INFLATABLES:This is probably the coolest toy you will buy all year. The Gecko from ARK Inflatables is small and on the ball - in fact, small and light enough to roll up and stick in your rucksack on your next backpacking holiday. Use it to access hard to get to fishing spots, riverboard it along a pumping rapid, sit back and paddle it along a leisurely river or play with it in the waves. Contact ARK on (021) 783 1672 or check out their website at www.arkinflatables.co.za. SIDEBAR 2: GETTING IT ON - WITH AND WITHOUT GUIDESGRAVITY RIVER TOURS:
Yup, if you think you can handle the dour humour of that Engelsman Tyers, contact Neil on (021) 683 3698 or (082) 332 4980. They run the Palmiet River near Betty’s Bay (a half-day trip into the Kogelberg Biosphere resort at R195,00 per person) and he will also take competent individuals who passes the fitness test down the Twenty-four Rivers gorge. Contact Gra.vity for more information on the latter option. GOING SOLO:The Greyton area offers excellent kloofing and river-bashing opportunities to independently minded outdoor types. Relaxed river running with a Gecko (or a larger raft like a Croc) is possible along long stretches of the stunning Sonderend River. Nouwpoort Gorge in the Sonderend Mountains is a piece of heaven that few people know about, but don’t attempt this one without due forethought. Expect hardcore kloofing with extreme ropework, sometimes inside waterfalls and in one instance through a narrow chimney that is as slippery as the inside of a cow. It might be a good idea to ask mountain man Alex Rose of INTREPID to tag along - he is available on (082) 536 8842 and will usually respond to offers of beers and money. SIDEBAR 3: KLOOFING DO’s & DON’TS
- A wetsuit will protect against scrapes and bumps - high rivers necessitates a PFD and a helmet as well
- Also contact the weather bureau to get an area-specific, three-day forecast
- Be careful to set up camp beyond the flood level and to scout an escape route in case of flooding
- Don’t be gung ho - go with a guide or gather as much information beforehand on the area as possible
- Don’t litter. Other people following in your footsteps would like to enjoy a pristine environment as well
- Foot entrapment is a very real danger in rocky rivers, so don’t go charging into fast-flowing water
- NEVER jump or dive into a pool without checking for obstacles first
- Put your sunnies on a neck-cord if you value them - and you will need them as protection against glare
- Webbed gloves make paddling more efficient and protect your hands when going through overgrown channels
- You can never wear too much sunscreen - go for an alcohol-based formula that is absorbed by the skin
028 2729924 - gravity@mweb.co.za | 
