Sabie River – U1 section
Sabie River – U1 section · lowveld
Grade
IV
Length
7km
Duration
3 to 5 hours
Type
pool drop
About
The original Upper Sabie section (renamed after further upstream sections opened), 7km of pool-drop with steep rapids, graded 3 to 4+, 3 to 5 hours. Not dam-controlled. Put-in via a dirt road 4–5km past the Sabaan River crossing (4x4 required); a new lodge has been built by the access road, so permission may be needed. Take-out via a short dirt road along the Sabaan to its confluence with the Sabie — permission required (ask at the office just across the tarred road). A testing ground for technical river-running skills; major rapids are easy to scout and portage. If the rapid at the put-in intimidates you, don't start — it is only the first of many. Run it as far right as possible, especially at higher levels. Several technical class 3 rapids follow before the gradient picks up again. The next steep rapid is a narrow gully with four drops, known for throwing paddlers off line on the second drop and catching them in the third or fourth depending on level. Siphon Waterfall follows, with an island in the middle useful for scouting and portaging. The runnable line is left of the island: a ~1m pour-over followed immediately by a 3m drop that is harder to boof than it looks — several strong kayakers have been held at the bottom. The next major rapid leads into an unrunnable waterfall; confirm you can catch the eddy above the falls before committing. Portage right but not too far down. The drop below the falls is fast, fun and easy. Some tricky rapids and flat pools lead to the second waterfall. At low to medium levels all water flows right, cascading over four drops — the bottom three have been run; scout carefully, especially the second. Get out on the left, or at high water when the left slide starts working, use the resulting island in the middle. After the second waterfall the river flattens with only two more rapids to watch. Take out on the beach on the right just past the Sabaan/Mac-Mac confluence. Private property — permission must be arranged in advance.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
It might be necessary to ask permission at the put-in, as a new lodge has been built next to the road going down to the river. Permission from Induna Adventures at take-out. Their office is just on the other side of the tarred road at the take-out.