Trailblazer Adventures operates out of the Nyala Pans River Camp deep in the Umkomaas Valley.  Apart from regular rafting trips through summer, school camps and other outdoor activities over winter, they host the epic Umkomaas White Water Festival each year, bringing whitewater enthusiasts from as far as Cape Town and Johannesburg to this relatively remote area.

The beauty of the Umkomaas Valley

 

Nyala Pans Camp – registration and breakfast preparations on the morning of the white water festival

Safety briefing at the start of the day

Rafting teams racing down one of the rapids

 

The individual kayak race follows – paddlers can relax and socialize between rapids before racing each other down the main rapids

Overcoming all obstacles 

No real white-water experience is needed to participate, experienced guides are provided to all teams

Paddler takes a spill

Buried in white-water

Kayak paddlers navigate through the narrow gap on Rapid 5&6