Umkomazi River

The Umkomazi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.[2]

It rises in some of the highest eastwards-facing slopes of the Drakensberg mountains, near the mighty Thabana Ntlenyana. The river flows southeastwards towards the Indian Ocean, which it enters through a navigable estuary at Umkomaas, about 40 km southwest of Durban.[3] Its main tributaries are the Loteni, Nzinga, Mkomazane, Elands and the Xobho River.[4]

Towns on the Umkomazi basin include Bulwer, Impendle, Ixopo, Craigieburn and Boston. Presently the only dam in its catchment area is the Ixopo Dam, but other dams are planned.[5]

An annual two-day canoe (kayak) race is held on the river. “The Umko” is the second-oldest river marathon and the only one which neither starts nor finishes in a city or town. First held in 1966 the race was initially over three days. The overall distance has varied from 145 km down to the present length of 68 km. Famed as the roughest water race to be paddled in sprint boats which make negotiating the category 1 – 4 rapids tricky, it also had the longest daily sections when the distance was 130 km over two days. The race is held in a remote and rugged valley which makes access difficult and walking out a challenge if one should break a boat irreparably. Stories of paddlers spending a night in the valley before being able to walk out the next day have regularly made the national press and national radio. This premier wildwater race is organised by Kingfisher Canoe Club of Durban and attracts around 180 to 300 paddlers annually.