List of rivers of South Africa

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A map showing South Africa's cities, main towns, selected villages, rivers, and its highest peak.

This is a list of rivers in South Africa.

It is quite common to find the Afrikaans word -rivier as part of the name. Another common suffix is "-kamma", from the Khoisan term for "river"[1] (often tautologically the English term "river" is added to the name). The Zulu word amanzi (water) also forms part of some river names.

The Afrikaans term spruit (compare spring) often labels small rivers.

List[]

River Drainage basin[A] Province and location Source location
(town / mountains) 		Tributary of (river) Dam in river Mouth / junction at location (town) Mouth / junction coordinates
Amanzimtoti River, (Manzimtoti River) (Toti River) U7 KwaZulu-Natal, Amanzimtoti northwest of Adams Mission Indian Ocean 30°3′S 30°52′E / 30.050°S 30.867°E / -30.050; 30.867 (Amanzimtoti mouth)
Apies River A2 Gauteng, Tshwane, Pretoria southeast of Pretoria Moretele River, then Crocodile River and Limpopo River Bon Accord Dam Makapanstad 25°14′24″S 28°08′36″E / 25.24000°S 28.14333°E / -25.24000; 28.14333 (Apies-Tshwane junction)
As River (or Axel River) C8 Free State Southeast of Bethlehem Liebenbergsvlei River, then Wilge River Sol Plaatjie Dam 28°13′27″S 28°21′58″E / 28.22417°S 28.36611°E / -28.22417; 28.36611 (As-Liebenbergsvlei junction)
Assegaai River W5 Mpumalanga North of Wakkerstroom Heyshope Dam Swaziland border 27°04′46″S 31°02′19″E / 27.07944°S 31.03861°E / -27.07944; 31.03861 (Assegaai-Mkondo junction)
Baakens River Eastern Cape Port Elizabeth
Bamboes Spruit C2 North West South of Ottosdal Vaal River Bloemhof Dam 27°40′15″S 25°37′40″E / 27.67083°S 25.62778°E / -27.67083; 25.62778 (Bamboesspruit mouth)
Baviaanskloof River L8 Western and Eastern Cape North of Plettenberg Bay Kouga River 33°39′53″S 24°23′37″E / 33.66472°S 24.39361°E / -33.66472; 24.39361 (Baviaanskloof River junction)
Bell River D1 Eastern Cape Near Naudé's Neck Kraai River, then Orange River Near Moshesh's Ford 30°51′08″S 27°46′43″E / 30.85222°S 27.77861°E / -30.85222; 27.77861
Berg River (or Great Berg River) G1 Western Cape Franschhoek Drakenstein Berg River Dam Velddrif north of Vredenburg, Atlantic Ocean 32°46′13.00″S 18°8′39.66″E / 32.7702778°S 18.1443500°E / -32.7702778; 18.1443500
Berg River D3 Free State 22 km Southwest of Jagersfontein Orange River Vanderkloof Dam Vanderkloof Dam 29°59′43″S 24°46′48″E / 29.99528°S 24.78000°E / -29.99528; 24.78000 (Vanderkloof dam tributary)
Bhira River R5 Eastern Cape North of between Port Alfred and East London, near Begha, Indian Ocean 33°23′00″S 27°19′33″E / 33.38333°S 27.32583°E / -33.38333; 27.32583 (Bhira River mouth)
Bivane River W5 KwaZulu-Natal Pongola River Bivane Dam
Black Kei River Eastern Cape Southwest of Queenstown Great Kei River
Blesbokspruit (or Blesbok Spruit) C2 Gauteng North of Daveyton Vaal River
Blood River (or Ncome River) V3 KwaZulu-Natal Knight's Pass, Utrecht Buffalo River
Bloukrans River V1 KwaZulu-Natal North of Giant's Castle in the Drakensberg foothills Tugela River none near , Weenen area 28°45′30″S 30°08′55″E / 28.75833°S 30.14861°E / -28.75833; 30.14861 (Bloukrans-Tugela confluence)
Bloukrans River K Western and Eastern Cape border Near Peak Formosa n.a. Near Bloukrans Bridge 33°58′44″S 23°38′49″E / 33.97889°S 23.64694°E / -33.97889; 23.64694 (Blouwkrans River mouth)
