Umgeni River – Midmar to Howick
Umgeni River – Midmar to Howick · kwazulu-natal
Grade
III
Length
7 km
Duration
2 to 3 hours
Type
pool drop
About
A short 7km pool-drop run from below Midmar Dam to the picnic spot above Howick Falls (left bank, just past the bridge). Accessible and good practice, serving as an alternative while other paddlers run the gorge below Howick. Most rapids are straightforward, with a few boulder gardens requiring precise lines. The main feature is a wide, broken 3m waterfall just past halfway — which K1 paddlers must portage. Several lines are runnable; the best is on the far right against the bank. A long easy rapid sits above the waterfall, best taken on the right, catching an eddy on the right above the drop to exit and scout. The waterfall is also visible from the road running from town to the N3 (southern turn-off), with a footpath down for pre-trip scouting.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
None