RIVERMAN

ORANGE RIVER TRIPS

About the Orange

Follow the enchanting river of the desert on placid channels or whitewater

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KALAHARI CLIFFS

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Orange River 2008
Oranje Gorge
What to Expect
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INTRODUCTION

2009 ORANJE GORGE 4-DAY

WHITEWATER RAFTING SAFARI

The Orange or !Gariep River is South Africa's longest and largest river

KALAHARI COOL SEASON TRIPS

2009

 

Oranje Gorge 4day Rafting & Printable Leaflet

Schedule & Prices

What to Expect

Trail Description

Recent trail description & photos

Neus Gorge  1/2day Rafting

All Orange R photo galleries

In case you are wondering how to pronounce the ! in !Gariep, it's a tongue-twister click. The name comes from the original Khoi word for what was later named the Orange (after the Prince of Orange) by Dutch colonials.

In my opinion, the Orange is one of the world's top ten tripping rivers. It has everything: dramatic scenery, small and large rapids, remoteness, a fascinating history, and a huge variety of tripable routes. In my book on the world's rivers I reviewed whitewater on every continent and was a bit sheepish about singing the praises of our own rivers but now I realise the Orange is in a class of its own. For example, take a look at the printable leaflet on the Ghoum-Ghoum Falls Trail: just the photo of the falls is enough to take your breath away. And the amazing thing is that almost nobody ever goes there. It's not like America where a trail like this would attract thousands annually.

Nothing beats a multi-day rafting safari on this river. Camping out under the stars (it seldom rains), surrounded by the red sands of the Kalahari or, further west, the bare rocky hills of the Namib, you truly feel that the rest of the world hardly exists. The river is 2200 km from its source in the high Drakensberg to the sea at Oranjemund. It gets summer rainfall in the east but becomes increasingly dry as you go westward. In autumn, winter and spring we operate in the desert region because it is cool at that time (Oranje Gorge, and half-day trips at Neus Gorge near Kakamas). In summer we will run trails on request by groups. The routes are higher up in the mountains of Lesotho (Senqunyane or Little Orange) and the Aliwal North area (Mayaputi Gorge).

My first adventure on the Orange was in 1974 when three of us from Rhodes University paddled from Aliwal North to Hopetown. Since then I have done the whole river, virtually from its source to the sea, over many expeditions. It's got long flat stretches and very big rapids too. In general it's the most enchanting river with a hypnotic power over all who know it. It's the Nile of Southern Africa, a gold-class route through the mountains, across plains, down gorges and into deserts. Some 2200km in length, the Orange or !Gariep is fed by Johannes Kotze playing on a hole near Boegoeberg, central Orange Riverthe snows of Lesotho and flows across the vast subcontinent to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, the landscape grows increasingly arid until you enter the red Kalahari (Kgaligadi) and finally one of the world's driest deserts, the Namib. Canoeing, whitewater rafting and flyfishing safaris are all possible. Join me or or our partners down there for the trip of a lifetime. 

TRIP OFFERINGS

Contact us to discuss your interest and get a quote!

Stay over at Kalahari Cliffs base camp

2008

NEUS & RUSH

RAFTING

Grade 2-4 rapids

Half-day

It's a short drive from Kalahari Cliffs to either the Neus Gorge or the Augrabies Rush - both highly exciting and scenic - for a 3-5 hour rapids-filled outing. Neus is famous for its spectacular waterfall (viewing only!) from the foot of which we run downriver about 12km through a beautiful gorge. The Rush begins lower down and takes us to the very lip of the mighty Augrabies Falls, amid its moonscape of granite. Photos.

2008

RAFTING ORANJE GORGE

Grade 2-4 rapids

31/2 days

A thrilling adventure! Meet for briefing at Kalahari Cliffs, and early next day drive to near Onseepkans. From there, raft downriver through a moonscape of granite, ending in the Ritchie Falls or !Gariep Faals. Encounter rapids including Screwdriver, Little Falls and Big Bunny. The landscape is unbelievably stark, sombre and sustained only by the river. No children under 12. More... Photos.

RAFTING

GHOUM-GHOUM

Grade 2-3 rapids

Inflatables

31/2 days

THIS TRIP IS NO LONGER OFFERED ON THE REGULAR SCHEDULE

The most remote section of the Orange! Meet for briefing at Kalahari Cliffs, and early next day drive to near Pella. This stretch of the river takes us through heavily forested islands where the sound of whitewater is never far away, hidden among bushy channels and around rocky corners. The sense of isolation is breathtaking. We camp along the banks before reaching Witbank. On the way, we bypass the amazing Ghoum-Ghoum Falls.No children under 12.

More... Photos.

KAYAK ADVENTURES & TRAINING

Grade 2-5 rapids

1 day to several

Stay at Kalahari Cliffs and enjoy days of great kayaking on the Neus rapids above and below Neus, of varying grades of difficulty, from 1-5. If you need coaching in kayak technique or river safety, our expert trainer is there for you. Guiding and rescue courses may be run this venue. Longer kayak trips can be arranged for groups on any of the routes mentioned here, or you can accompany booked trips. Photos.

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GRAEME SAYS

 

The Orange is one of the greatest rivers in the world - don't miss it. We avoid the crowds and run little known sections which are incredibly scenic and always surprising.

 


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