Bloukrans River Eastern Cape Near Grahamstown Kowie River none Near Langholm, Grahamstown 33°24′38″S 26°39′05″E / 33.41056°S 26.65139°E / -33.41056; 26.65139 (Bloukrans-Kowie confluence)
Blyde River (or Motlatse River) B6 Mpumalanga West of Sabie Olifants River Blyderivierpoort Dam , area 24°15′13″S 30°49′50″E / 24.25361°S 30.83056°E / -24.25361; 30.83056 (Blyde-Olifants confluence)
Western Cape Northeast of Pearly Beach Uilkraal River (south of Gans Bay), Atlantic Ocean 34°36′21″S 19°24′32″E / 34.60583°S 19.40889°E / -34.60583; 19.40889 (Uilkraal River mouth)
Boesmans River Eastern Cape North of Kenton on Sea, Indian Ocean 33°41′32″S 26°39′50″E / 33.69222°S 26.66389°E / -33.69222; 26.66389 (Boesmans River mouth)
Boesmanspruit (or Boesman Spruit) Mpumalanga South of Secunda then into the Vaal River
Western Cape Alphen Dam
Bot River G Western Cape South of Teewaterskloof Dam , Atlantic Ocean 34°22′05″S 19°05′53″E / 34.36806°S 19.09806°E / -34.36806; 19.09806 (Bot River mouth)
Braamfontein Spruit (or Braamfonteinspruit) Gauteng Greymont Roodepoort Jukskei River Emmarentia Dam
Brak River A7 Limpopo Sand River (Polokwane) 22°36′15″S 29°44′0″E / 22.60417°S 29.73333°E / -22.60417; 29.73333 (Brak River mouth)
Breede River (or Breë River) H Western Cape, Overberg near Ceres the and Dwars River become the Bree River West of Mossel Bay, Indian Ocean 34°24′15″S 20°51′06″E / 34.40417°S 20.85167°E / -34.40417; 20.85167 (Breede River mouth)
Bronkhorst Spruit (or Bronkhorstspruit) B2 Gauteng Wilge River Bronkhorstspruit Dam
Buffeljags River Western Cape joining of the and Breede River Buffeljags Dam
Buffalo River (Eastern Cape) R2 Eastern Cape Northwest of King William's Town Laing Dam, Bridle Drift Dam East London harbour 33°01′45″S 27°54′57″E / 33.02917°S 27.91583°E / -33.02917; 27.91583 (Buffalo River mouth)
Buffalo River (KwaZulu-Natal) V3 KwaZulu-Natal northeast of Volksrust Tugela River
F3 Northern Cape 29°40′35″S 17°03′07″E / 29.67642°S 17.051811°E / -29.67642; 17.051811 (Buffels River mouth (Northern Cape))
Buffels River J1 Western Cape The and the , join to become the Buffels River Floriskraal Dam at Buffelspoort, the joins the Buffels River to become the Groot River 33°28′05″S 20°59′02″E / 33.467929°S 20.983973°E / -33.467929; 20.983973 (Buffels River junction (Western Cape))
Bushman River V KwaZulu-Natal at Giant's Castle Tugela River Wagendrift Dam
Caledon River D2 Free State border Lesotho and South Africa southwest of Witsieshoek Orange River Knellpoort Dam, Welbedacht Dam Bethulie 30°31′0″S 26°5′46″E / 30.51667°S 26.09611°E / -30.51667; 26.09611 (Caledon River mouth)
Chalumna River (or Tyolomnqa River) R4 Eastern Cape
Crocodile River X3 Mpumalanga North of Dullstroom Komati River Kwena Dam Komatipoort
Crocodile River A3 North West, Gauteng and Limpopo Roodepoort Limpopo River Hartbeespoort Dam Roodekoppies Dam
Diep River G Western Cape North of Malmesbury Table Bay Cape Town 33°53′27″S 18°22′55″E / 33.89083°S 18.38194°E / -33.89083; 18.38194 (Diep River mouth)
Diep River A7 Limpopo Southeast of Polokwane Sand River
Doring River Western Cape and Eastern Cape Northeast of Ceres Olifants River Doring River Dam
Duiwenhoks River Western Cape North of Heidelberg West of Mossel Bay, Indian Ocean 34°21′56″S 21°00′01″E / 34.36556°S 21.00028°E / -34.36556; 21.00028 (Duiwenhoks River mouth)
