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
26 km. Grade 3 to 4 pool-drop and partly continuous. Essential for competent kayakers, doable for skilled croc paddlers. Flow controlled by Witbank Dam - prolonged rain needed before releases bring runnable levels. Stretch below the hotel put-in is calm before gradient builds into continuous class 3. Hazards: - Natural weir - shootable lines exist, scout first. - High river-wide drop further down, also with shootable lines. - Technical class 4 rapids near the end. Take-out: huts on the right bank (bookable for overnight stays - allows a linked overnight with Bobbejaan to Loskop Dam, and seconds can meet paddlers at camp). Scouting is difficult with all sluices open. Low water exposes reed-choked banks; high water submerges them, eddies disappear and on-the-fly scouting becomes necessary - demanding ride. The upstream stretch from the R555 (between Witbank and Middelburg) to the hotel is mostly flat with small rapids. Access: farm permission required (013-282-6101). 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle 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.
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