• Difficulty grading: 2-4 (easy to challenging)
• Length: 3 or 4 days (standard trip - 4 days)
• Season: All year
• Passports required: No
• Length of drive from Cape Town: +/- 8 hours
• Length of drive from JHB: +/- 10 hours

Starting near Pofadder in the Northern Cape, this section of the river offers a variety of conditions, from flat water to flowing channels, lots of exciting small rapids and a few ‘Big Ones’ to get the adrenaline flowing. At high water it becomes an exciting whitewater trip. The 4-day trip also includes abseiling for those keen to give it a try. We use inflatable two person boats that are easy to paddle and steer. We also have rafts that are very stable and perfect for less confident paddlers. We cover just over 30kms during the trip so there is ample time to relax, read your book or explore the camp surroundings.

Each trip is run as a self-contained expedition - we carry everything we need with us and take everything back out again at the end. We make our way down river, choosing a different campsite each night. All you need to provide is your personal gear and drinks of your choice. All meals are included, as are qualified guides, basic tented accommodation on river, boating and safety equipment and abseiling. On the evening before your trip begins, you will be welcomed to the Gravity base camp by your guides. Relax and enjoy the view over orchards and vineyards, down to the river. You can also choose to have sundowners on a dramatic koppie. You'll enjoy a light supper under the starry night sky around the campfire. Next morning, after a hearty breakfast, your guides will give you advice on how best to pack your drybags for your trip down river. Before getting on the water you'll also have a thorough safety briefing and some paddling instruction. Then, it's time to get going for four days of relaxation and excitement! The first day’s paddling consists mainly of flowing channels and flat water. Day 2 brings bigger rapids and an evening walk to view the amazing Ritchie Falls. Day 3 is full of excitement with a challenging portage around the Falls, abseiling and ‘42 man hole’, ‘Big Bunny’ and ‘Dolly Parton’ rapids. As you leave the gorge on day 4, things mellow out once again and the last section is just gentle drifting. The group will be met at the take-out after lunch and transported back to base camp to enjoy a final meal around the campfire. (Above itinerary may change slightly according to season and water level). Visit our website at www.gravity.co.za for more info and pictures.

Minimum group size: 16 (smaller groups by arrangement)

Yes, we are Operating Members of APA and our guides are APA members, trained, qualified and registered with the Department of Tourism.

How do I get up to the river?

You can drive up in your own vehicle or we can arrange vehicle hire if required. The road is a good tar road all the way up from Cape Town and takes around 8 hours. The road is also good tar coming in from the Gauteng direction. The last section of +/- 50 kms to the camp is usually a good dirt road. This road does, however, become difficult after heavy rain (not common in this area). We recommend that you contact the Pofadder Police Station (tel: 054 933 0022) or Onseepkans Police Station (054 951 0002) to check the condition of the road and choose the alternative route if required. Full directions will be supplied on confirmation of booking. We can also make accommodation arrangements for you if you’d like to do the drive over two days. We can supply a bus and driver and fly in tours can also be arranged.

No, you don’t. The trip starts and ends on the South African side so no border crossing is required.

Our base camp is centred around a farmhouse overlooking the river. Rustic ablutions and flush toilets are provided. On river, we’ll be free camping where all catering equipment is supplied. Tents,sleeping bags and roll mats can be rented if required.

A full kit list will be supplied on confirmation of booking. Remember that whatever you choose to bring will get very dirty so don’t bring your new clothes!

There are no guarantees on a river trip but it’s extremely unlikely - you will be supplied with a dry-bag, which will keep your clothes dry even if the bag lands in the water. You can also pack your clothes into black bags inside the dry bags to make sure. Your guides will explain to you the best way to pack your bags. Space is sufficient but limited so don’t bring too much with you.

Can I bring my camera?

Yes. Although there can be no guarantees on a river trip, we do provide watertight dry buckets for cameras, binoculars etc. It is also worth considering buying a disposable waterproof camera.

Do I need to be fit? What if I’m not a strong swimmer?

Although this is an exciting trip, the distance covered over the four days is not very long (about 30kms) so you don’t have to be an athlete to do the trip. A basic level of fitness and good health is required, though. There is no age limit but you should familiarise yourself with what the trip entails and make an informed decision on your ability to participate, based on your own fitness. Each client is issued with a PFD (’Lifejacket’) and is instructed on how to handle him or herself in the water, you don’t need to be a strong swimmer but please let us know if you are not confident in the water. There is always the option to walk around rapids you are not happy to do. You also have the option of requesting a very stable raft, which is steered by a guide.

We use 2 person inflatable ‘crocs’ that are very stable and easy to paddle, even for beginners. This section of river has lots of fun rapids and a few challenging runs. There is therefore quite a good chance that you’ll have at least one swim! You will be equipped with a PFD (‘lifejacket’) and will have been given instruction on exactly how to behave if you fall out of your boat. We also use only highly trained guides who will be on hand to rescue you if required. You also have the option of requesting our very stable 5-person raft, which is steered by a guide

Whilst there is an inherent element of risk in every adventure, running rivers with our professional guides should not be considered dangerous. Our guides are all trained in First Aid and we carry a First Aid kit. It is your responsibility to inform the guides about any allergies or medical conditions you may have and to make sure you have any personal medication with you (e.g. asthma pumps, allergy medication etc.). This trip does take place in a remote wilderness environment but we have put plans in place to cope with any emergencies.

What about my drinks?

Gravity provides all meals but you can bring your own choice of drinks. We will supply you with cooler boxes but if you intend bringing a large amount of canned drinks, it is worth it to bring your own cooler box as well. It’s also a good idea to bring drink mix such as Game, which can be mixed with water - water purification tablets will be supplied.

Is the water safe to drink?

Generally, the water is clean enough to drink but we use water purification tablets to be on the safe side.

In summer (September-April), days are very hot (30-40 degrees) and the nights are also warm. In between seasons, the days are still warm but the nights can be quite cool - a change of warm clothing and a good sleeping bag are required. In winter (June-August), days are warm (20-25 degrees) and nights are cold. The rainy season is autumn but since this is a semi-arid region, rain is not a frequent occurrence.

What will the meals be like?

We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the best in bush cuisine. All meals are prepared fresh on the river and consist of hearty, healthy main courses, followed by desert. Sundowner snacks are also served.

Why restrict group sizes?

We generally limit our group sizes to less than 34 per group - smaller groups are easier to control and, therefore, safer and the negative impact on the environment is minimised. Finally, we have found that a small group size results in a better and more intimate trip for our clients.