Orange Descent Canoe Marathon

RACE ROUTE

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The 2025 Race will be a K2 event and is a CSA B-Grade Race.
K1 & K3 crews are welcome and with a constant, guaranteed good water level an enjoyable paddling experience is possible at even the lowest of levels.

This 2 Day stage race covering 50km of great river paddling, promising to be everything you’ve dreamt of and much more for paddlers and seconds alike!

Day 1 – Die Punt Resort, Friersdale to Die Mas, Kakamas – 23km

Start of day 1 will be a batch start at Die Punt Resort 20km outside Keimoes on the N14 on route to Kakamas.

1. 500m after start – Broken Weir – Keep to the river left around the weir and hit the wave train in the middle. Choose your bottom line left or right.

2. 1.8km – Wavetrain – Shoot in the middle

3. 3.4km – Warmsand Weir – Stick to river right and follow the main stream.

4. 7.2km – Neus Weir Portage – Portage on the far right bank. * Be cautious of the Power Plant intake to your right at takeout.

5. Get into the water canal and paddle 1,6km to canal take out. *Be cautious of the bridges

6. Portage to the left side of the canal just after the last bridge. Portage for 300m and get back into the river at the cement steps.

7. 1,1km – Gorge Rapid – the river makes a channel going left around a reed island. The first channel left makes a 90° turn to your left and is marked in RED. This is the main rapid and the fastest line but as seen in the photos below it is the more difficult line.
The second option in GREEN shows the easier line, pass the first channel going left around the rock island and then follow the stream around the corner until they meet up again.

8. 350m – Entrance to “Neus Gorge” – This point will have a few guides on duty. Look at the river signals. Aim for the left side of the two rocks situated in the middle of the river. This will line you up with the middle of the drop that is very swirly.

9. 8km – Die Mas van Kakamas – Finish Day 2

Day 2 – Upington to Oranjerus – 27km

 

  1. We will be a batch start at Sakkie se Arkie on the right side of the river.
  2. After passing right, under the Upington Main Bridge, keep going river right.
  3. 5km – At the small weir, keep going far right.
4. 800m – The river splits into two channels both are the same distance. In the right channel you’ll find “Eerste” Rapid. You can shoot it on the right hand side. The left channel is only an option on a high level.
5. 1.6km – “Raaswater” – Follow the green arrows on the rocks to the right channel. Hug the reed island at the top of the rapid, aim for the left or right of the big rock in the middle. Choose your line either to the left or right of the rocks at the bottom.

6. 1.9km – “Oukamp” Rapid, you can shoot it on the left OR right depending on the water level. Right is the safer option.

7. 2km – Keep in the main stream on the left.

8. 12,3km – Keep in the far left stream that will be clearly marked with flag.

9. 400m – Kanoneiland Weir – Once you can see the weir the river again split in two keep right around the island. Shoot the weir far Right at the pointing Safety Marshal and slide down the rockface.

10. 5.5km – Oranjerus – Day 1 Finish

LATEST NEWS

Catch up on all the latest news from the Orange Descent!

Guppy Race

Guppy Race

YOUR NEXT RIVER ADVENTURE We would love to get the youngsters involved an into our sport of paddling. There will be a guppy race at Oranje Rus after Day 1 on Saturday, 11 November.  The race will start at 16:00 and will be a relay knockout format and each paddler will...

Outdoor Race Lounge

Outdoor Race Lounge

This years Orange Descent will have an Outdoor Race Lounge, on the Saturday evening after Day 1 racing. You can enjoy music, food, cocktails, local craft bier and much more to look forward to.

Newsletter 1 – August 2023

Newsletter 1 – August 2023

The planning is well under way for the 2023 edition of the
Orange Descent Canoe Marathon.

This race has always promised alot and delivered even more and every year we look at ways to improve the quality of the race and enhance the overall experience of this weekend in the Green Kalahari.

We know it is a bit out of the way but we promise to make it an
unforgetable weeked that will be a must on your canoeing calander for years to come.

Contact Us

Waldo van der Linde
Tel: 072 184 9090
info@orangedescent.co.za

Stroke2max Kayak Ergometers
Stroke2max Kayak Ergometers