Elands River B2 Gauteng Near Rayton Olifants River Rust de Winter Dam, Rhenosterkop Dam Marble Hall 24°55′27″S 29°20′45″E / 24.92417°S 29.34583°E / -24.92417; 29.34583 (Elands-Olifants confluence)
Elands River A North West Province Near Koster Crocodile River (West) Vaalkop Dam 24°17′18″S 27°31′8″E / 24.28833°S 27.51889°E / -24.28833; 27.51889 (Elands-Crocodile confluence)
Elands River X3 Mpumalanga Northeast of Belfast Crocodile River (East)
Ga-Selati River Limpopo Wolkberg Olifants River South of Phalaborwa
Gamka River J Western Cape North of Beaufort West Gourits River Gamkapoort Dam South of Calitzdorp
Gamtoos River L9 Eastern Cape The Kouga River and Groot River become the Gamtoos River Northeast of Jeffreys Bay 33°58′12″S 25°02′03″E / 33.97000°S 25.03417°E / -33.97000; 25.03417 (Gamtoos River Mouth)
Gouritz River (or Gourits River) Western Cape The Gamka River and Olifants River become the Gourits River at Gouritsmond 34°20′47″S 21°53′08″E / 34.34639°S 21.88556°E / -34.34639; 21.88556 (Gourits River mouth)
Great Fish River (Groot-Vis River) Eastern Cape East of Graaff-Reinet North of Seafield, Indian Ocean 33°29′44″S 27°08′09″E / 33.49556°S 27.13583°E / -33.49556; 27.13583 (Great Fish River mouth)
Groenrivier (Green River) Northern Cape About 120 km NNW of Strandfontein by Green River Mouth Lighthouse
Great Kei River (Groot-Kei) Eastern Cape The Swart-Kei River and the White Kei River become the Great Kei River Kei Mouth, Indian Ocean 32°40′45″S 28°23′07″E / 32.67917°S 28.38528°E / -32.67917; 28.38528 (Groot-Kei Mouth)
Great Letaba River B8 Limpopo The Great Letaba River and Little Letaba River become the Letaba River Letaba River Ebenezer Dam
Great Usutu River (or Maputo River) W5 KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and Mozambique Northwest of Amsterdam South of Maputo, Mozambique 26°10′22″S 32°41′45″E / 26.17278°S 32.69583°E / -26.17278; 32.69583 (Maputo River mouth)
Great Brak River K Western Cape Perdeberg River, Tweeriviere River and Varings River Wolwedans Dam Great Brak River, Indian Ocean
Groot Brak River Eastern Cape North of Steynsburg Teebusspruit Great Fish River
Groot Marico River (or Great Marico River) North West
Groot River Eastern Cape where the Kariega River and join Gamtoos River Beervlei Dam
Groot River partly the border between Eastern Cape and Western Cape The Buffels River becomes the Groot River from where the joins the Buffels Gouritz River Beervlei Dam
Groot River Western Cape Doring River
Groot Vet River Free State
Eastern Cape
Northern Cape
Northern Cape
Western Cape
Harts River North West
Hennops River Gauteng East of Tembisa Crocodile River
Western Cape
Hex River H Western Cape Breede River
North West Elands River Bospoort Dam
Hluhluwe River W KwaZulu-Natal Hluhluwe Game Reserve Hluhluwe River lake St Lucia
Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Hout River A7 Limpopo Sand River (Polokwane) 23°4′2″S 29°34′45″E / 23.06722°S 29.57917°E / -23.06722; 29.57917 (Hout River mouth)
Illovo River KwaZulu-Natal
Incomati River Mpumalanga
Eastern Cape Lubisi Dam
C2 Gauteng West of Nigel Vaal River
Intombe River KwaZulu-Natal
Western Cape
Free State
Free State Bloemhoek Dam
Jukskei River Gauteng Crocodile River (West) then Limpopo River
Kaaimans River Western Cape
