Palmiet River

About

Pool-drop river through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Dam-controlled. Grade 3. Water is tea-coloured but drinkable. Two put-ins: Monteith Trust farm low-level bridge (full 25km, permission via CWWC, phone before 9am Friday), or Kogelberg Nature Reserve (4km, accessed from R44 near take-out; seasonal or day permit required). Take-out at the river mouth just after the R44 bridge. Full run: long flat sections become a slog at low water. Many opt for just the last short section, which has the most rapids. Shortly after the upper put-in, palmiets choke the river — easier to get out right and walk ~1km. Nasty weir 4km in: portage right. 6km further, a 6m sloped waterfall has been run on a very tight line — missing it leads to an inescapable pothole (class V+). Portage left strongly recommended. Common lunch spot. Further down, a low-level bridge must be portaged left. Bottom section: two weirs near the end with runnable lines at most levels — scout if unfamiliar. Last major rapid (below the second weir) is long with small keeper holes and a surf hole. Sticky pour-overs at higher levels demand positive boofing. Good playspots, the best right at the take-out.

Access

Permits

Permission from Trust Farm when doing full section (contact CWWC). Seasonal or day permit from CNC for short section.

Recent sessions