Adrian Tregoning

The Bivane River

A fairly unknown river just south of Swaziland, this beauty was un-run until only a few years ago. The section described below is from the wall at the Paris Dam, entering the beautiful Itala Nature Reserve and then joining the larger Pongola River. Take-out is in the reserve and the staff there are very friendly and helpful. The Bivane can only be run after good rains when the dam is overflowing or when they release water. Releases are almost always on weekends and coordinated with the Vryheid Canoe Club. A fiberglass race is also held on the Bivane called the Itala Challenge.   

Upper Umkomaas River

So after the Deepdale trip on the Thursday and Friday I made my way to the Mountain Resort Inn in Bulwer and idled around for the remainder of the afternoon. I was to be joined by a few other people for another overnight trip on the Umkomaas. This time the section would be much higher up than Deepdale Gorge.