Canoeing In Sedgefield
View over Swartvlei from the picnic spot next to the N2.
The Sedgefield area has a lot to offer when it comes to canoeing with the vast Swartflei in the west and the river towards the mouth. Be careful of wind when in the open on Swartflei though. Good places to launch from would be Sedgefield Ski-Beach and the Sedgefield Island Conservancy (below) or from Pine Lake Marina on Swartvlei where you can also rent Kayaks and SUPs. Along the river and the edges of the lake you will likely see a variety of water birds.
Permits & Cost: Permits can be obtained from the SANParks office on Thesen Island in Knysna or Ebb-and-Flow in Wilderness and are R216 annually or R108 per month (February 28, 2022) Contact numbers: SANParks Thesen Island 044 302 5600 SANParks Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow 044 877 1197 Directions & Coordinates: Please see maps below. Other: We recommend always wearing PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) even when paddling on the lagoon. Wear a hat and sunscreen as well, bearing in mind that the reflection off the water can also burn you. |
Click images to enlarge.
View from Cloud 9 paragliding site over the lagoon connecting Swartvlei to the mouth.
|
Sedgefield Ski-Beach
|
You can launch kayaks and boats from here, the water will probably be too low for boats at low tide, but you might be able to glide across with your kayak. There are municipal ablutions here but they are sometimes locked especially 'after hours' (early and late in the day).
|
Sedgefield Island Conservancy
|
This is also a good place to launch a boat of kayak from and it situated next to Fish Eagle Green where you can enjoy a picnic on the grass as well. The water level might be quite low at low tide which means you will need to carry your kayak further and this would make launching boats likely not possible. There are temporary ablutions at the picnic site.
|
Please preserve our environment for our posterity by not littering.