRASKOP INFORMATION CENTRE.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Shangana Cultural Village

Midway between the Blyde River Canyon and the Kruger National Park, nestled in the shade of great umbhaba trees, are the traditional villages of Shangana.

Makete Village forms the center, a bustling African market where local craftspeople work and trade.

Daytime tours are led from here through fields to the home of a Shangaan family, who invite guests to experience their way of life.
Tours are Conducted at: 9am, 10am, 11am, 3pm, 4pm.

Midday tours are slightly longer, enabling guests to see the famed Shangaan dancing, drink byala and share a traditional meal with the family.
12 pm – includes lunch

The magnificent Evening Festival has been heralded as the country’s finest traditional event. As the sun sets behind the mountains, drums beat and torch-lit processions arrive at Chief Soshangana’s kraal, where choirs and dancers tell the story of the Shangaan people.
6pm – includes dinner

Children under 14 are half price. Special tour times & contents on request.

The chief’s family serves a feast and festivities continue until long after the stars have risen in the African sky.

OTHER ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES AROUND GRASKOP AND THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON AREA Contact - (013) 767 1833

4X4 Trails - (013) 767 1833

Abseiling - (013) 767 1833

Archery - (013) 767 1833

Big 5 Wilderness Trails - (013) 767 1833

Fly Fishing - (013) 767 1833

Gold Panning - (013) 767 1833

Golf - (013) 767 1833

Helicopter Trips - (013) 767 1833

Horse Riding - (013) 767 1833

Hot Air Balooning - (013) 767 1833

Mountain Biking - (013) 767 1833

Quad Biking - (013) 767 1833

Scuba Diving - (013) 767 1833

Tubing and Canyoning - (013) 767 1833

 

 

CONTACT DETAILS: P.O. Box 45; Graskop; 1270; Mpumalanga; South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)13 7671833 | Fax: +27 (0)13 7671855 | E-Mail: wild@iafrica.com