Kloofing

Kloofing (from the Afrikaans “kloof” meaning gorge or ravine) or Canyoning is the art of descending a natural watercourse that may be dry but more often wet.

Techniques involved include abseiling, jumping into deep pools, swimming and river walking. Depending on the nature of the kloof, harnesses and helmets are sometimes worn, and often a rope is carried if abseiling is necessary. Many people prefer to wear a wet-suit (they can be easily hired in Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Cape Town), especially if they feel the chill and a large part of the kloof is in shade. We travel light with minimalist equipment (food, water, dry shirt etc.), which can be put in waterproof dry sacks. Kloofing is especially popular in South Africa in the Summer months (December to April) when daytime temperatures can sometimes reach 40 degrees Celsius.

Cape Hiking’s Kloofing programme is evolving all the time, but some of our most popular adventures include Crystal Pools (Kleinmond), Suicide Gorge (Hottentots Holland Mountains) and Kromrivier Canyon (Limietberg). We provide harnesses, helmets (when necessary), ropes and all abseil gear. If clients wish to hire a wetsuit, we have excellent contacts who can facilitate this. Because of the adventurous nature of the sport, many kloofs remain relatively unexplored and wonderful flowers such as disa orchids can be found growing on vertical rock walls.

If you know that you are an adrenaline junkie, then sign up for our SUICIDE GORGE or KROMRIVIER expeditions. If you are still a little uncertain, or want to bring the whole family, then start out with CRYSTAL POOLS to see how you get on. Whichever one of our Kloofing trips you choose, we promise you an action-packed, fun-filled day!

Abseiling		Kromrivier		Confidence building!
Pool swimming		River walking		Drying off