Crocodile River – Gorge

About

Class 3-5, 15km, 4-5 hrs. Short steep technical rapids; house-sized boulders, large drops, siphons, undercuts. One of the most dangerous gorges in SA - experienced paddlers only. Dam-controlled (Kwena Dam) with tributaries (incl. Elands) entering below. No permits. Flat sections near both N4 bridges may hold hippos. Rapids visible from N4 rest areas look modest but aren't. Lines shift with level - wide river, no fixed line. Easy start, gradually steepening to the serious boulder section. Past the hardest rapids a high weir crosses the river: shoot far right at low water after scouting, otherwise portage left. A few hard rapids follow, then it eases. Optional take-out: the right-bank service road is washed out just past the weir - walk back up. A dirt road from the N4 to the weir on the opposite bank exists but is hard to find. A second gradient pick-up further down matches the weir section in difficulty. Easier rapids and longer pools then lead to the next bridge, or bushwhack out river left to an N4 rest area.

Recent sessions