Eastern Cape Jeffreys Bay 34°00′19″S 24°56′08″E / 34.00528°S 24.93556°E / -34.00528; 24.93556 (Kabeljous River mouth)
Free State
KwaZulu-Natal
Western Cape
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape
Free State
Kat River Eastern Cape, Seymour, Fort Beaufort Amatola Mountains Great Fish River Katrivier Dam Great Fish River south of Fort Beaufort 32°59′44″S 26°47′05″E / 32.99556°S 26.78472°E / -32.99556; 26.78472
Mpumalanga
Kariega River Eastern Cape Settlers Dam Kenton-on-Sea
Western Cape
Keiskamma River R1 Eastern Cape Amatola Mountains Sandile Dam Hamburg northeast of Port Alfred, Indian Ocean 33°17′S 27°29′E / 33.283°S 27.483°E / -33.283; 27.483
Keurbooms River Western Cape, Plettenberg Bay Northeast of Plettenberg Bay, Indian Ocean
Western Cape
Klaas Smits River Eastern Cape South of Molteno Swart-Kei River
Klaserie River Mpumalanga
Eastern Cape, Tsitsikamma coast Klasies River Caves
Little Letaba River B8 Limpopo The Great Letaba River and Little Letaba River become the Letaba River Letaba River
North West
Mpumalanga
Klein River Western Cape Hermanus, Indian Ocean 34°25′17″S 19°18′03″E / 34.42139°S 19.30083°E / -34.42139; 19.30083 (Klein River mouth)
Klip River Western Cape
Klip River KwaZulu-Natal
Klip River Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Komani River Eastern Cape North of Queenstown Klaas Smits River Bongolo Dam
Komati River (or Incomati, Nkomati) X1 Mpumalanga, Komati Gorge
KwaZulu-Natal
Kouga River L8 Eastern Cape
Kowie River Eastern Cape Grahamstown Port Alfred
Kraai River D1 Eastern Cape Confluence of Bell River, Sterkspruit and Joggem River at Moshesh's Ford, Eastern Cape Drakensberg Orange River Aliwal North 30°40′S 26°45′E / 30.667°S 26.750°E / -30.667; 26.750
Mpumalanga
Krom River Eastern Cape
Western Cape, Stellenbosch
Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Free State
Western Cape
Limpopo
Liesbeek River (also spelt Liesbeeck) Western Cape
Leeu River Free State Armenia Dam
Levubu River (or Luvuvhu, Pafuri River) A9 Limpopo Albasini Dam Limpopo River 22°25′32″S 31°18′25″E / 22.42556°S 31.30694°E / -22.42556; 31.30694 (Levuvhu River)
Lephalala River (see Palala River) A5 Limpopo ,
Letaba River B8 Limpopo The Great Letaba River and Little Letaba River become the Letaba River Olifants River
Liebenbergsvlei River C8 Free State
Liesbeeck River Western Cape
Limpopo
Liesbeek River Western Cape, Cape Town
Limpopo River A Limpopo, on Zimbabwe, Botswana borders The Marico River and the Crocodile River become the Limpopo River Xai-Xai, Mozambique into Indian Ocean
Little Brak River (or Klein Brak) Eastern Cape Little Brak River, Indian Ocean 34°05′31″S 22°08′55″E / 34.09194°S 22.14861°E / -34.09194; 22.14861 (Little Brak River mouth)
Western Cape
(Illovu) U7 KwaZulu-Natal West of Richmond at , Indian Ocean 30°6′S 30°51′E / 30.100°S 30.850°E / -30.100; 30.850
Western Cape Brandvlei Dam
Mpumalanga
Eastern Cape
M Eastern Cape West of Port Elizabeth 33°59′14″S 25°17′37″E / 33.98722°S 25.29361°E / -33.98722; 25.29361 (Maitland River mouth)[2]
Limpopo Province Olifants River (Limpopo)
Maputo River (or Great Usutu) Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Marico River A2 North West Limpopo River
Matlabas River Limpopo
Mbhashe River Eastern Cape, Transkei region East of Elliot South of 32°14′56″S 28°54′00″E / 32.24889°S 28.90000°E / -32.24889; 28.90000 (Mbhashe River mouth)
