The greatUsuturiver is Swaziland's largest river and although the river changes dramatically from full to low water levels there are always a selection of Grade 2 to 4 rapids to be attempted.
The river is wide and at lower water levels winds its way in between numerous islands and sandbanks.
The capsizing of the raft is an almost certainty in certain areas of the river and participants are well briefed and prepared for this eventuality.
The Usutu Forestry Project was initiated in 1948 by the Colonial Development Corporation, CDC, following on the findings and recommendations of a survey of a 60,000 ha area in the Highveld of western Swaziland around the GreatUsutuRiver.
Usutu Forest's management policy has been broadened to include the sustainable use and management of the entire land base and not just the stands of pine.
Usutu harvests and transports almost 1 million tons of timber per year from its own forests to supply the mill.
A unbleached kraft pulp (UBK) mill was constructed on the banks of the GreatUsutuRiver at Bhunya near the center of the developing forest.
Usutu was one of the first large employers in Swaziland to formally recognise union representation in 1988.
Usutu is currently nearing the completion of an expansion programme, which commenced in 1995, that will take the mill's capacity to 225,000t of UKP per annum.
River guides are handpicked and experienced in river running, safety and first aid, with affiliation or endorsement from international bodies.
Participants are advised that crocodiles are known to inhabit rivers in the Swaziland, though these are seldom encountered on this stretch of water.
The river is wide and at lower water levels it winds its way between numerous islands and sandbanks, which are otherwise covered during the full water season.
The Usutu forest is an area of 52000 ha of predominantly pine plantations in the high veld of Swaziland in southern Africa (see Fig.
Areas of land have also been leased from the Swazi nation which, in return, holds shares in the Usutu Pulp Co. Land quality varies, but the rough terrain and frequently boulder-strewn ground make much of the area unsuitable for arable farming while the quality of grazing on the sour veld grasses is not high.
Two advantages at Usutu leading to its success are containment of the entire plantation resource within 50 km of the mill and adoption of practices (e.g.
Local knowledge kept the trophy in Swaziland, during the recent Swazi Trails White-water Festival on the GreatUsutuRiver.
After hard weekend of raft racing on Swaziland’s GreatUsutuRiver, the overall winner’s trophy for the 2005 Swazi Trails White Water Festival was retained by a local Swazi team.
“The event was a great success,” said Raw, whose company operates daily white-water rafting trips on the Usutu, “the water level and weather was perfect, and apart from a few big swims, the event was incident-free and a great example of what the GreatUsutuRiver has to offer.
The Mpumalanga area is one of great contrast, bordered in the west by the towering escarpment with lush indigenous forests, crystal-clear streams and plunging waterfalls, and then falling away into the flat Lowveld indigenous bushveld, home to one of the richest diversities of fauna and flora in the world.
We then continue up to the mighty Chobe river where we share a night at a unique camp with the herds of Elephant that are attracted by the water.
The Zambezi river needs little introduction, a mighty river winding its way through some of the best wilderness areas in Africa, this provides for what can only be described as the finest canoe adventure in the world.
There is also an 18 hole course at the Mbabane Club and, the Usutu Club, the southern Swaziland Country Club at Tshaneni, the Manzini Club and the Siteki Club.
Trips are run on a daily basis on the GreatUsutuRiver, with a minimum of 4 people needed for a trip to commence.
Safety and instruction by professional river guides make this adventure suitable for anyone between the ages of 16 and 65, with even non-swimmers welcome.
We expect a great deal of participation and flexibility from all passengers on this trip, without which the tour cannot be a success.
We cover a great deal of distance on this tour on some remote and rough roads, and clients must be prepared for this, but the natural wonders that we will encounter more than compensate for any discomfort for those who truly seek adventure.
Road conditions are rough, and river crossings numerous, clients will be expected to assist in difficult sections, but for those seeking true adventure and unspoiled Africa, there are few areas that compare with this.
We went on towards the leper settlement overlooking the Mbuluzi River where we were to spend the night.
As one of the town’s representatives, he attended a meeting on 15 April 1904 to protest about lack of development in Swaziland but in 1906 he was convicted of stealing tin and declared insolvent.
A fundamental evangelical Christian, she wrote in 1897 that ‘The great difficulty is to make the people realise they are sinners’.
www.swazi.com /mbabane2000/past.html (3482 words)
Swaziland, Whitewater rafting guide(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-31)
One of the most exhilarating things you can do in southern Swaziland is to whitewater raft on the beautiful GreatUsutuRiver, located in the east of the country near the Mkhaya Nature Reserve.
One of the best whitewater rivers in southern Africa, it's also one of the few where you can take a trip in a two-man "croc" raft.
The route runs for 15km in summer (a bit less in winter), and crosses over rapids classed in grades two to four.
The two days will be spent visiting Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve, walking in False Bay National Park, visiting a Zulu village, and generally learning about the local fauna and flora.
Traveling north, you enter the Kingdom of the Swaziland where you spend a full day on the GreatUsutuRiver learning the guiding skills of kayaking and rafting.
It is here also that you conduct the final exam, which will cover all of the subjects learned during the course.
Whitewater rafting trips are available on the GreatUsutuRiver in the Mkhaya Game Reserve.
Guided safaris (either by car on on foot) are available in Swaziland’s nature reserves and game parks (see Resorts and Excursions section).
Popular hikes include the ascent to Malolotsha Falls at Piggs Peak; Sibebe Mountain, a huge granite outcrop that provides a scenic spot for a picnic; and the climb up Emlembe, Swaziland’s highest peak.
The Kruger Coast Rally Tour | Tours & Safaris - Overview(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-31)
Firing up our machines this day, we take a team tour exploring some of the culture, history and beauty Swaziland has to offer.
We visit a famous market, the Royal Enclosure, and a candle factory before heading down the valley to the greatUsutuRiver returning to the rest camp in the early afternoon.
This day you also have the option to do a white water rafting trip or horse riding into the national park getting close to some wild animals.
Your Final Answer June04(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-31)
Fred Huff is the director of the Africa Region, home to the university.
t miss Malolotja Falls, the GreatUsutuRiver, and Piggs Peak.
They Cry in the Night depicts the moving story of Harmon and Lula Schmelzenbach and their struggle to plant the gospel in northern Swaziland in the early 1900s.
