The Palmiet River flows through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, roughly between Betty's Bay and Kleinmond, and offers two distinct paddling experiences: a long upper section from the Monteith Trust farm and a shorter, more concentrated lower section ending at the R44 bridge near the river mouth.

The full trip from the low-level bridge on the Monteith Trust farm covers approximately 25 km and takes six to eight hours. Access to this put-in requires advance permission from the landowner — contact during office hours, before 9 am on Fridays. Coordinates for this put-in are 34°15'18.3″S 19°02'02.7″E. The upper section features long flat stretches interspersed with channels clogged with palmiet vegetation; paddlers are advised to exit on the right shortly after the put-in and walk about a kilometre before re-entering the water. A weir approximately 4 km in should be portaged on the right bank. Around the halfway point sits a 6-metre waterfall that has been run but carries extreme consequence for a missed line — portage on the left bank is strongly recommended. A further low-level bridge downstream should also be portaged on the left.

The shorter lower section, approximately 4 km, can be accessed directly from within the Kogelberg Nature Reserve off the R44 (34°18'54.4″S 18°57'45.9″E) and takes one to two hours including time for play. This section has the highest concentration of rapids and is used for commercial rafting trips. Its five named rapids are Handstands Up, Bubble and Squeak, Itchy and Scratchy, Waterfall, and Judgement Day. The take-out for both sections is at the river mouth just after the R44 bridge (34°19'51.5″S 18°59'28.4″E); paddlers should note that vehicle security at this parking area has been a concern in the past.

The river is graded class 3 overall, with sections reaching class 3 to 4 depending on water level. The river is dam-controlled, and the minimum paddleable level requires water flowing through all openings at the low-level bridge. The catchment is approximately 58% natural, and the water quality is notably clean — reportedly drinkable directly from the river, which is unusual for South African rivers.

Entry to the Kogelberg Nature Reserve requires a CapeNature Conservation fee (currently R60 per adult), waived for WildCard holders or reserve guests. The river is suitable for kayaks throughout; the lower section also accommodates inflatable croc-style craft.