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
Mdloti River KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Middle Letaba River B8 Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
Mhlatuze River W KwaZulu-Natal
Mkomazi River Kwazulu-Natal
W KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
Mngeni River (or Mgeni, Umgeni) U KwaZulu-Natal north of Durban, Indian Ocean
Modder River Northern Cape and Free State Riet River
Mogalakwena River A6 Limpopo Limpopo River
Mokolo River (or Mogol River) A4 Limpopo The Sand River and Grootspruit River become the Mokolo River Limpopo Mokolo Dam
Molopo River D4 North West border Botswana Disaneng Dam
Mooi River V KwaZulu-Natal Tugela River
Mooi River North West Vaal River Boskop Dam
T Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal Near Hamburg 30°55′59″S 30°16′00″E / 30.93306°S 30.26667°E / -30.93306; 30.26667
Msunduzi River (or Duzi River) KwaZulu-Natal
Mthatha River Eastern Cape
Mtamvuna River KwaZulu-Natal - Eastern Cape border
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape, Transkei region
Mzimkulu River (or Umzimkulu) KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal, Oribi Gorge
Mzimvubu River Eastern Cape, Transkei region
KwaZulu-Natal
Nahoon River R3 Eastern Cape, East London
KwaZulu-Natal
Ngotwane River North West
Ngwavuma KwaZulu-Natal Pongola River 26°57′42″S 32°17′39″E / 26.96167°S 32.29417°E / -26.96167; 32.29417 (Ngwavuma River junction)
Nossob River D4 Northern Cape, Kalahari
Eastern Cape
Limpopo
V4 KwaZulu-Natal Tugela River
KwaZulu-Natal
Free State
KwaZulu-Natal
Nyl River Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
Nzhelele River A8 Limpopo
Nwanedi River Limpopo
Ohlanga River (or Umhlanga) KwaZulu-Natal
Ohrigstad River Mpumalanga
Olifants River B Mpumalanga and Limpopo Loskop Dam, Flag Boshielo Dam
Olifants River Western Cape Oudtshoorn
Olifants River Western Cape Clanwilliam Dam
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Orange River (or Gariep River) Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State Gariep Dam, Vanderkloof Dam, Boegoeberg Dam Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay, Northern Cape 29°35′S 16°29′E / 29.583°S 16.483°E / -29.583; 16.483
Gauteng
Palala River (or Lephalala) A5 Limpopo
Palmiet River Western Cape Eikenhof Dam
Pienaars River A2 Gauteng and Northwest northwest of Bronkhorstspruit Crocodile River Roodeplaat Dam, Klipvoor Dam
Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Western Cape
Pongola River (or Phongolo) W5 KwaZulu-Natal
Riet River Free State Vaal River
Eastern Cape
Free State
Riviersonderend (or Sonderend River) Western Cape, Overberg
Western Cape
Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Sabie River Mpumalanga X3 Incomati River, Mozambique
Northern Cape
Salt River Western Cape Cape Town
Sand River A Limpopo Province Limpopo River
Sand River Free State Vet River Allemanskraal Dam
Free State
KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape
B2 Mpumalanga Highveld east of Middelburg Olifants River Near Loskop Dam 25°22′15″S 29°23′42″E / 25.37083°S 29.39500°E / -25.37083; 29.39500 (Selons-Olifants confluence)
Western Cape
Western Cape, Cape Town
Northern Cape About 18 km SSE of Hondeklip Bay
Steelpoort River Mpumalanga
Western Cape
North West Buffelspoort Dam
Storms River Eastern Cape
