Olifants River – Witbank to Bobbejaan
Olifants River – Witbank to Bobbejaan · lowveld, gauteng
Grade
IV
Length
26km
Duration
5 to 7 hours
Type
pool drop
About
A 26 km grade 3 to 4 pool-drop and partly continuous run, essential for competent kayakers and enjoyable for skilled croc paddlers. Spectacular gorges and continuous rapids when levels are up. Flow is controlled by Witbank Dam and prolonged rain is needed before releases bring the river to a runnable level. The stretch just below the hotel put-in is calm before gradient picks up into continuous class 3. Watch for a natural weir — shootable lines exist but scout first. Further down is a high river-wide drop, also with shootable lines. Technical class 4 rapids appear near the end. The take-out is identifiable by huts on the right bank that can also be booked for overnight stays, enabling a linked overnight with the Bobbejaan-to-Loskop Dam section and allowing seconds to meet paddlers at the camp. Scouting is difficult with all sluices open. Low water exposes reed-choked banks; high water submerges them so eddies disappear and on-the-fly scouting becomes necessary, making for a demanding ride. There is also an upstream stretch from the R555 between Witbank and Middelburg to the hotel, but it is mostly flat with small rapids. Farm-access permission required (013-282-6101), and a 4×4 or high-clearance vehicle is needed.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
Permission for entering hiking trail on farm (call 013-282-6101). Ask for directions to the huts. A 4×4 or at least a vehicle with high clearance is needed.