The Dusi has become a permanent fixture on the South African sporting calendar since it began in 1951. The race runs from Pietermaritzburg to Durban down the Msunduzi River, and lasts for three days with each day having a defined beginning and end.

The race was first run on 22 December 1951, although then the race was run a continuous basis with racers only stopping once they finished. This first duzi featured only eight paddlers.

With the revised event taking place over 3 days the race is structured as so. The first and second days are 45 kilometres each, with day 2 ending with a 10 kilometre stretch on flat water on the Inanda Dam. Day 3 is 35 kilometres of clean water let out from the dam. Day 2 and 3 feature the strongest rapids in the race.