The Kraai River flows through the upland grasslands of the Eastern Cape's Drakensberg region, roughly between Barkly East and Lady Grey. The river has carved a deep gorge through layers of Clarens Formation sandstone — pale-coloured slabs visible along the riverbanks — beneath remnant Drakensberg basalt from eruptions approximately 182 million years ago. The surrounding cliffs and serpentine bends give the valley a dramatic, enclosed character that is accessible almost exclusively by water.

Access points are extremely limited due to the gorge topography, which means paddlers must commit to full-day or multi-day trips once on the water. One established put-in is at Kelvin Grove farm on the road between Barkly East and the river corridor. A typical drift covers around 12 km in a day, reaching the take-out at a property called Wildside by dusk. A longer multi-day route of approximately 50 km has also been run over two and a half days. Because of the scarcity of exit points, paddlers should plan carefully and be prepared to spend the entire day on the river regardless of conditions.

At lower water levels, occasional log jams require portaging. Two people can carry two loaded inflatable kayaks at a time without significant difficulty. A headwind funnelled through the gorge can require additional paddling effort, though inflatable kayaks handle this terrain well given their lightness and maneuverability. Higher flows speed up the drift considerably. Paddlers are advised to carry a raincoat and a warm layer, as the high-altitude environment can change quickly.

The gorge contains at least one notable feature called Christmas Cave, a large rock shelter historically used by local communities who arrived by ox wagon for multi-day festive gatherings. The surrounding landscape supports Afromontane grassland vegetation, including the shrub Ouhout (Leucosidea sericea), endemic to South Africa and Zimbabwe. The river ultimately drains toward the Atlantic Ocean via its downstream catchment.

Guided drift operations have been run on the Kraai, offering catered sleep-over versions with inflatable mattresses and pre-arranged logistics, which may be a practical option given the access constraints. Physical fitness and sure-footedness are recommended for anyone undertaking the trip independently.