Mpompomani to Goodenough’s Weir
Mpompomani to Goodenough’s Weir · kwazulu-natal
Grade
III
Length
34km
Duration
3 to 5 hours
Type
pool drop
About
A 34 km day trip for competent K1 paddlers, comparable in character to the 1-8 section below Hella-Hella and not to be underestimated. Long flat pools with scattered small rapids open the run; take care where the river splits into channels, as one contains a serious rapid. A 12 m waterfall lies further down — a dirt road meets the river on the left bank about 1 km upstream of the drop, and paddlers should stay left and portage on the left. 2 km below the waterfall is Whirlpool, a mean rapid runnable by skilled K1 paddlers but best portaged on the left bank. 5 km further, Gulley Rapid requires tight lines. No-Name, a tricky boulder-garden, follows 1 km later — stay left. The river then flattens toward Goodenough's Weir. Once regularly shot during the Umkomaas marathon finish, it is a known boat-breaker; the right chute can be run before the rocky rapid below, but a quick portage on the left bank is strongly recommended. Downstream to the sea the river is flat and not worth paddling.
Access
Put-in
Take-out
Permits
None