Taking on the rapids
MIDRAND - A member of the Centurion Canoe Club, who lives near Midrand, was one of the people who took on the rapids in the Sasol Lowveld Crocodile River Race in Mpumalanga. Duncan James said he finished the race in a time of five hours and six minutes.
“I enjoyed the race and the challenge of taking on the rapids, which are home to crocodiles and hippos. Two days of 30km with many boats held together by rolls of duct tape after sustaining damage from being pounded by the flowing rapids required focus, skill and river knowledge,” said James.
He said there are only three A+ grade official river races in South Africa and participants have to have a minimum of three A-grade successful race qualifications to be able to participate in the races.
The race took place from the Kwena Dam and went towards Nelspruit. “To avoid disturbing migratory hippos in the lower regions where they make their home, the paddlers do the 30km stretch of the river twice.”
He added that last year, farmers in the area stocked up on lucerne to attract hippos and keep them fenced in, but paddlers still met a couple of hippos on the lower stretch of the river.”
