Umkomazi River
| Umkomazi River | |
| uMkhomazi, Mkhomazi, Umkomaas | |
| River | |
 Surf near the Umkomazi River mouth at Umkomaas
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| Name origin: Meaning 'the place of she-whales' in the Zulu language | |
| Country | South Africa |
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| Region | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Source | Near Thabana Ntlenyana |
| - location | Drakensberg, Lesotho |
| - elevation | 3,000 m (9,843 ft) |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
| - location | Umkomaas |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| - coordinates | 30°12′1″S 30°48′4″E / 30.20028°S 30.80111°ECoordinates: 30°12′1″S 30°48′4″E / 30.20028°S 30.80111°E |
  Location of the Umkomazi River mouth
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The Umkomazi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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. Its main tributaries are the Loteni, Nzinga, Mkomazane, Elands and the Xobho River.
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.
The Umkomazi is part of the Mvoti to Umzimkulu Water Management Area.
The Mkhomazi State Forest and the Mkhomazi Wilderness Area are protected areas located in the upper course of the Umkomazi River.
The Scaly Yellowfish (Labeobarbus natalensis) is a fish found in the Umkomazi River System as well as in the Umgeni, Umzimkulu, Tukhela and the Umfolozi. It is a common endemic species in KwaZulu-Natal Province and it lives in different habitats between the Drakensberg foothills and the coastal lowlands.
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.
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Wikipedia