Orange River trips on the great Orange River in Southern Namibia is more than just a river trip! You will get to experience Gourmet River Food, the African Night Sky, and the starkly barren Richtersveld National Park.

Under the guidance of experienced and qualified staff you will enjoy adventure not easily matched. Enjoy scrumptious meals, raging campfires and great company as you overnight under the starlit African sky.

To top it all the water is warm and the weather naturally perfect ‘all year round’.

The Orange River, South Africa’a largest river – rises in the Drakensberg range some 15 km’s south of Mont-aux-Sources and flows 2340km’s westwards until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Oranjemund.

ORANGE RIVER CANOE ADVENTURE
Orange River “Easter” Canoe Trip

First Day : ORANGE RIVER : Day 1:

Arrive at “Provenance”  after 5pm.Your first meal, dinner, will be available until 9pm. PLEASE NOTE : You camp on the first night at the Orange River base camp. Should you wish to stay in Cabana Accommodation, this is an extra cost and based on availability.

Second Day : ORANGE RIVER : Day 2 :

After a hearty breakfast and safety briefing, guests paddle off downstream for a day filled with fun and beautiful scenery.
Each night is spent under the stars on the banks of the Orange river.

Third Day : ORANGE RIVER : Day 3 & Day 4 :

After a hearty breakfast guests paddle off downstream for a day filled with fun and beautiful scenery.
Each night is spent under the stars on the banks of the Orange river.

ORANGE RIVER Last day:

Return to camp for lunch – thereafter depart at leisure.
Please note take-out will be anytime between 10:00am – 14:00pm
– we cannot guarantee a fixed time as this varies dependent on Time of Year, Group Size,Group paddling abilities, River Level and Weather.
If you want to stay over, please arrange with reception OR pre-book with Reservations when making your booking.

Dates and Rates vary throughout the year – Cost per person on our Specials Page

The above trip INCLUDES :

– All Crockery and Cutlery
– Paddling Equipment
– Guide Team
– All Meals from arrival to last days Lunch.

The above trip EXCLUDES :

– Camping Equipment – Sleeping bags, role matts, tents etc
– Excludes your drinks – Soft and hard
– Excludes transport to and from base camp – trip is self-drive

PLEASE NOTE : 
Cabana Accommodation is NOT included in the above trip, it is an additional cost and based on availability.

VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED WITH MIN 6 MONTHS VALIDITY

ZA STICKER
To be visibly placed on the inside of your vehicle’s windscreen or on the rear of your vehicle. Please will you take all vehicle registration documents with you, if travelling in own transport – (This is the doc you receive from the traffic department)

Orange River 4 Day Canoe Adventure

ORANGE RIVER ~ KITLIST
Easter Trips Orange River

WET GEAR

Costume, shorts, hat or cap, track shoes /strops , thus something that will stay on your feet long sleeved shirt, T-shirts, waterproof windbreaker – Less Is More!!

DRY GEAR

Track shoes, underwear, towel, kikoi / sarong
In the winter months a track-suit, woolly hat [beanie] and gloves are advisable for the evening but the days are wonderful and warm!!

DRINKS

Bring your own drinks, hard and soft, including water.
This alternatively can be purchased at our base camp to avoid cross border taxes.
Cans or boxes are a good idea, in addition no glass bottles, please!!
Ice and cooler boxes will be provided and there will be a re-supply point at the halfway mark. [ice only]

ICE : Please Note :  We only supply ice on river, we do not supply ice when in camp.
WATER : Please Note : We moreover recommend approx 3 Litres of water p/p per day over and above any other drinks.

GENERAL

Camera, small torch, Fishing Rod, Paddling Gloves – if you have a pair, however this is not necessary.
Toilet paper, toiletries (preferably biodegradable)
Compact sleeping bag, sleeping mat or air mattress, ground sheet, small fold up tent (advisable during the Winter months)
Insect repellent (please note that there is no Malaria in this region)
Sun protection lotion (a high factor is advisable during the Summer months) small camping chair and an umbrella would be advised.

NOTES

1. Tents + Chairs + Umbrellas are strapped with bungee cords supplied to the top of your canoe.
2. Air-mattress : Our guides don’t carry the any air-pumps. Please bring along your own
3. Everything you bring along is packed into 3 x 25 Litre buckets and you also get a 1 large cool box.

PASSPORT

Please remember to bring a valid passport.
Minimum 6 Months Validity.

ZA STICKER

To be visibly placed on the inside of your vehicle’s windscreen or on the rear of your vehicle. Please will you take all vehicle registration documents with you, if travelling in own transport.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Canoes – What canoes do we use?

We use 2 man fiberglass Indian Mohawks.

How do Mohawks differ from crocs?

The Mohawks are faster and easier to handle; in a headwind they are much easier.
They are also more comfortable and can carry more equipment.

River – What grade is the river?

The river is grade 1 and 2; this means nothing too big and scary – suitable for the entire family.

Will there be a guide to paddle me or my child?

The guides allocated to your trip will have a lot of equipment to carry so we cannot guarantee they can fit an extra person in their boat.
Should you feel you definitely need someone to paddle you down please inform us when you book, and there may be an extra charge for this service. Please note this service is not available in season (Easter, September school holidays, December).

Sleep – Where do we sleep?

You sleep out in the open; under the stars.
Due to the wilderness nature of the trip there are no permanent structures any of the campsites.

Toilet – Where do I go to the toilet?

Each trip takes a portaloo on river with them.
This will be set up each night, and we use a paddle to indicate whether it is engaged or not.
This will be explained to you upon arrival.

Shower – Can I have a shower?

