Great Usutu River Rafting

 

Half Day – R750 pp

Full Day – R850 pp

 

White-water rafting was introduced to Swaziland in 1991 and is renowned as the best white-water in Southern Africa, south of the Zambezi.

 

Departure point:

Trips leave from the Mantenga Craft Centre, Ezulwini.  There is safe parking for vehicles. Hotel or lodge pick-ups are offered in the Ezulwini, Mbabane and Manzini areas at an additional cost.

 

Rapids:

Grade 2 – 4

 

Departure time:

08h30 daily

 

Duration:

Half Day – 08h30 – 14h00   (generally available 12 months a year)

Full Day – 08h30 – 17h00   (generally available 1 November – 30 April)

Rafting & Abseiling/Tubing – 08h30 – 17h00   (generally available 1 May – 30 October)

Included:                                 

• lunch, bottled water / cool drinks and a community donation
• A child under the age of 16 years pays ½ the adult price provided there are 2 full paying adults in the family.   The ½ price policy also applies where one paying adult accompanies two U16 children.
• The standard format is a ½ or full day excursion with optional overnight packages at nearby game reserves, hotels and resorts.  Daily capacity is 40 people. For conference or incentive groups special formats can be used for 120 or more.  Prior reservation is required.  The Great Usutu River offers a variety of Grade 2 to Grade 4 white-water. Trips are undertaken in 2-man, inflatable “croc” rafts.  Available 365 days a year.  Trips depart for minimum of 2 persons.

The Great Usutu is Swaziland’s largest river. It flows from the South African highveld through central Swaziland and exits the Kingdom near Big Bend.  Thereafter it winds past Nduma in KwaZulu-Natal and up to the Bay of Maputo in Mozambique.  The Swazi Trails rafting operation runs from a location between the villages of Sidvokodvo and Siphofaneni, which is known as the Bulungapoort.  Although the river changes dramatically from full to low water levels, there is always a selection of Grade 2 to 4 rapids to be attempted.  At certain medium and high water levels some stretches become Grade 5 in difficulty, with optional or compulsory portages at the river guide’s discretion.  The river is wide and at lower water levels it winds its way between numerous islands and sandbanks, which are otherwise covered during the full water season.  The location is scenic with tall mountains and forested riverbanks, interspersed occasionally by rural Swazi homesteads.

 

Trips leave from the office at Mantenga Craft Centre, Ezulwini, at 08h30.  Travelling time from the offices to the river is 45 – 60 minutes, with transport provided in a closed tour vehicle.  Participants on ½ day trips who are exiting Swaziland to the south (Lavumisa/Golela) or west (Mahamba) may follow in their own vehicle to the river, so as to save time and distance later in the afternoon.

 

Trips vary in length, depending on river conditions and ability of participants.  The average full day trip length is 13km although a longer trip of 23km and the shorter of 7km (½ day) are undertaken on occasions. In low water conditions, the trip is split into a morning of rafting and an afternoon of tubing/abseiling.  All rafting trips start with a thorough safety briefing and a flat-water stretch for practicing technique.  Participants paddle and portage their own boats and must be prepared for vigorous activity.

 

Lunch is a picnic-style affair, served normally near the Holomi waterfall.  The standard menu is chicken/mayonnaise or ham rolls, together with cheese rolls, fruit, chocolates or ice-cream and juice.  The trip ends with sundowner drinks (beers & soft drinks) on the riverbank.  The return journey takes approximately 1hr. When conditions favour the ½ day trip, abseiling is undertaken during the afternoon on a 15m high cliff alongside the Holomi Falls.  This involves learning basic rope-work skills and then descending the cliff by means of a figure-8 apparatus.  The activity is controlled by a guide, using a safety line.  There are also exciting cliff jump and rap-jumping options for adrenaline junkies.

 

No prior experience is necessary to attempt this river. Participants must be between the ages of 12 and 65, though younger and older persons are accepted by prior arrangement. All equipment is provided, including impact vests (“life jackets”) and helmets.  Rapids range from grade 2 – 4, all of which are manageable by absolute beginners after the pre-trip safety briefing.  All participants must be of sound health and are required to sign a Waiver & Indemnity Form before departure. Unescorted minors (under 18 years) require the written consent of a parent or guardian.

 

Participants are warned that this is an active and participative adventure pursuit and that considerable effort and physical activity is to be expected on and off the river. The capsizing of the raft is an almost certainty in certain areas of the river and participants are well briefed and prepared for this eventuality.  Participants are advised that crocodiles are known to inhabit rivers in Swaziland, though these are shy and seldom encountered on this stretch.  River levels vary greatly from season to season, which can alter the level of challenge faced.

 

The operator is an Operating Member of the African Paddling Association and subscribes to the Codes of Safety and Ethics thereof.  River guides are handpicked and experienced in river running, safety and first aid, with affiliation or endorsement from international bodies.  Trips are accompanied by a safety kayaker and followed by a support vehicle.  Basic medical assistance is within 45 minutes drive from the river.  Paramedic assistance is available within 1 to 1.5 hours.

 

What to bring:

Swimming costumes and tie-on or strap-on footwear is required.  Strings for sunglasses, broad-rimmed hats and plenty of sun protection cream are recommended.  No valuables are to be brought along on trips.  Cameras and videos may be taken on river at own risk, provided that the owner has a suitable waterproof casing.  The area visited on rafting trips falls marginally within a malarial zone.  Precautions are only advised if staying overnight during summer months in the lowveld areas of Mkhaya, Big Bend or Simunye.  Those staying in Manzini, Ezulwini or Mbabane need not be concerned as these areas are outside the malarial zone.

 

Community contribution:

White-water rafting is one of the few economic activities in the Mphaphati community area.  A voluntary levy is paid to the Mphaphati community, for each person that undertakes a river trip.  At present this community assistance has been directed towards building an administrative office for the primary school, buying school texts books and offering scholarships to local children. The levy is included in the overall rafting or package fees.  To date over 100 000 Swazi Emalangeni (similar to R100 000) has been generated by this program.  The community, through the area Chief, has expressed appreciation to those visitors from all over the world, who are visiting their area.