4 and 6 day Orange River Rafting, Richtersveld Our aim is to explore and discover the Richtersveld desert reserve with all its hidden treasures and trails. Our days are spent with early morning paddling, floating, swimming, bird watching and negotiating some rapids and fast flowing water. Our camps on the trip will be along the river edge and we will follow the ethics of eco tourism along the river. Departing our base camp head to our adventure with just the bare necessities prepared for days of wild camping to follow. The section of the Orange River that we raft has rapids grade 1 to 3 it is not hectic white water rafting like the Zambezi. This is an entry level river, so only a moderate degree of fitness is required. We take children from 5 years of age to adults in their 80 s on the river with us. All our Orange River Rafting trails start and end at our base camp ( The Growcery ) situated on the banks of the Orange River, on the South African side of the river. Facilities at base camp include: Pristine ablutions consisting of hot and cold showers and flush toilets Grassed campsites, permanent tented and chick shack accommodation Fully stocked bar facilities, electricity, washing up facilities, braai area Safe parking and an incredible view of the Orange River Catered meals, braai packs, ice and wood sold at camp **Please note no credit card facilities or ATM at base camp Our delicious bush cooking on open fires creates and campfire ambiance on the banks of the Orange River. All meals consist of quality and healthy food and we do cater for all special diets, i.e. halaal, vegetarians, vegans etc. Breakfasts: varies from fried breakfast to cereals and fruits Lunch: normally consists of salads, health bread, pastas, and fruits Dinners: we offer 3 course meals for dinners with salad, main course and desert No glass is allowed on the river and all waste will be transported along the trail and returned to base camp. Please decanter supplies to plastic containers or make use of cans. On arrival at base camp the first day, clients must provide their own tents, cutlery & crockery. Dinner and breakfast the following morning are catered for. Alternatively rent a tent or book a chic shack unit from us from R150 per person per night sharing and R180 per single. If you decide to stay another night at base camp after your Orange River Rafting trail you can book the following; Grassed Campsite from R80 per person (own tent) Tented Camp from R150 per person sharing, and R180 per single person (includes dome tent, stretcher bed and camping mattress) Chic Shack permanent units from R150 per person sharing, and R180 per single person (includes single bed and mattress) 2013 Scheduled Departures Code Date Description Price January UM2143 19 23 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2144 26 30 (Full moon 27 January) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 February UM2145 04 08 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2146 11 15 (Valentine s Trail) 4 Day River Trail R2 950
UM2147 11-17 (Valentine s Trail) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2148 18 22 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2149 23 27 (Full moon 25 February) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 March UM2150 02 06 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2151 10 14 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2152 16 20 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2153 21 25 (Human Rights Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2154 21 27 (Human Rights Day) Full moon 27 March 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2155 25 29 (Easter Weekend) Full moon 27 March 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2156 25 31 (Easter Weekend) Full moon 27 March 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2157 29 02 (Easter Weekend) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2158 29 04 (Easter Weekend) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 April UM2159 02 06 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2160 02 08 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2160(B) 01-07 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2161 12 16 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2162 20 24 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2163 20 26 (Full moon 25 April) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2164 27 01 (Freedom & Workers Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2165 27 03 (Freedom & Workers Day) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 May UM2166 01 05 (Workers Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2167 01 07 (Workers Day) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2168 11 15 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2169 18 22 4 Day River Trail R2 950
UM2170 25 29 (Full moon 25 May) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 June UM2171 02 06 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2172 08 12 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2173 16 20 (Youth Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2174 16 22 (Youth Day) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2175 24 28 (School Holiday) Full moon 23 June 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2176 24 30 (School Holiday) Full moon 23 June 6 Day River Trail R3 350 July UM2177 02 06 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2178 02 08 (School Holiday) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2179 08 12 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2180 20 24 (Full moon 22 July) 4 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2181 27 31 4 Day River Trail R2 950 August UM2182 02 06 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2183 09 13 (Women s Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2184 09 15 (Women s Day) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2185 18 22 (Full moon 21 August) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2186 18 24 (Full moon 21 August) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2187 26 30 4 Day River Trail R2 950 September UM2188 01 05 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2189 07 11 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2190 15 19 (Full moon 19 September) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2191 22 26 (Heritage Day) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2192 22 28 (Heritage Day) 6 Day River Trail R3 350