C2 Gauteng Vereeniging
V1 KwaZulu-Natal Tugela River
Sundays River M1 Eastern Cape Darlington Dam
Swart River Western Cape North of Caledon Bot River
Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth
Tamboti River Limpopo
Tarka River Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape Southern Drakensberg Orange River near Palmietfontein 30°24′18″S 27°33′30″E / 30.4049°S 27.5583°E / -30.4049; 27.5583
Timbavati River Mpumalanga Olifants River near Olifants Camp, Kruger National Park 24°3′18″S 31°40′39″E / 24.05500°S 31.67750°E / -24.05500; 31.67750
KwaZulu-Natal
Touws River Western Cape Groot River
Treur River B6 Limpopo
Northern Cape
Tsitsikamma River Eastern Cape
Tsomo River Eastern Cape
Tugela River V KwaZulu-Natal
Tyhume River Eastern Cape Keiskamma River Binfield Park Dam South-east of Alice 32°54′50″S 26°56′14″E / 32.91389°S 26.93722°E / -32.91389; 26.93722
Uilkraal River Western Cape Gans Bay, Atlantic Ocean 34°36′22″S 19°24′33″E / 34.60611°S 19.40917°E / -34.60611; 19.40917 (Uilkraal River mouth)
Umbilo River KwaZulu-Natal
Umfolozi River (Zulu: Mfolozi) W KwaZulu-Natal , Indian Ocean 28°23′52″S 32°25′27″E / 28.39778°S 32.42417°E / -28.39778; 32.42417 (Umfolozi River mouth)
Black Umfolozi River (Zulu: Mfolozi emnyama) KwaZulu-Natal
White Umfolozi River (Zulu: Mfolozi emhlophe) KwaZulu-Natal
Wilge River (Mpumalanga) B2 Mpumalanga Olifants River
Wilge River (Free State) C8 Free State Vaal Dam
Umgeni River(uMngeni) U2 KwaZulu-Natal East of Howick Midmar Dam, Albert Falls Dam, Inanda Dam, Nagle Dam near Durban, Indian Ocean 29°48′S 31°2′E / 29.800°S 31.033°E / -29.800; 31.033
(or Mvoti River) U KwaZulu-Natal
Umzimkulu River (Zulu: Mzimkulu) KwaZulu-Natal
Usutu River Mpumalanga
KwaZulu-Natal
Vaal River C Free State and other North of Ermelo, Mpumalanga Orange River Bloemhof Dam, Vaal Dam, Douglas Weir
Vals River Free State Vaal River
Van Stadens River Eastern Cape
Verlorevlei River Western Cape Elands Bay Atlantic Ocean 32°18′54″S 18°20′15″E / 32.31500°S 18.33750°E / -32.31500; 18.33750 (Verlorevlei mouth)
Vet River Free State Vaal River
(English: 24 Rivers) Western Cape
Mpumalanga
White Kei River Eastern Cape North of Queenstown Great Kei River
Wilge River C8 Free State
Wilge River Mpumalanga
Eastern Cape
Limpopo
Mpumalanga Boschmanskop No 1 Dam
Wonderfonteinspruit
Eastern Cape Xilinxa Dam
Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
Zandvlei Western Cape
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
  • A ^ Drainage basin code assigned by the Department of Water Affairs (South Africa), a complete list is available at Drainage basins of South Africa

Gallery[]

See also[]

  • List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
  • Water Management Areas
  • Estuaries in South Africa
  • List of lakes in South Africa
  • Lagoons of South Africa
  • List of Bays of South Africa
  • Drainage basins of South Africa

References[]

  1. ^ Meiring, Barbara. "South African Toponymic Guidelines for Map and other editors: Fourth Edition"[permanent dead link], 12. Retrieved on 30 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Maitland River Mouth". Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

External links[]

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Download coordinates as: KML
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