The Palmiet River flows through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, roughly between Betty's Bay and Kleinmond, offering two distinct paddling experiences: a longer full-section run and a shorter, more concentrated lower section near the river mouth.

The full section begins at a low-level bridge on the Monteith Trust farm (34°15'18.3″S 19°02'02.7″E), requiring advance permission from the landowner — contact during office hours, before 9 am on Fridays. This upper put-in adds roughly 25 km to the trip, with an estimated duration of 6 to 8 hours. The character of the upper section is pool-drop with long flat stretches interspersed among channels clogged with palmiet vegetation. Shortly after launch, paddlers should exit river right and walk approximately one kilometre to bypass the densest vegetation. A weir about 4 km in must be portaged on the right bank. Roughly halfway down sits a 6-metre waterfall — a class V+ feature that has been run only once and carries serious consequences for a missed line, including entrapment in a pothole with no exit. 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 puts in within the Kogelberg Nature Reserve itself (34°18'54.4″S 18°57'45.9″E), accessed from the R44 near the gate, and takes out at the river mouth just after the R44 bridge (34°19'51.5″S 18°59'28.4″E). This 4 km section takes 1 to 2 hours with time for playing and concentrates the best rapids, rated class 3 to 4 depending on water level. Named rapids include Handstands Up, Bubble and Squeak, Itchy and Scratchy, Waterfall, and Judgement Day, the last of which sits immediately upstream of the take-out bridge. Commercial rafting trips operate on this lower section using 2-seater and 4-seater inflatable craft. The river is dam-controlled, and water must be flowing through all openings at the low-level bridge for conditions to be paddleable.

Entry to the Kogelberg Nature Reserve requires a CapeNature conservation fee (currently R60 per adult), waived for WildCard holders or reserve guests. Valuables should not be left unattended at the take-out parking area. The river's catchment is approximately 58% natural, and the water quality is notably clean — reportedly drinkable straight from the river, which is unusual by South African standards. The lower estuary section near Kleinmond is also accessible for flat-water kayaking, with a slipway available and guided tours offered locally.