Maguga Canoe Safari Abseil Hike (full day)

Do you have a full day to spend exploring Swaziland ? Do you want to tick a whole lot of activities off all on one day? The Swazi Trails Canoe Safari allows you to enjoy a full day of adventure on the water, on foot and even dangling in the air. 

As an entirely flat-water outing, the morning-long Canoe Safari will appeal to those who prefer a gentle cruise to the otherwise adrenaline-packed white-water rafting offered by Swazi Trails on the Great Usutu River.  Maguga Dam on the Komati River is a relatively new feature in Swaziland. It filled to its full capacity for the first time in early 2006, and now presents a beautiful stretch of water framed by towering mountains.

The standard format followed by Swazi Trails is a half day of canoeing covering approximately 10km, followed by a choice of abseiling or hiking to see Bushman Paintings in the afternoon. The activity is fully guided and includes a picnic lunch and refreshments.

The canoe trail kicks off from the old Komati River Bridge upstream of the dam at 09h45.  For those requiring transport, the combi leaves from the Swazi Trails office at Mantenga Craft Centre, Ezulwini, at 08h30.  

Prior arrangements can be made for self-drive travellers to link up with the Swazi Trails crew at Maguga Lodge. Here safe parking is available.  Participants on half day trips who are exiting Swaziland to the north via Matsamo/Jeppes Reef or west through Bulembu are encouraged to take this option, as it saves considerable time and distance in the afternoon. 

Travelling time from the Swazi Trails offices to Maguga Dam is one hour.  Travelling time from Pigg's Peak to the Dam is less than 20 minutes. 

The Canoe Safaris vary in length, depending on weather conditions and the ability of participants.  The average trip length is just over 10km although shorter "out and back" trips can be arranged specially for school groups or corporate fun days.  Trips typically involve from 2.5 to 3 hours of paddling.  Full day excursions involve a morning of canoeing followed by an afternoon of supervised abseiling (rope-descent of a cliff face) or a one hour guided hike to see the famous Bushman Paintings at Nsangwini.   Unfortunately there isn't time enough to do both the abseiling and Bushman Paintings, so a tough call has to be made.

All canoeing trips start with a thorough safety briefing and opportunity to practice paddling and recovery techniques.  Participants paddle their own boats and must be prepared for gentle, but continuous activity throughout the morning.  Rest breaks from paddling and short walks are often undertaken on the bank, as well as on the Maguga island.  Refreshments and light energy snacks are provided. 

Lunch is a light picnic-style affair under a shade tree near the dam wall. "Light" is good if you plan to dangle on the end of a rope in the afternoon !  The picnic menu is chicken or cheese rolls, together with fruit and chocolates.  For the full day trip, participants have a choice of abseiling or hiking.  Abseiling takes place on a cliff-face overlooking the dam.  This involves learning basic rope-work skills and then descending the cliff by means of a figure-8 apparatus.  After a full briefing on technique, individuals are carefully guided through a 30m rope descent, under second safety line control.  Depending on group numbers, participants may have two or more opportunities to tackle this breath-taking activity. 

The hiking option includes a walk to the Nsangwini Rock Art Shelter downstream of the dam.  This community tourism development offers the opportunity of witnessing rural community lifestyles as well as seeing the famous and unique  "birdman" paintings. 

Expect approximately 30min walking each way.  The full day trip ends with sundowner drinks (beers & soft drinks) on a scenic look-out point...and of course the drive back.