Taking a canoe trip down the Orange River is one of those must-do things in life. With gentle rapids and many tranquil stretches of water, canoeing here is suitable for everyone from the ages of seven to 70 – adrenaline junkies and white water men have no excuse for leaving their loved ones at home.

A major attraction of the Orange River is stunning scenery. Surrounded by an untamed wilderness, the green fringed river snakes slowly through the dry land.

If stupendous scenery, abundant bird-life, great food, interesting hikes, incredible sunsets and swimming in the river aren’t enough, there are always the rapids to liven up a lazy afternoon. Dead Man’s Rapid and Entrance Exam are just testers for the big one, Sjambok Rapid. Watch out for the whip near the end.

From Cape Town to the Namibian border, it’s a leisurely drive through the stunning scenery of the western Cape and Namaqualand. Then just 15 km from Provenance is a base camp on the banks of the river.

In the morning, after breakfast our guide gives us instructions for the trip. “The person at the back of the canoe is the captain and responsible for steering. The front we call the engine room because they give the power and watch out for rocks”, smiles our guide.

The river trips are run in an eco-sensitive manner, and our guide stresses that no rubbish must be left in the wild.

One final thing, says our guide as we finish packing our clothing and sleeping bags into watertight buckets. “Put away your watches because out on the river, time is no longer important.” 

It’s a warm, lazy day in the Richtersveld and the mood on the river is relaxed.  The only sound breaking the silence is the gentle lapping of paddles as they blade smoothly through the serene water. A goliath heron glides gracefully above as we drift along in peace. Suddenly the reverie is broken as I hear the roar of an approaching rapid. Our Mohawk canoe cruises down a Rollarcoaster Rapid, splashing and bumping into a few invisible rocks below the churning surface. Water flies everywhere but despite a few dicey moments, we emerge intact and afloat.

The landscape alongside is spectacular with wide-open space, incredible rock formations and desolate mountains in sharp contrast to the deep blue sky. It’s time for a swim, so I ease myself overboard and float slowly down the river on my back.

After lunch we hear the sound of a Dead Man’s Rapid ahead. We negotiate it safely but one Mohawk behind hits a rock head-on and turns turtle, filling quickly with water. For our first night we beach the canoes on a sandy bank and begin to set up camp. The sun starts to sink behind a hilltop and the Orange River lives up to its name. Fleecy white clouds turn a brilliant shade of pink and a lone canoe paddles peacefully by.

Hours of paddling build up an appetite and every day we eat like kings.

The next morning is Sjambok Rapid ahead, our biggest challenge of the trip. It’s all action as we paddle furiously into the current. Small waves break over the bow and our canoe begins to take on water. We successfully negotiate the rocks, but at the last minute my paddling partner loses his balance, falls out and I laugh helplessly as he floats clumsily away.

The afternoon drifts by in a haze of sunshine and water fights. Just a few days in nature and the modern trappings of city life seem so unnecessary. With the ban on watches imposed by our guide at the start, time has become absolutely meaningless for the past four days. After a final feast of leg of lamb, garnished with garlic and cooked over the coals, served with sweet potato and butternut, I retire to my sleeping bag on the grass. There’s no need for a tent on such a perfect night with the inky black heavens ablaze with stars.

It’s dead calm and the river is flat with only an occasional fish breaking the surface. The night sky and majestic mountains are perfectly mirrored in the waters of the Orange and I lie awake, content, watching the reflections of the stars.
 

This information is provided by Felix Unite River Adventures.