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When is the best time to raft and what can I expect?

petermacadam

So many people ask this question, so let's cover this in more detail. The Northern Cape has a very arid climate, as well as mainly summer rainfall.


Let's go through the different months and elaborate more on what to expect. Typically, our rafting season commences in September, and ends in May every year. This does not mean we cannot do rafting trips in June, July and August, but indicates the more popular months to do trips in.


Ultimately, it depends on what people prefer in terms of convenience, but let's look at each month in more detail once a typical season commences (these are average figures):


September

Average rainfall around 15 mm

Minimum Temp around 8 deg C

Maximumum Temp around 25 deg C

October

Average rainfall around 36 mm

Minimum Temp around 11 deg C

Maximum Temp around 28 deg C

November

Average rainfall around 57 mm

Minimum Temp around 14 deg C

Maximum Temp around 30 deg C

December

Average rainfall around 64 mm

Minimum Temp around 16 deg C

Maximum Temp around 32 deg C

January

Average rainfall around 82 mm

Minimum Temp around 17 deg C

Maximum Temp around 33 deg C

February

Average rainfall around 74 mm

Minimum Temp around 17 deg C

Maximum Temp around 31 deg C

March

Average rainfall around 66 mm

Minimum Temp around 15 deg C

Maximum Temp around 29 deg C

April

Average rainfall around 45 mm

Minimum Temp around 10 deg C

Maximum Temp around 25 deg C

May

Average rainfall around 19 mm

Minimum Temp around 6 deg C

Maximum Temp around 21 deg C

June

Average rainfall around 13 mm

Minimum Temp around 3 deg C

Maximum Temp around 18 deg C

July

Average rainfall around 6 mm

Minimum Temp around 2 deg C

Maximum Temp around 18 deg C

August

Average rainfall 11 mm

Minimum Temp around 4 deg C

Maximum Temp around 21 deg C


The rain in the Northern Cape is mainly in the form of thunder storms, with cloud buildup happening during the late mornings, then passing showers taking place from late afternoon.


Temperatures can be higher in the summer months with a few days reaching, or exceeding 40 deg C, and there are frosty nights too in winter months where temperatures can go below zero.


Generally the flow of the river is best between November and April due to it being the rainy season, but keep in mind that the section we raft on is also fed by water being released upstream from the Vanderkloof dam. The Vanderkloof dam in turn is fed by water being released upstream of it by the huge Gariep dam.


I hope this information assists you in choosing an apprpriate month to do your rafting adventure in with us!



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