The Thukela (also spelled Tugela) is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, originating in the Drakensberg at Mont-aux-Sources and running approximately 560 km eastward through the KwaZulu-Natal midlands before emptying into the Indian Ocean. It drops 1,370 metres over the lower 480 km of its course, and its total catchment area is roughly 29,100 km². The river passes through towns including Bergville and Colenso, and its upper reaches flow beneath the dramatic Drakensberg Amphitheatre backdrop.

The gorge section is one of the most well-known stretches of serious whitewater in South Africa. This 23 km run is graded 3 to 4 at normal levels, rising to grade 5 at high water. The put-in is at the rafting camp at Mfongosi, and the take-out is at Jameson's Drift. The trip typically takes around six hours and can comfortably be done as a two-day excursion. The section is pool-drop in character with a distinct gorge portion in the middle where the larger rapids are concentrated. The stretch from Unicorn to Four Man Hole is notably continuous, and at high levels serious pour-overs require avoidance. At low levels, all rapids can be scouted from the water by a competent paddler; at high levels, the bigger rapids should be scouted from the bank.

Access is a significant logistical consideration. The dirt road to both the put-in and take-out is long and becomes very slippery after rain. The river is not dam-controlled at the gorge section — although Spioenkop Dam sits upstream, major tributaries join the Thukela below the dam, meaning water levels respond quickly to rainfall in any of the joining catchments. Paddlers should be aware that levels can rise rapidly.

Crocodiles are present. At low levels the section is considered fully runnable with a croc-style kayak, but at medium to high levels a swim becomes a serious safety concern. At high water the river transforms into large waves and holes comparable in character to the Zambezi. No permits are required for the gorge section. The scenery through the gorge is a notable feature of the trip, and the surrounding Tugela Valley warrants at least a two-day visit to fully appreciate the landscape and avoid rushing the paddle.