Orange River – Augrabies Gorge

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Big-water gorge below Augrabies Falls, within Augrabies Falls National Park. Closed to the general paddling public - authorities are reluctant to approve runs. Well-known section starts with a strenuous climb down at Oranjekom. From there: 5 rapids, class 3 to 5 depending on level, all runnable by experts. The 3 rapids above Oranjekom are class 3 to 4; those further upstream from the waterfall down are class 5. Rapids: 1. Rocky Horror - the hardest. Innocuous class 3 start, steepens into a long, big, technical final section. Difficult at any level. 2. Timewarp - short and steep, straightforward. Low water demands a technical top move; sticky hole at the bottom at all levels. 3. Wild and Untamed Thing - long, intimidating. Series of ledges form nasty pour-overs; several strong kayakers have come unstuck here. 4. G-Force - very steep with bad holes at any level. 5. Anticipation - splits around an island. Low water: technical left line. High water: left is ugly - boof over the right-side pour-over. Take-out: Echo Corner.

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