The Buffalo River is the largest river in East London, a city on the southern coast of South Africa, and holds the distinction of being home to South Africa's only river port. It is visible from the descent into East London's airport, giving paddlers an early preview of the waterway they'll be exploring.

The river supports a notably active water sports community, with four clubs based along its banks: the Buffalo River Yacht Club, the East London Ski Boat Club, the East London Yacht Club, and the Leander Rowing Club. This concentration of organized water sport activity means paddlers can expect regular boat traffic on the water, including rowing craft, ski boats, and yachts. Those paddling stand-up paddleboards or similar craft are advised to follow the rowing club's lines or stick close to the shores to avoid conflicts with other water users.

The central location within East London means there are numerous places to eat and drink in the vicinity, making post-paddle logistics straightforward. The surrounding area provides an urban paddling environment rather than a wilderness experience.

It is worth noting that the Buffalo River is also referenced in the context of two-day whitewater trips with challenging rapids in the KwaZulu-Natal region, where it serves as a tributary of the Tugela River. Paddlers should be aware that these represent two distinct stretches of the river with very different characters — the East London section being a broad, port-accessible waterway suited to flat-water paddling, while the upper reaches offer more technical whitewater.