25 Jun 2011 - Low Level
The first drop at the start of the gorge has a potential hazard river centre!
I took a quick day trip out to build on our positive relationship with the local headman, Matthew, and hiked down the top section of the Shavanhove gorge, mainly to see what features caused the hole on the river right line of the first drop, and the first wave.
The photos are fairly revealing in this sense. I was surprised to see that the river had eroded a tunnel under the main slab of granite, creating a siphon. This video shows the entrance and this one shows the exit. However, this mild hazard will only come into play at fairly low levels, and only if one takes the unusual centre line. The usual river left line avoids this section altogether. The real danger lies to those swimming in the flat water above (unlikely).
This is a picturesque part of the world and makes for a good hike, or mountain bike ride (there is an old track down to the start of the gorge.)
Matthew tells me that in the '70's and '80's various people used to regularly camp out near the start of the gorge - and the eroded track is evidence of that. He even pointed out a spot where a "mad muzungu" used to "load up his pipe with mbanje" and then dive off the cliff into a deep pool (with a large boulder in evidence right in the center of the pool). Sadly, the large trees which used to make this a magnificent camping and hiking area have all ended up in a fireplace.
Matthew also pointed out a damsite, complete with beacons, which was planned in the '70's. Hopefully his prediction that there will never be the cash to build it remains true.
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