Kayaking and canoeing in South Africa: where to paddle

You don't need white water or years of experience to get out on the water in South Africa. Calm lagoons and estuaries suit first-timers, and a guided trip takes you to spots you'd likely miss on your own.

These are the kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding trips you can book on Night Sky Bookings, from a lagoon on the Garden Route to the Kosi Bay estuary near the Mozambique border. Two come with accommodation, and one is a day out you can add to a Garden Route holiday.

Paddling trips at a glance

• Sedgefield Lagoon, Garden Route (Western Cape): kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) hire, or a guided route of 1.5 to 4 hours, with Sedge Boat and Bike
• Kosi Bay estuary (KwaZulu-Natal): a kayak safari and snorkelling, as part of a four-night package at Utshwayelo Kosi Mouth Lodge & Camp
• Kariega River near Makhanda (Eastern Cape): canoeing and river cruises at African Safari Lodge
• Orange River at Vioolsdrif (Northern Cape): half-day to four-day rafting trips with Bushwhacked Outdoor Adventures

Kayak, canoe and SUP hire in Sedgefield

Sedge Boat and Bike hires out kayaks, double-seater Indian canoes, fishing kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) on the Sedgefield Lagoon. The water is calm and suits all skill levels, so it works for beginners and families.

You can head out on your own, from an hour on a SUP to a full nine-hour day in a canoe or kayak. Or book one of the guided routes, which run from 1 hour 30 minutes to 4 hours and take in hidden spots on the estuary and its birdlife.

From 15 December to 5 January, trips launch from the Sedgefield slipway. The rest of the year, Sedge Boat and Bike confirms the launch point when you book.

Book a paddle with Sedge Boat and Bike

Kayaking and snorkelling at Kosi Bay

Utshwayelo Kosi Mouth Lodge & Camp is a community-owned eco lodge at the entrance to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, close to the Mozambique border. Its 4 Night Active Adventure package includes accommodation, meals and activities.

On day two, you kayak through the estuary and the Khalo Inlet, walk to the Tsonga fish traps, which have been in use for about 700 years, and snorkel at Kosi Bay Mouth. The next two days add a 13 km guided hike, a climb up a 65-metre dune, and a boat cruise on the Kosi Bay lakes.

Accommodation ranges from Hippo Cabins and Turtle Tents to Luxury Tusker Tents. The lodge is reachable in a standard sedan, so you don't need a 4x4.

Book the Kosi Bay Active Adventure

Canoeing on the Kariega River near Makhanda

African Safari Lodge sits on a private game reserve 17 km outside Makhanda (Grahamstown), above Settlers Dam and the Kariega River. Guests can book canoeing on the river, a river boat cruise or a sunset cruise. There's also a game drive combined with a river cruise.

This one suits a bush weekend where paddling is one part of the trip. The beaches at Kenton-on-Sea are about 45 km away.

Book canoeing at African Safari Lodge

White water on the Orange River

For something faster, Bushwhacked Outdoor Adventures runs rafting trips on the Orange River from Fiddlers Creek Campsite at Vioolsdrif in the Northern Cape. You can choose a half day, a full day with lunch, or a four-day trip that crosses between South Africa and Namibia. Read our guide to rafting the Orange River with Bushwhacked before you go.

Book a rafting trip with Bushwhacked