Indaba News

More than 500 people were at the mega rock and roll all-nighter at the Orange River Provenance Camp, most of them having just been on a canoeing trip or about to embark on one. 

Others, many of whom haven't missed an Orange River New Year's Eve party in 10 years, went because they claim there simply isn't anywhere else in the world they would rather be. The formula for fun has been fine-tuned to produce parties par excellence complete with live bands, discos and fireworks.

The pre-millennium and post millennium river trips on the Orange, which are designed to finish and start so that all 500 canoeists are in camp for the New Year celebrations, were sold out, with full deposits paid, a year in advance.

Temperatures soared to 45°C just before New Year but this was described as "perfect" by the nine groups of mixed friends and strangers who canoed the waters of the Orange on three to five-day trips before the big bash. 

"It's the mix of great food, pristine environment, outstanding fun and laughter that bonds everyone in a lazy, suntanned way," said Andrew Johnstone, managing director of Felix Unite Management Development, who was spending his ninth New Year on the river. "The nights under the stars, days under the blue sky, the huge mountains of the Richtersveld are all you need to refresh the batteries for a brand new century."

Back at camp the groups were easily identifiable by their unique fancy dress—Tim Mogg and his crowd had magnificent party hats specially made, Andrew's wore the most weird and wonderful sunglasses, others wore daisies. There were theme shirts and glitzy "little black cocktail numbers" made from garbage bags trimmed in glitter and silver.

Tim and his group, which included Dominique McClarty, editor of Out There magazine climbed a nearby hill to watch the desert party while they hopped about dancing wildly to their own House music. "It was fantastic. Then we heard the countdown, a huge echoing roar and Yahooo Happeee New Year coming down the river. And then the fireworks. They were awesome, they just kept on going for half an hour," said Tim. 

Music was by top five-piece Cape Town band Midnight Blue, which has been at the Orange for New Year most years. And in keeping with tradition, the guides delivered their annual sing-song. 

"The first sunrise of the new millennium was utterly spectacular and we all had to toast the new sun with an obligatory glass of champagne to soothe the aching bones and heads," said Andrew. Tim said: "The river is so good in terms of gelling people. You can have 25 to 35 people, many of them strangers to each other before, and by the time we get back to Provenance they are all such good mates that a blast of a party is inevitable."

Dominique McClary, editor of Out There magazine, had this to say: "Memories are not only of the predictably golden sunsets and star-spattered nights and, of course, the hours of lazy paddling, but of exhilarating morning climbs in the koppies, sweat-soaked jogs into the desert, and that fantastic fireworks display. All served  to strengthen my resolve to return, to spend a good chunk of time on this most magical river."

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