The Kwelera River is located east of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, flowing to the ocean at a river mouth near what is known locally as "Yellows" (Yellow Sands). The river runs through a stretch of coastline roughly 25 kilometres from central East London, passing by Areena Riverside Resort, which sits within a private game reserve, and Yellow Sands Resort closer to the mouth.

The river is used for both recreational paddling and competitive racing. The Border Canoe Club organises events on the Kwelera, including the Discovery Challenge, which starts at the river mouth at Yellow Sands, and the Clippety Clop event, held at Clippety Clop Private Reserve on the river. The Clippety Clop race offers guppies, short course, and long course options, making it accessible to paddlers of varying experience levels. The Pete Marlin race uses a roughly 22-kilometre course that begins at Yellow Sands and finishes at Nahoon or Orient Beach, depending on weather conditions, indicating the river mouth connects to open coastal water and that ocean conditions can influence event logistics.

Areena Riverside Resort offers canoeing as an activity for guests, providing an organised access point for recreational paddlers. The river mouth area is also home to the Kwelera Ski-Boat Club, which operates a slipway and launch site near the botanical gardens area, so paddlers should be aware of motorised boat traffic, particularly near the mouth.

Visually, the river has been described as having a slightly blue colour in its deeper sections, with warm water temperatures noted during summer paddling sessions. The surrounding environment includes game reserve land along parts of the river corridor.

The Kwelera Ski-Boat Club is known for hosting the annual Peri Wild Coast Challenge, which adds to motorised vessel activity in the area around the river mouth. Paddlers planning trips should factor in the presence of ski boats and other motorised craft, especially near the launch and mouth areas.