Umgeni River – Howick Gorge
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Howick Gorge : Umgeni River |
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| Grading | IV- to IV+ (V when high) |
| Levels / gauges | Low: 8 – 14m3/s
Medium: 15 – 20m3/s High: 21 – 30m3/s Pumping: +30m3/s Check if Midmar dam is full (either through Umgeni Water or Department of Water Affairs). It needs to overflow for the section to work. *Final check is at the waterfall – if a full curtain is going over the falls, then it is a good medium level. |
| Put-in | 29°29’8.15″S ; 30°14’21.03″E |
| Take-out | 29°27’54.98″S ; 30°17’20.90″E
(Get hold of Ezemvelo KZN for the time being – weekdays 0338451996/7) |
| Alternative take-out | 29°26’32.13″S ; 30°19’47.03″E |
| Estimated time | 2hr to 5hrs |
| Length | 10km |
| Gradient | 22m/km |
| Portages | None (*optional portages) |
| Hazards / Notes | Walk-in / Access at take-out / Logs |
| Fun factor | 4 / 5 |
The Howick section is fun and continues and can challenge both intermediate and expert kayakers. The best of all is that everything is pretty much runable, with maybe two scouts required if you are on top of your game.
Put-in: The put-in to this fun section is really easy to find. Drive into the town of Howick and follow the signs to the look-out over Howick Falls. The look-out for the falls is on the southern side and there is a small tea garden on opposite side of the look-out (stand with your back to the falls). You have to hike down with your kayak to the pool below the falls. (Pay about R25 at the tea garden to get access). Follow the marked route down to the base of the falls.
Take-out: The take-out is at Hilton College. If you are driving towards Durban from Howick (easternly direction), take the second Hilton turn-off and turn left towards Hilton College. You have to organise to gain access to the take-out beforehand. Follow the road until you get to the guarded access gates. Be super friendly with everyone you come into contact with since it is a privilege for kayakers to be able to gain access to the take-out. They will give you directions towards the game reserve. If it rained a lot, you will need a 4×4 to get down to the river, or else a 5km uphill walk waits at the take-out. I will update the number once I get hold of it again (Try Ezemvelo KZN 0338451996/7 for now). Alternative take-out is on the road towards Karkloof Spa (Otto’s Bluff road).
The first rapid from the put-in is a good indicator of what is to come. This follows into the first big rapid of the section. The second rapid consists of a tiered dropped on the left and a drop onto rocks on the right. The most common line is on the left, so take-out on the left just above the drop to scout. It is basically a drop onto a sloped rock that drops off into a pool. When the water lands on the sloping rock, the flow turns 90degrees to the left and drops into the pool. A good entry boof is advisable. Take note of the syphon downstream of the plunge pool. It is located downstream on the left and you need to pass upstream of it into the main flow of the river.
From here the river is fairly continues with easy read-and-run rapids. If you can’t see your next move, then get out and scout. About 2.5km into the section you should get to a U-shaped drop, the drop is runable, but make sure you stay away from the left side ledge since this is an undercut. A alternative line to this, if the water is up, is to sneak past on the left and run the 2m drop on the left channel.
1km down from the U-drop is a double drop. This is not a technical drop, but it sneaks up onto you and can dish out a solid beating at higher levels. After the double drop the actions continues with grade III rapids with the odd IV thrown in. The river also starts to channel a bit more towards the end, so try and follow the main flow where possible. The take-out is at the Hilton College / Ezemvelo KZN reserve and your well trained seconds should be waiting there with some cold beers.
If you carry on to the bridge close to Karkloof, watch out for low level bridges. The channels get more and the gradient flattens out. It is about 3km to the alternative take-out.
Awesome section and if you have a solid and small crew, you can do this section in less than 2hrs. Always keep an eye open for logs on this section.
riverssa 