Sabie River – U1 section

About

7km pool-drop, steep rapids, grade 3-4+, 3-5 hours. Not dam-controlled. Put-in via dirt road 4-5km past the Sabaan River crossing (4x4 required); a 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). Major rapids are easy to scout and portage. If the put-in rapid intimidates you, don't start — it is the first of many. Run it as far right as possible, especially at higher levels. Several technical grade 3 rapids follow before the gradient picks up again. 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: island in the middle for scouting/portaging. Runnable line is left of the island — ~1m pour-over followed by a 3m drop that is harder to boof than it looks. Strong kayakers have been held at the bottom. Next major rapid leads into an unrunnable waterfall. Confirm you can catch the eddy above before committing. Portage right but not too far down. Drop below is fast and easy. Second waterfall: at low to medium levels all water flows right, cascading over four drops — bottom three have been run; scout carefully, especially the second. Get out left, or at high water use the island formed by the left slide. After the second waterfall the river flattens with only two more rapids. Take-out beach on the right just past the Sabaan/Mac-Mac confluence. Private property — permission in advance.

Access

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.

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