Stefanie Hefer of 24.com describes her first trip down the Orange River...

I close my eyes and hear the late-night barking of a baboon sentinel high up in the mountains, then a thud and splash as an otter smashes its kill against a rock. I yawn contentedly as the first rays of sunshine and the aroma of coffee wake me in my snug sleeping bag.

What am I on about? My first trip on the Orange with Felix Unite River Adventure's experts, involving 14 guests and two river guides spending four nights under the stars and three-and-a-half days navigating the river dividing South Africa and Namibia.

Under the guidance of our crazy Aussie river guide, Gerry, and his hardworking young assistant, Yango, we were taken on a wild adventure. I learned that you can in fact navigate down difficult parts backwards in your canoe. We were fed five-star meals three times a day, politely rescued from rocks, filled in on the history of the awe-inspiring desert we were paddling through, and taught respect for trees that grow 1cm per year. 

And man, did we laugh. A lot. Playing paddle polo on quiet stretches of river, doing balancing acts on the bows and sterns of our two-seater Mohawks. And especially at night, sharing tales and jokes from all over the world around the fire, watching Gerry, florescent war-paint on his face, doing his best Aboriginal rain dance.

I saw an immense variety of indigenous birds, ranging from tiny finches to giant heron and fish eagles relaxing on the banks. I joined the rest of the group on a hike to a deserted mine, and dipped in a beautiful river pool with a troop of concerned baboons watching.

I sipped sundowners gazing at immense desolation... I watched Gerry cook a leg of lamb to perfection in aluminum foil on an open fire, and was amazed at the level of eco-management practiced by our hosts.

Every lazy lunch was on a more spectacular stretch of river than the last one, each campsite more breathtakingly beautiful. It was all over too soon. 

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