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Grade 3+ rapids:
Half day
The exciting and technical run from above the Parys Golf course down to Big Daddy. This is by far the most thrilling route on the local Vaal. It's not for sissies! You must be physically able and willing to steer your boat down fast rocky channels, with unexpected drops. There are the inevitable knocks and capsizes. It is recommended that you first do the Vaal Parys Whitewater run for experience. The Bumper run takes 3 hours (equivalent to a half-day) and costs slightly more than the normal Vaal Parys run because of the higher guiding safety requirements.
We get in above the golf course weir and paddle a kilometre round the bend in the river to limber up those muscles and shoulders. Then we drop over (or walk down) the high weir and the action begins. Boat Biter is first, a drop that easily flips you unless you run it just right. Continuous fast water with drops takes us past the golf clubhouse and down narrow channels to Secret Passage, a tricky, steep rapid. After that it's time to relax and paddle on down easy water to Big Daddy where we celebrate the end of the trip and pull out for return home.
- You may kayak the route with our safety on hand if you have your own boat and feel competent to Eskimo roll and look after yourself in Grade3+ whitewater.
- We only run the route when the water level is right - that is, is between 35 cubic metres a second (ie around normal summer flow) and 120 cumecs, after which it becomes too risky.
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