Liebenbergsvlei River

About

45km, willow-lined - tree blocks throughout requiring careful navigation. Most have a sneak line but strong flow can push you into tight spots. Deep channel with steep cut banks. K1 races run here. Access: Lindley road from Bethlehem, turn right onto the Small Grain Institute road 5km out - follows the west bank with several access points. ~9km from R26 start: Skelmbos (class 2). Willows obscure the approach - veer right ~20m before the rapid to avoid trees, push through hanging branches into a 4m-wide fast drop, run centre to avoid the suckback. ~30 min later, several nasty tree blocks - portage either side. First optional bridge access at 15km. Second (9km on): easy cascading rapid through a demolished bridge - watch for submerged iron bars, keep left under the new bridge. Third bridge (9km on): six pillars (easy to wrap a K1), then a 1m drop, rocks and a sharp left turn - avoid the leftmost gap. Next 18km: smooth through willow forests. Fourth bridge, then an abandoned bridge that may force a portage at high levels. ~3km from finish: broken low-level bridge creates a class 2 rapid. Submerged pipes can pull paddlers in - approach left through the trees. Two Water Affairs gauging weirs (Reitz Water Works, and ~10km from Frankfort) should be portaged. In an emergency follow the river to the nearest bridge rather than crossing farmland. Gravel road on the western bank is never more than 4km away.

Access

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None

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