You can have a shower on the first night at our base camp, and when you return to the camp on the last day.
Whilst on river, you are able to bathe (using bio-degradable soap) every evening.

How will I get back to my car after the trip?

We will pick you up at the take out point in a bus, and transport you back to our base camp, where you left your car.

Car – Will my car be safe? And is their shade?

There are people at the Felix Unite Orange River Camp 24 hours, please bring a sun visor as there isn’t much shade.

Weather – What is the weather like?

From November to the end of March it can be very hot (over 40 degrees c).
A good hat and sun block is imperative, as well as plenty drinking water. April, May, Sept, and Oct should be a little cooler.
But still be prepared for the sun. June, July and August, temperatures are usually in the 20’s during the day, with cooler evenings and nights.
You also need to take precautions from the sun, but also need warm clothes for the evenings.
It can be colder during the day, so take a light windbreaker.

Rain – Does it ever rain?

It is not common but it does sometimes rain, especially in the winter months.

Tent – Should I take a tent?

During the summer most people do not take a tent.
There is however room for a small 2 man tent in your boats.
During the winter it is recommended you take a tent, as the early mornings can be quite chilly.

Who carries all my gear?

You carry all your own gear in your canoe with you.

How do I keep it waterproof?

We will provide you with Three 25 litre buckets between 2 people.
Generally you share one bucket for both sleeping bags, and then have one each for your personal gear.
These buckets are waterproof as long as they are closed properly.
The guides will give you your buckets on arrival and explain to you how to close them & secure them to your canoe.

Do I need to have paddling experience?

No you don’t need any paddling experience; your guides will give you a full briefing on how to paddle.

Are the guides qualified?

All our lead guides are qualified through the African Paddling association.

Guides – How many guides will be on my trip?

Each trip will be led by a qualified and experienced guide.
He will be assisted by a number of junior guides, with varying levels of experience and qualifications.
We generally allocate 1 guide to every 10 guests.

Can I get cell phone reception on river?

No

Accident – What happens in the case of an accident?

All our lead guides are qualified in first aid, and carry a first aid kit with them.
In the case of an emergency, as with any wilderness adventure, the guide will have to make his way to a phone and call for assistance from there. With the ever increasing cell phone coverage, there are a few hotspots that have started to appear along river that our guides are aware of that can pick up reception, in case of emergency.

Drink – Can I drink the river water?

Although the river water is clean and you cannot catch any diseases from it, we do not recommend you drink it.
We do recommend that you bring at least 3 litres of liquid per person per day.

How do I carry that amount of cool drink? What about my beers?

Each canoe has a cooler box for your drinks and water.
We meet you on the second day on river to refill your cooler box with ice.

Can my wife just join us at night in the camp?

Unfortunately there are only 2 access points on the river.
One where you re-supply on day 2, and one where you take out.

Paddling – How many hours a day will we paddle?

This really depends on the group. Some people paddle a lot faster than others.
However in general you will paddle for about 6 hours a day, 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.

What time will we have lunch/stop in the evening?

Again, this depends very much on the group; your guide will decide when to stop.
Generally lunch will be between 12 midday and 2pm.
There are so many variants, such as the time everyone gets up in the morning, if the group wants to float or paddle hard, etc.

Age – What is the minimum and maximum age limits?

We do not advise taking children younger than 8 years of age.
There is no maximum age limit, though obviously you have to be relatively fit to do this trip.

Drive – How long is the drive to the river?

CPT – Camp +/- 8 hours
JHB – Camp +/- 16 hours
DBN – Camp +/- 20 hours

What time will we get back to camp on the last day?

In general you should be back at the camp between 11am and 3 pm on the last day.
This gives you time to drive home that evening.

Travel – Will we travel into the Richtersveld National Park?

Yes you do but the scenery is so fantastic throughout the trip, it is not really a significant moment when we get into the park.

Wildlife – Will I see any wildlife?

You will see plenty of wonderful birdlife and perhaps a vervet monkey, or baboon.
There are mountain zebra, small buck and leopard in the mountains, but you are highly unlikely to see them.

What time of year will the river be at its highest?

The river is dam controlled so flows throughout the year.
However, as it relies on the summer rainfall areas of the country for its water, it should be at its highest in March/April.

ID BOOK – I used to be able to get into Namibia with an id book?

This is no longer possible, you require a passport.

Noordoewer – Can I fly to Noordoewer?

There is a small private air strip, where a chartered plane can land.
Immigration has to be done at Alexander bay.

Springbok – Can I fly to Springbok?

There are flights to Springbok, but this is still an hour’s drive from our camp.

Upington – Can I fly to Upington?

Yes but you are still a good 5 hours drive from our camp.

GPS Co-ordinates?

28′ 41′ 12.59″ S, 17′ 33′ 26.88″ E

Kitlist – What do I bring?

See kit list

What does Felix Unite supply?
Parking for your vehicles
Experienced and qualified river guides
Catering
Cutlery & crockery
All river and safety equipment
Basic first aid kit
Watertight containers for personal gear
48 litre cooler boxes
Ice (limited amounts)
Braai wood & briquettes
Transport back to our base camp

Are you aware that we have Cabana Accommodation at base camp ?

We have Cabana Accommodation available on a bed only basis at the Orange River camp which can be booked in addition to your river trip to extend your stay, for further information on this you can call us on Tel : 087 354 0578 or email : cabanas@felix.co.za

Facilities – What facilities are available at base camp Provenance ?
1. Restaurant & 24 Hour Internet Café
2. Fully Licensed Cash bar facility overlooking the pool area and the Orange River
3. Large Swimming Pool
4. Fully stocked shop with snacks, drinks, clothing and curios
5. ATM Facility
6. Cabana Accommodation
7. Honeymoon suite