Komati River
- Overview
- Tributaries
- Geophysical
- Hydrology; Geohydrology
- Ecology
- Climate
- Populated Places
- Water Infrastructure
- References
Overview
The Komati River falls within the Inkomati Water Management Area (WMA)which is situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa and borders on Mozambique and Swaziland. Its main rivers include the Sabie, the Crocodile (East) and Komati Rivers.
The Komati River first flows into Swaziland and re-enters South Africa before flowing into Mozambique.
The biggest part of the Inkomati falls in what is commonly known as the Lowveld. This is the area below the northern reaches of the Drakensberg escarpment.
The Komati River basin has a total catchment area of approximately 11 200 km2 from its headwaters to its confluence with the Crocodile River at Komatipoort.
Tributaries
| Name | Comment |
|---|---|
| Bankspruit | |
| Crocodile River | |
| iNdubazi River | |
| Klein Komati River | |
| Maboko River | |
| Mgobode River | |
| Mkomazane River | |
| Mlumati River | |
| Mzinti River | |
| Ngwenyeni River | |
| Sandspruit River |
Geophysical
Topography
Topographically, the water management area is divided by the Drakensberg Mountains into a western plateau and the sub-tropical Lowveld in the east, with altitudes ranging from over 2 000 m in the west to as low as 140 m in the east.
Geology
By far the greater portion of the area is underlain by crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, comprising granites and gneisses, with many diabase dyke intrusions in places.
Hydrology and Geohydrology
Hydrology
The mean annual runoff from the entire water management area is estimated at 3 022 million m3/annum (DWAF, 2003). This excludes the mean annual runoff from Swaziland (517 million m3/annum), which is not part of the area, although it is part of the catchment. The Komati River drains parts of both South Africa and Swaziland, and then flows into Mozambique after the confluence with the Crocodile River at Komatipoort. The Sabie and Sand River catchments and the smaller Uanetse catchment to the north also drain into the Komati River in Mozambique, although here it is referred to as the Incomati River.
Ecology
Terrestrial Animals
Sungazer lizard, Oribi (antelope), Blue Swallow, WattledCrane, CapeParrot, Samango Monkey and Red Duiker.
Vegetation
Turf Highveld: Typically the vegetation is almost pure rooigras on black turf soils.
Bakenveld: This is a short-growing sour grassveld on acid soils and of low grazing value.
North-Eastern Sandy Highveld: This is also a short-growing sour grassveld similar to Bankenveld but wetter.
Piet Retief Sourveld: This grassveld is taller-growing thanthe grassvelds to the west.
North-EasternMountain Sourveld: This is a short sour grassveld withforest in fire-protected places.
Lowveld Sour Bushveld: This veld is characterized by a dominance of macrophyllous trees (largeleafed, defended from herbivores chemically such as Combretum, Faurea and Terminalea ) and an understorey of tall grasses (lowveld thatch grass Hyperthelia ), ranging from open savanna to forest and scrub-forest in moist fire-protected sites.
Lowveld: This is a mixed veld, drier than, and with a smaller proportion of macrophyllous trees than theLowveldSour Bushveld and with a bigger proportion of microphyllous trees(small- leafed, defended physically by thorns such as Acacia and Dichrostachys).
Climate
Temperature
The region generally has a hot humid climate.
Rainfall
The area has predominantly summer rainfall which is largely influenced by the topography.
Land-use
Agricultural
Tropical fruit, including bananas, avocados, pawpaws and mangoes.
Sugar cane, which is an irrigated crop in this area, is grown in the eastern parts, mostly in the lower Crocodile and Komati River valleys.
On the Highveld the farming is grain pastures and livestock
Sugar cane plantations are concentrated in the Crocodile, northern Komati and Mlumati River valleys. Sugar cane farming is expanding to into the lower Komati Valley towards the Swaziland border to supply the new Komati Sugar Mill located near Tonga.
Nature Conservation, Reserve and Tourism
Trade is further bolstered by the development of tourism activities such as hotels, a casino and the Riverside Mall in Nelspruit. A very important feature of the Inkomati WMA is the Kruger National Park, which also extends into the Olifants and Levuvhu/Letaba water ,management areas.
Trout fishing is another well-supported tourist activity in the area.
The following Nature Reserves can be found in the area:
- Kruger National Park, the southern boundary of which extends to theCrocodile River from Kaapmuiden to Komatipoort. This reserve is 1962 362 ha in extent and is a unique national asset.
- Nooitgedacht Nature reserve, surrounding Nooitgedacht Dam. The Grassland Highveld around this dam is known for its large flocks of Spurwing and Egyptian Geese as well as BlueCranes.
- Badplaas Nature Reserve, with walking and horse riding trails
- Nelshoogte Nature Reserve in the Nelshoogte State Forest
- Dr Hamilton Nature Reserve in Nelshoogte
- Starvation Creek Nature Reserve in the Berlin State Forest. Endangered species found in the above three reserves include the Leopard, Servil, Oribi and Red Duiker
- Hugh Hall Nature Reserve near Nelspruit
- Barberton Nature Reserve, which was previously extensive State land, north and mostly south of the Kaap River valley. The reserve is recently proclaimed and is in the process of being developed.
Industries
Two large sugar mills are located here (the Malelane and Komati sugar mills).
The higher mountainous areas are suitable for forestry, and large plantations of pine and eucalyptus supply the wood, pulp and paper industries.
SAPPI Ngodwana, one of the largest paper mills in the country, is situated about 40 km west of Nelspruit.
Populated Places
| Town | District | Municipality | River/Tributaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badplaas | Gert Sibande | Albert Luthuli | Komati River |
| Komatipoort | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Confluence of Komati and Crocodile River |
| Madadeni | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Komati river and Mgobode, tributary of the Komati river |
| Mgobode | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Mgobode River, tributary of Komati River |
| Mugudu | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Komati River |
| Ntunda | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Komati River |
| Phiva | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Mlumati River, tributary of the Komati River |
| Sibange | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Komati River |
| Sibayeni | Ehlanzeni | Nkomazi | Komati River |
| Tjakastad | Gert Sibande | Albert Luthuli | Komati River |
Water Infrastructure
Dams
| Name | Capacity (mil.cub.m) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Driekoppies Dam | 251 | On the Lomati (Mlumati), tributary of the Komati River |
| Nooitgedacht Dam | 78.4 | On the Komati River |
REFERENCES:
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. DWAF Report No. P WMA 05/000/00/0303: Internal Strategic Perspectives: Inkomati Water Management Area – Version 1 (March 2004). Tlou & Matji (Pty) Ltd.