Komati River

Afrikaans name: Komati Rivier

Komati River at Stoltz Bridge on the R36 north of Carolina

Photo © Steven Herbert

Pictured on this page is the Komati River where it crosses the R36 between Carolina and Machadodorp. The R36 crosses the river via the Stoltz Bridge which was built in 1967 to replace Grobler's Bridge which is a stones throw downstream.

The Komati River is a perennial river that flows from between Hendrina and Carolina and flows east till it eventually reaches the Indian Ocean at Maputo Bay. This gives it a length of around 800 km.

This river merges with the Crocodile River near Komatipoort. Soon afterwards it plummets through a 180-metre-high gorge down to the coastal lowlands of Mozambique.

The Komati River is also known as the Incomati River which is derived from the siSwati word for cow. Cows give milk all year round and this river flows all year which gives the link between the cow and the river.

Interestingly, the river has been known by other names as well. The Portuguese settlers in what is now Mozambique called it Rio des Reijs, the Voortrekkers knew it as the Manhissa and the British, who obviously had no imagination, called it the King George River.

Photo © Steven Herbert

What recreational activities are there to do along the Komati River?

References and further reading

Wikipedia - Komati River

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