Orange River – Augrabies Gorge
Orange River – Augrabies Gorge · northern cape
About
Although closed to the general paddling public, Augrabies Gorge is one of the country's most extraordinary big-water gorges and impossible to leave out of a guide. It has been run on special occasions such as the 1999 Camel Whitewater Challenge, and the few paddlers permitted rave about it. The entire gorge below Augrabies Falls falls within Augrabies Falls National Park, and authorities are reluctant to approve runs. The well-known section begins with a strenuous climb down at Oranjekom. From there, five rapids run class 3 to 5 depending on water level, all runnable by experts. The three rapids above Oranjekom are class 3 to 4; those further upstream, from the waterfall down, are class 5. Rapid 1, Rocky Horror, is the hardest — starting as an innocuous class 3 but steepening into a long, big and technical final section that is difficult at any level. Rapid 2, Timewarp, is short and steep but straightforward; low water demands a technical top move and a sticky hole forms at the bottom at all levels. Rapid 3, Wild and Untamed Thing, is long and intimidating with a series of ledges forming nasty pour-overs — several strong kayakers have come unstuck here. Rapid 4, G-Force, is very steep with bad holes at any level but extremely satisfying when the line holds. Rapid 5, Anticipation, splits around an island: at low water a technical left line works; at high water the left is ugly, and a boof over the right-side pour-over is preferable. Take-out at Echo Corner. The deep, barren walls give a Grand Canyon feel. Hopefully a commercial operation will one day open the gorge to paddlers.