Kloofing

Kloofing is an adventure activity typically involves the descent of a deep ravine or watercourse that may be dry or wet. The defining factor is usually that the ravine is several times deeper than it is wide. All manner of walking, scrambling, climbing, swimming, plunging, jumping, bumslides or abseiling (rappelling) could be involved.

A kloofing trip usually combines a hiking trail with the descent of a watercourse. Some of the more "interesting" kloofing involves long abseils or high jumps into pools from varying heights, up to as high as 20 or more metres (for example the popular 'Suicide Gorge' in South Africa). Trails can take from as short as 3-6 hours to as long as a multi-day kloofing trip that would require a party to overnight in a ravine.

Depending on the nature of a particular trail a kloofer (noun) might require specialised equipment such as a belay device, rope, wetsuit, rock climbing anchors, etc. Every year a number of kloofers get injured or need rescue and hence kloofers need to take great care and preferably be accompanied by an experienced kloofer.

The recommended jumping technique is the 'pin drop', which involves hitting the water with your body as straight as possible and your hands held firmly by your sides. Closing your mouth completely is a good idea (to avoid biting your tongue) and pointing your toes is optional.

Origin of the word

'Kloofing' is derived from an Afrikaans word 'kloof', meaning 'gorge' or 'ravine'. It has been adopted by English-speaking people (mostly in southern Africa), to mean the activity described above. The word is used in a similar sense to canyoning and canyoneering. The word (and activity) has been in use in South Africa since about 1920's and probably earlier (refer to the 1922 Journal of the Mountain Club of South Africa).