Dusi River (including lower part of the Umgeni River)
Dusi River (including lower part of the Umgeni River) · kwazulu-natal
About
The three-day Dusi Canoe Marathon is South Africa's most famous river race and one of the largest in the world. The first edition was held in 1951 with 8 starters; only Ian Player finished, taking 6 days non-stop and unsupported in a heavy non-fibreglass boat. Player's subsequent book Men, Rivers and Canoes brought wider attention, and in 1956 the race was restructured into three stages — the format still in use today. Recent years have seen close to 2000 entries in K1s, K2s, wildwater racers and even touring kayaks. The race is as famous for its portages — some kilometres long over rugged terrain, either compulsory to bypass K1-unsafe sections or used as shortcuts around river bends — as for its rapids. Despite the name, less than half the course is on the Dusi; the Umgeni confluence comes soon after the start of day 2, after which the race runs down the Umgeni to the sea. The Umgeni section used in the race is covered here for convenience. The route passes through the Valley of a Thousand Hills — scenic, but hot and humid. Most maps label the river 'Msunduzi', but 'Dusi' is the commonly used name. Day 1 is shortest in distance but has the longest portages; the humid January heat makes hydration critical. Start is at Camp's Drift in Pietermaritzburg. Flat water leads to the Ernie Pearce weir (easy chute), then more flat water to the Commercial Road weir, portaged by most. The river is tiny with high banks and trees to avoid before the first compulsory portage, Campbells, which offers a short or long option and cuts out a loop of difficult rapids. Afterward come the first bigger rapids — Tegwaan and Sun of a Gun. The Guinea Fowl portage bypasses cascading rapids unsuitable for K1s. Back on the water, the Maze is a long section of boulders and twisty channels requiring concentration. Mission rapid follows, causing swims but not especially hard. Next is a voluntary portage at Finger Neck (substantially faster than paddling round). Following this is a choice between portaging further or paddling the Cabbage Tree section; the portage is only quicker at low water, and the rapids avoided are fun but not serious. The last stretch to the end after the Dusi bridge is uneventful; portage the bridge, which has a weir beneath. Day 2 has less portaging and more big rapids. Shortly after the start, paddlers choose between portaging Saddles or paddling two loops; at low water the portage is much faster, at high water paddling is equal unless racing for position and running the portage. The rapids on the loops are not severe. After Saddles the river grows more interesting toward the Umgeni confluence, with continuous rapids below it. Washing Machine, the first big obstacle, is usually portaged. Slide can be run by the competent. A short flat leads to Ibis (left portage), then the Gauging weir (portage). Marianny Foley bridge is shot second or third tunnel from the right before the rapid below it. The stretch is uneventful until the compulsory Ngumeni Hill take-out, which cuts out the Mamba gorge, unsuitable for K1s. Back on the water, three big rapids follow — Gumtree, Tombi and Hippo — all runnable by the experienced but not easy. Interesting water continues until the sandbanks into Inanda Dam; the long paddle across the dam to the day's finish feels interminable. Day 3 is the most enjoyable for competent paddlers. A warm-up across the dam leads to the wall. Below the wall is Tops Needle, a renowned boat-breaker and slalom venue, usually portaged; it is long and tricky. Side Chute drops left among big boulders. Umzinyati, named for the tributary that joins from the left, can significantly boost flow. Small but tricky rapids precede the take-out for Burma Road, the race's worst portage; paddlers who portage miss excellent rapids, and at low to medium water running the rapids is faster and is what top contenders do, though the portage still beats paddling around. Immediately after the take-out comes Little John (not small at high water), then Molweni, then Island — portaged on the left by most unless familiar. Five Fingers follows — a long exciting rapid with several drops. The put-in after Burma Road is just past Five Fingers once the action is over. A flat stretch leads to two dangerous weirs that must be portaged. Dog's Leg rapid is the last action before the grind across the lagoon to the finish.