This is South Africa’s longest river, rising in Lesotho in the east and flowing some 2 200km towards the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

The most popular stretch for this river trip is through the desert landscape of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape, starting at Vioolsdrif, close to the Namibian border.

Each day starts with a big breakfast and a safety briefing before setting off downstream in a two-person canoe. Guests paddle for about six hours in total, with a lengthy lunch break during which time they can swim, relax and fish.

After a day of fun on the river, they will disembark on an isolated beach, enjoy a catered dinner around a fire and sleep under the stars (although some might choose to take along a compact hiking tent, especially in winter).

The standard trip is three nights/four days on the river but your clients should cater for extra travel time to and from the base camp.

This trip is recommended in the cooler months (April through to October) as summers can be punishingly hot on the Orange River, with temperatures reaching more than 40˚C (104˚F). Sun protection is necessary throughout the year, but a windbreaker and warm clothing for the nights are advisable in winter.

Operators will supply a list of items to pack.