Witbank Dam sits on the Olifants River in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and serves as the flow control point for one of the more demanding river runs in the region. The dam's releases directly determine whether the downstream section is paddleable at all — prolonged rainfall is typically required before sufficient water is discharged to make the run viable. This makes trip planning highly dependent on dam release schedules rather than seasonal patterns alone.

The primary paddling route runs 26 kilometres from the put-in at a hotel adjacent to the river down to the take-out at the huts of the Bobbejaan hiking trail, a trip that takes between five and seven hours. The character of the run is pool-drop with continuous sections at higher flows, rated grade 3 to 4. The opening stretch below the hotel is relatively calm before the gradient increases into sustained class 3 rapids. Two significant drops require scouting: a natural weir with shootable lines and a high drop further downstream. Near the end of the run, a technical class 4 section demands competent boat handling. The run passes through spectacular gorges, which define much of its visual character.

Hazards increase substantially when all dam sluices are open. At high water, reeds dominate the banks where eddies would otherwise form, making scouting from the bank difficult and requiring on-the-run assessment. Crocodiles are present and should be factored into safety planning.

Access to the take-out requires permission to enter the hiking trail on the adjacent farm (contact 013-282-6101 for directions and permits). A 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle is necessary to reach the take-out huts. Overnight trips are possible by booking the huts at the Bobbejaan trail, allowing a second day on the following river section. A shorter, mostly flat stretch with small rapids also exists upstream, running from the R555 between Witbank and Middelburg down to the hotel put-in.

The dam itself is noted for clean water and supports healthy populations of carp, bass, and barbel. A fishing cabin on the Olifants River leading into the dam offers a boat launch facility and access to a fishing kayak for guests.