Wilge River

Wilge River
River
At Harrismith
Name origin: From wilg, the word for 'willow' in Afrikaans
Country	South Africa
Region	Free State
Tributaries
- left	Nuwejaarspruit, Elands River, Liebenbergsvlei
- right	Meul River, Cornelis River
Source
- location	Drakensberg
- elevation	2,040 m (6,693 ft)
Mouth	Vaal River
- location	Vaal Dam
- elevation	1,499 m (4,918 ft)
- coordinates	27°8′30″S 28°23′6″E / 27.14167°S 28.38500°E / -27.14167; 28.38500Coordinates: 27°8′30″S 28°23′6″E / 27.14167°S 28.38500°E / -27.14167; 28.38500
Location of the Wilge River mouth

The Wilge River (Afrikaans: Wilgerivier, meaning "willow river") is a tributary of the Vaal River in central South Africa. This river is important as part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Transfer Scheme where water is transferred from the Tugela River basin to the Vaal River basin.

The largemouth yellowfish is present in the waters of the Wilge River, reaching quite a large size.

Its sources are about 50 km northeast of Harrismith, at the border with KwaZulu-Natal. In its upper course the river flows roughly southwestwards from its source, then westwards while bending northwards towards Harrismith, skirting the southern end of the Platberg where there is the confluence with the Nuwejaarspruit from the left.

Further north the Elands River joins its left bank. Then the Meul River and the Cornelis River join its right bank. It continues flowing in a NNW direction, being joined by the Liebenbergsvlei from the left, while passing near Frankfort and flowing northwestwards until it finally meets the Vaal at the Vaal Dam further downstream.