Sabie River – Lower section
Sabie River – Lower section · lowveld
Grade
III
Length
8km
Duration
3 to 5 hours
About
A popular 8km stretch (grade 1 to 3), taking 3 to 5 hours. Suitable for kayak, croc and K1, though K1 paddlers may find it short. Not dam-controlled. Permission is required at the put-in (ask at the office across the tar road) and from the farmer at the take-out. Put-in via a short dirt road alongside the Sabaan River to its confluence with the Sabie; take-out is on a private farm. Long flat pools are interspersed with rapids mostly runnable without scouting. Steeper rapids like Devil's Knuckle should be scouted in a K1; walking the bank may be easier than punching through the stoppers without capsizing. Kayakers will find rocks for splats and spins plus several good playholes at decent levels. The rapid at the take-out hosts the wave used in the annual Lowveld Rodeo, at the top of the rapid, with a sticky hole at the bottom. Watch for occasional hippo in the pools — they range widely.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
Permission from Induna Adventures at put-in. Their office is just on the other side of the tar road. Permission from farmer at take-out. Arrange via commercial operators.
Commercial operators
- Induna Adventures