UM2193 25 29 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 October UM2194 04 08 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2195 04 10 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2196 12 16 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2197 19 23 (Full moon 19 October) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2198 26 30 4 Day River Trail R2 950 November UM2199 02 06 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2200 10 14 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2201 10 16 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2202 17 21 (Full moon 17 November) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2203 24 28 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2204 24-30 6 Day River Trail R3 350 December UM2205 01 05 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2206 06 10 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2207 12 16 (Day of Reconciliation) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2208 12 18 (Day of Reconciliation) Full moon 17 Dec 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2209 18 22 (School Holiday) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2210 18 24 (School Holiday) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2211 26 01 (New Years Trail) 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2212 27 01 (New Years Trail) 5 Day River Trail R3 050 UM2213 28 01 (New Years Trail) 4 Day River Trail R2 950 UM2214 31 04 4 Day River Trail R2 950 January 2014 UM2215 02 06 4 Day River Trail R2 950
UM2216 02 08 6 Day River Trail R3 350 UM2217 06-10 4 Day River Trail R2 950 New Years on the Orange River 26 December - 1 January; 27 December - 1 January; 28 December - 1 January; 31 December 4 January All our New Years' trails are taken off the river during the day on the 31st December, with everyone transported back to base camp. Everyone then enjoys the New Years party at base camp. All of these trails end after breakfast on the 1st of January. This is the ultimate Richtersveld Desert party trail!! We can tailor-made any trail for a group of 20 or more people on request. We are flexible with group bookings and will be able to offer groups individual departures and unique itineraries on request Included Park fees; entrance fees; breakfast, lunch, dinner (as indicated); qualified river guides; a two man inflatable raft (or croc ); paddles & flotation devices; large dry bag (for personal belongings); a 45 litre cooler box per raft (ice can be purchased at base camp) Excluded Camping equipment; water (2 litre per person per day is recommended); juice & alcoholic beverages; snacks for in between meals; visas (if applicable); cutlery & crockery; personal and medical insurance Suggested Packing List Tent; sleeping bag; small cushion; roll mat / blow up mattress; torch/ head lamp; matches; camera (water tight container); sunglasses (with safety strap); lip balm; sun hat; sunscreen; water bottle; t-shirts; khikoi / sarong (sold at base camp); shorts; stroppy sandals with a good grip; sweater; long pants; second skin; swimsuit; towel; sun umbrella; camping chairs; own drinks (no glass is allowed on the river tins, cans and plastic bottles are fine); rehydrate sachets; personal medical kit; insect repellent (Stingose); bio degradable soap and shampoo; toilet paper; cash and then lastly - a good sense of adventure! NB: Valid Passport (no passport, no trail) How to get there From Cape Town: Travel along the N7 towards Springbok and on to the Vioolsdrift (South African) and Noordoewer (Namibian) borders - 670km. From Upington: Take the N14 to Springbok and from Springbok the N7 to Vioolsdrift. From Upington to Springbok is 387km. From Springbok to Vioolsdrift is approximately 115km. From Johannesburg: Take the N14 to Springbok (1274km) and from Springbok the N7 to Vioolsdrift (115km). From Durban: Take the N3 to Bethlehem, from there take the N5, and then N1 to Bloemfontein. Then drive to Kimberley, and Upington. From Durban to Upington it is 1195 km. From Upington to Springbok is 387 km. From Springbok take the N7 north to Vioolsdrift 115 km. From Bloemfontein: Take the N8 to Kimberley. From Kimberly take the R64, and then N10 to Upington (565 km). From Upington to Springbok is 387 km. From Springbok take the N7 north to Vioolsdrift 115 km. From Vioolsdrift to our base camp is 20km. GPS co-ordinates: Latitude: -28.698041; Longitude: 17.49843 Border crossing procedures prior to arrival at base camp At the Vioolsdrift border post stamp out of South Africa Proceed to Namibian Customs and get stamped into Namibia Do not pay any road taxes for Namibia as your vehicles should not enter the country Turn around and go back to South Africa without getting any more stamps in your passport The last stamp when you get to our base camp must state entry into Namibia
Rates 4 day Orange River Rafting trail: distance: 45 85 km (depending on the water level) Adults: R2 950 per person Children under 12: R2 150 per child Sample of itinerary for 4 day trail 11 15 July 11 Jul: Arrival day at base camp around 17h00 briefing and dinner provided sleep base camp (D) 12 Jul: Day 1 Orange River (B.L.D) River rafting adventure departs 13 Jul: Day 2 Orange River (B.L.D) 14 Jul: Day 3 Orange River (B.L.D) 15 Jul: Day 4 Depart after lunch to base camp (B.L) - (arrive base camp around 14h30 and 16h30) B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner included 6 day Orange River Rafting trail: distance: 85 140 km (depending on the water level) Adults: R3 350 per person Children under 12: R2 750 per child Sample of itinerary for 6 day trail 11 17 July 11 Jul: Arrival day at base camp briefing and dinner provided (D) 12 Jul: Day 1 Orange River (B.L.D) 13 Jul: Day 2 Orange River (B.L.D) 14 Jul: Day 3 Orange River re supply (B.L.D) 15 Jul: Day 4 Orange River (B.L.D) 16 Jul: Day 5 Orange River (B.L.D) 17 Jul: Day 6 Depart after lunch back to base camp (B.L) - (arrive base camp between 14h30 and 16h30) B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner included