Great Kei River – Kubusi River to N2
Great Kei River – Kubusi River to N2 · eastern cape
Grade
IV
Length
20km (16+4)
Duration
3 to 4 hours
Type
pool drop
About
The Great Kei once formed the border between the Cape Province and Transkei, leaving its eastern side undeveloped and hard to access. It drains a large catchment, giving it significant volume on the lower reaches. This scenic 20km (16+4) stretch begins on the Kubusi River, which joins the Great Kei about 4km in. If the Kubusi is too low, a separate dirt road on the same farm provides direct access to the Great Kei. A small fee is payable at the farmhouse (The Claims). The river here is wide and open with good surf waves; rain-dependent but well below most major tributaries. Do not continue past the first railway bridge at the end — a dangerous weir lies just below. A 4×4 is needed for the put-in, and the take-out is at the first railway bridge before the N2; leave a vehicle at the Ultra City on the N2 and shuttle down to the railway bridge.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
Pay at farmhouse (The Claims) at put-in