One of the most exhilarating things you can do in southern Swaziland is to whitewater raft on the beautiful Great Usutu River, 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. Anyone can tackle these rapids once they have had a safety briefing.

 

The scenery along the route is stunning, but hard to appreciate once you hit the rapids, which leave you paddling like crazy and doing your best not to fall in the water. Most people do capsize, but careful supervision ensures that everyone lives to tell the tale. Trips include pick-ups from various points in the eZulwini Valley and cost around E350 a person, including a picnic lunch and evening sundowners. Contact Swazi Trails (tel 4162180, ) for bookings and further information.