Pongola River

The Pongola River is a river in South Africa. It is a tributary of the Maputo River. It rises near Utrecht in northern KwaZulu-Natal, flows east through oPhongolo, is dammed at Pongolapoort, and crosses the Ubombo Mountains; then it flows north towards Mozambique, joining the Maputo River.^[2]

Pongola River uPhongolo
Pongola river, immediately below Pongolapoort Dam
Location of the Pongola River mouth
Etymology	From the Zulu for 'trough-like', 'river of troughs', referring to long pools.[1]
Location
Country	South Africa, Mozambique
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Near Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Mouth	Maputo River
• location	Maputo Province, Mozambique
• coordinates	26°51′21″S 32°20′47″E
• elevation	29 m (95 ft)

Its main tributaries are the Bivane River and the Mozana River in South Africa, as well as the Ngwavuma in Eswatini.^[3]

The name of the uPhongolo River is derived from the isiZulu word for a barrel, vat, trough, or cask, referring to the deep and sometimes long pools that are found in this river.^[4][5]

The Pongolo River winding through hills in and beyond the Ithala Game Reserve

See also

• 1305 Pongola
• Pongolapoort Dam
• List of rivers of South Africa