Rivers of Southern Africa Rivers of Southern Africa Written by Sarah Scott Southern Africa is famous for its cultures, wildlife and spectacularly varied landscapes; all of these converge on, and are fed by, its magnificent rivers. Here is only the briefest look at a few of the greats. Tugela River Drawing its name from the Zulu "thukela", meaning "startling" or "fearsome", the Tugela river has borne witness to many battles in the Anglo-Zulu and Boer Wars. It is the largest river in Kwa Zulu Natal, and spills nearly a kilometer down the world's second tallest waterfall, the Tugela Falls. Hiking trails lead to the height of the falls at the top of the Drakensberg escarpment, offering magnificent views of the river's five-tier drop into the Tugela Gorge. From there the river offers everything from rapids with names like "Rocky Horror" and "Washing Machine" for kayacking and rafting enthusiasts, to tranquil swimming and bird watching.

On the banks of the Tugela, the Harold and Johnson Nature Reserve offers over 200 bird species, and a "Muthi" trail, which details the traditional medicinal plants of the Zulus. Summer rainfall makes November through April the best time for rafting but KwaZulu Natal's sub-tropical climate means great weather all year round. Orange River Originally the Gariep River (Nama, meaning "Great River), renamed by settlers after William of Orange, the Orange River is the largest and longest river in South Africa. Rising as the Senqu River in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho, it flows Westwards across South Africa, forming part of the border between South Africa and Namibia, and is responsible for the rich diamond deposits along the Namibian coast. The Orange River covers some 2 200km, passing through the Richtersveld semi-desert, the Kalahari and the Namib. In the Northern Cape it drops 56m down the Augrabies falls, and then runs 18km through the stark ravines of the Orange River Gorge.

From the Khoi "Aukoerebis" which means "place of great noise", the Augrabies falls descend into an almost inaccessible pool, where legends have it a giant monster lives, guarding a wealth of alluvial diamonds. The Orange River is a favourite for rafting and kayaking, with numerous companies offering organised trips. In the lower reaches the landscape varies from spectacular mountain ranges to wind swept dunes. Luxury accommodation is available, although camping is free almost anywhere along the river. Limpopo or Crocodile River Rudyard Kipling described it as "the great, grey-green greasy Limpopo ... all set about with fever trees". Rising as the Crocodile in Witwatersrand, the Limpopo skirts the borders of Botswana and Zimbabwe to empty itself from the coast of Mozambique. It moves from arid landscapes to densely forested regions – and it forms the northern border of the Kruger National Park, the world-famous home of the big five, as well as a staggering array of other wildlife. At the meeting point of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa lie the ruins of the great Kingdom of Mapungubwe.

The ruins chronicle the existence of a prosperous Iron Age society in the Limpopo River Valley some 1000 years ago. Where it passes through the Khalahari the surrounds are dry, and the river unreliable. It gains much of its flow from its main tributary, the Olifants River, and below this the Limpopo is permanently navigable to the sea. In the lush lower reaches it provides water for nearby villages and irrigation for farming. The Zambezi In Zambia, the Tonga people believe a spirit called Nyami Nyami (literally "Meat Meat") inhabits the Zambezi River, providing them with fish to eat and water for crops. According to legend, Nyami Nyami was separated from his wife by the construction midway along the river of the Kariba Dam, and no longer shows his face to man. The Kariba and Cabora Bassa Dams provide electricity to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest river in Africa. Springing from the earth between the roots of a tree in a corner of North West Zambia, it flows through Angola, along Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where it joins the Indian Ocean.

Although this vast river has much to offer, its most spectacular feature is undoubtedly the Victoria Falls, also called "Mosi-ao-Tunya", or "The Smoke That Thunders". Considered to be the tallest waterfall in the world, the spray from the falls' 400 foot drop has created its own miniature tropical rain forest amidst semi-arid African Tundra. The river downstream of the falls features rapids for white water rafting and calm waters for tranquil canoing. From here it flows through the Zambezi National Park on the Zambian side and the Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side, hosting one of Africa's most important wilderness regions. Fish River The source of the Fish River is in the Eastern Naukluft Mountains, which give their name to the extensive Naukluft National Park. It flows some 650km across Namibia, until it joins the Orange River at the border between Namibia and South Africa. The river's flow is stunted by damming at Hardap, near Mariental. In winter it may run almost dry, but after the summer rains it returns to full flow.

It is best known for the famous Fish River Canyon: said to be the second largest canyon in the world, with a length of 161km and depths of up to 550m. A challenging hike covers 90km of the canyon floor in roughly 5 days, ending at Ai-Ais, a magnificent hot spring resort. Ai-Ais is a Khoekhoen word, literally meaning "fire water". The entire canyon is part of a Nature Conservation Area, and is bordered by the Canyon and Gondwana Nature Parks. Umgeni River The Umgeni (or Mngeni), meaning "Place of the Acacia Trees" in isiZulu, rises in the Natal Midlands, and its mouth, north of the Durban Harbour, is where Vasco da Gama is said to have replenished his fleet's water supply on Christmas day, 1497. The river idles through the Valley of 1 000 Hills, a scenic and peaceful valley brimming with indigenous flora, and ruled over by Emkhambathini, the 960m-high Natal Table Mountain.

The annual Duzi Canoe Marathon passes through this valley en route from the Msunduzi river in Pietermaritzberg to the Umgeni River Mouth. Known for its diversity of bird life, the river mouth is popular for birdwatching. Inland on the North bank of the river is the Umgeni Bird Park, which boasts 23 species listed under conservation's highest protection status, as well as a host of other local and exotic birds. The Kei River The Great Kei River is formed east of Queenstown, by the junction of the White Kei and the Black Kei rivers. It flows approximately 225km through the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to the Indian Ocean. The Kei River forms the Southwestern border of the Transkei, literally meaning "across the Kei". Fishing is popular upstream and at the mouth of the river. The Kei River Mouth occupies a pristine stretch of undeveloped coastline, with rolling dunes and subtropical vegetation. A ferry across the Kei gives access to the rolling hills of the unspoilt Transkei region. Chobe The Chobe River rises as the Cuando in the highlands of Angola.

When it crosses into Botswana, it becomes the Linyanthi, at Parakurungu it becomes the Itenge, and at Ngome Gate it becomes the Chobe River. Finally, it joins the Zambezi at Kazangula after which they hurtle together over Victoria Falls. In places the Chobe is characterised by swamps of reed, papyrus and water lilies. The river banks offer a variety of landscapes, from open flood plains to riverine woodland. It forms the Northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, where large groups of elephant are almost always found. Buffalo, waterbuck, eland and giraffe also frequent the river, and hippo and crocodile can be spotted in its waters. The Cuando River is known for its wildlife, and for most of its length the areas surrounding its banks are games reserves or wildlife management areas. The Seboba Water Rapids are the only permanent rapids on the Chobe. Touws River Meaning "Gate" in the language of the Hottentots, the Touws River runs from the arid landscape of the Karoo to the coast at Wilderness, a town on the Southern Cape Garden Route in South Africa.

Canoing is popular at the river mouth, and the surrounding Wilderness National Park protects a wealth bird life and pure coastal beauty. The river once flooded the little railway town of Touws River so dramatically that a marker near the top of the town's Church spire marks the high point of the flood water level. The Vaal River The Vaal River has its source in the Drakensberg Mountains in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is 1120km long, and forms the border of the Free State with Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the North West Province. Water from the Vaal River supports the needs of industry in Johannesburg, as well as 12 Million consumers in and around Gauteng, and is a major source for irrigation. Vaal is a Dutch name, translated from the Khoi name Tky-Gariep; Tky meaning drab or dull, a reference to the green or brown colour of its waters. The river itself is in no way dull; the Vaal provides everything from tranquil canoing or fly-fishing to white water rafting or kayaking on its rapids, all surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

The Vaal River passes through the Vredefort Dome, the oldest and largest known meteorite impact structure on the planet. Here it winds between more than 300 islands, in an area steeped in both geological and cultural history. Published in African Safaris, South Africa, Third Quarter 2008. Orange River Orange River Northern Namibia Orange River The Orange River, which forms Namibia's southern border to South Africa, originates in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho at an altitude of 3,000 metres. It runs in north-westerly directions through South Africa, where it is nowadays called the Gariep river The river is extensively used for irrigation in South Africa and dammed up several times. Near Oranjemund the Orange reaches the Atlantic Ocean - after a journey of 2160 kilometres. On its long journey, the Orange offers a variety of vistas. The stretch from the border town of Noordoewer and the rivermouth is very scenic, in places the river is seamed by rugged mountain chains and in other parts by dune fields. The Oranje in Namibia is a quiet and peaceful river, its valley hardly touched by tourism.

Today some accommodation is available near the border and canoe trips are on offer. The riverbed is sandy and the water clean and clear. In some places the water is used for irrigating table grape and citrus plantations. The Orange river has created the diamond fields at the Namibian coast. Over millions of years it washed diamonds from the Kimberley region in South Africa into the ocean. The currents of the ocean transported them to the north and the surf deposited them in the dune fields of the Namib. From the border village of Noordoewer a sandy road, often running directly along the river, leads to the mining town of Rosh Pinah. This stretch is one of the most beautiful routes in Namibia. There is free camping almost everywhere along the river. The road also passes through the restricted diamond zone, which begins in the west and stretches across a vast area along the Namibian coast. You could really find diamonds here, which is why it is prohibited to stop in the area or even leave the road. Not so long ago, new extensive diamond deposits were discovered on the farm Aussenkehr on the Oranje. Stopping or leaving the road is not allowed within the restricted diamond area. Oranjemund is off-limits for visitors.

Some kilometres before Rosh Pinah, however, one can cross the river to get to the Sendelingsdrif border post in South Africa and it is possible to visit the Richtersveld National Park. A small car ferry operates daily from 9 to 17:00. For a drive through the Richtersveld Park a four-wheel drive is required. Rosh Pinah is a busy industrial town. Here the South African Anglo-American corporation is doing zinc mining on a large scale. The metal is transported on trucks to Luederitz for shipment. For this reason the C13 road from Rosh Pinah to Aus has been tarrred. South Africa for Kids | Facts for Kids | South Africa Travel | Geography Contact us South Africa for Kids Here are some interesting facts about South Africa for kids which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids. Population: 55 million people live in South Africa (2015) Capital: Pretoria "The Jacaranda City", which also often is referred to as 'Tshwane' as the municipality changed name in 2007, has got 2.3 million inhabitants.

Name: Republic of South Africa, RSA, ZA ("Zuid Afrika") Government: Democracy Languages: 11 official languages: isiZulu, Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa, siSwati, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Sepedi, isiNdebele, Setswana, Tshivenda Religion: mainly Christians and Muslims, but also Jews and other faiths. Currency: 1 South African Rand (ZAR)= 100 Cents History: South Africa was led by Apartheid leaders until Nelson Mandela came free from prison and became the first democratically elected leader in South Africa in 1994. Climate: Various climatic regions. Mostly mild to hot in summer, most of the days, cold nights, snowfall in winter. Read more. South Africa for Kids: South Africa Geography South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent. South Africa encloses two landlocked African countries which are Swaziland and Lesotho. Both countries are ruled by kings and the people there are very poor. South Africa also shares borders with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe in the North, and Mozambique in the East.

It takes a 12-hour flight from London/England, 12-hour flight from Singapore and it takes more than 17 hours from New York/USA to get to South Africa. Cape Point/South Africa In South Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet off the Southern Cape coast. In the image to the right, you see Cape Point, the southernmost point of the Cape Peninsula. The southernmost point in South Africa is, however, Cape Agulhas which is roughly 120km (75miles) east of Cape Town. South Africa has various mountain ranges and the grasslands. In the interior of the country, you will find a high plateau. The Kalahari Desert in the north is part of the 'highveld', the highlands of the country. Johannesburg also lies on this plateau at 1,700m (5,577ft) above sea level, but most of the bigger cities such as Cape Town, Durban or Port Elizabeth, are located near the coast in low-lying areas. The longest river in South Africa is the Orange River which forms also part of the border between Namibia from South Africa.

In the mountain ranges of the Drakensberg region, especially in the Lesotho mountains, there is snow in winter and you even could go skiing in South Africa. Tiffindell is the most popular winter resort town. Sometimes also the higher mountain tops in the Western Cape near Cape Town receive some snow in winter. Although the snow might be enough for a snowball fight, it certainly is not enough to go skiing. Did you know, that the Tugela Falls in South Africa are the second-highest waterfalls in the world? South Africa for Kids: Cape Town: Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, beaches. More about Cape Town attractions here. Kruger National Park for safaris and great wildlife viewing Sun City near Pretoria for fun and games galore with amazing wave pool and lots of things to do for the whole family Addo National Park near Port Elizabeth for elephant-spotting Durban Durban for surfing and great beaches and the KwaZulu-Natal midlands for some insights into South African history iSimangeliso (formerly St Lucia Wetlands) for wildlife viewing and unspoilt nature Drakensberg Mountains for hiking and nearby Lesotho for skiing in Africa South Africa for Kids: Animals Wildlife in South Africa is abundant.

There are many species of antilope such as kudu, springbok, wildebeest, impalas, oryx and gemsbok. When you go on safari you can see many other South African animals like lions, elefants, giraffes and monkeys. African Penguin South Africa is home to the African Penguins and the Great White Sharks live in the ocean waters here too. Sometimes beaches are closed for bathing due to the sharks in the bays. Many beaches have shark nets. Remember to only swim in the sea where there are lifeguards on duty. Whale Watching is very popular in South Africa too and you will encounter an enormous sea life in South Africa when you go on a boat trip. South Africa for Kids: South Africa People South Africa is often called the 'Rainbow Nation', because there are so many different languages are spoken and different cultural traditions are lived. Below you see people of the Ndebele tribe. Women of the Ndebele tribe South Africa is often called 'The Cradle of Humankind', because archaeological artefacts, tools and human remains proof that people lived in the area more than 100,000 years ago.

The ancient San and the Khoi were the early African civilizations settling the Cape. There are only few descendants of the local San people living in remote areas in the Karoo desert and near the Cape West Coast. Zulu woman showing a wire basket The biggest South African population group, the Zulu, mainly live in rural settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, they even have a king. The South African president, Jacob Zuma, actually belongs to the Zulu leaders. Portuguese, Dutch, British, French and German explorers have traveled and populated southern Africa in the 17th and 18th century and therefore you can find many European influences in South Africa too. Read more about the 11 official languages in South Africa and learn some fun South African slang words here. Nowadays most of the people in South Africa live in or near the big cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. The rural areas are still very poor and also in the cities many people live in shantytowns or townships. Did you know that in South Africa, cars drive on the left side of the road as they do in the UK and Australia?

However, all distance and speed signs are in metres and kilometres and km/hour and not as in England in yards and miles and miles/hour! South Africa for Kids: Food The food the people eat in South Africa is very diverse. The South African staple food for the locals is 'mealies', which is corn, and seasonal vegetables, like potatoes, beans, carrots and peas. South Africans love their meat and game meat such as kudu and springbok are common. However, most people eat beef, chicken, lamb and ostrich with their meals. The people in South Africa love a BBQ (here called 'braai') and almost every house has got a fireplace which is called 'braai-place'. Bobotie Typical South African food: bobotie: typica Cape Malay food containing rice, lamb and fragrant spices. Click to find a tasty easy-to-do bootie recipe. koeksisters: taste like donuts soaked in sticky sweet sauce. Yummy! mealie pap: corn porridge Boerewors biltong: a cured and dried meat that is a typical South African snack and similar to beef jerky. Kids love to take this as snack to school.

boerewors: Afrikaans for 'farmers sausage', is often put on the grill, formed in a curl (see image) Did you know that...? … most people speak at least two or three languages, one of them usually English or Afrikaans … South Africa has really three capital cities. The powers are distributed between Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. The parliament meets for six months in Pretoria and the other half of the year in Cape Town. We hope you enjoyed our information on South Africa for Kids. Make sure you bookmark this page, as we will add more information for children on these pages. Namibia | South African History Online South African History Online View full archive Namibia, a former German colony, is situated towards the north west of South Africa. The Orange River marks the border between the two countries. The country is about 800 000 square kilometers big and borders on Angola to the north and Botswana in the east. The Caprivi Strip, which stretches off its northern edge, extends between Botswana and Zambia.

The first European that landed in Namibia was the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão, who came ashore north of Swakopmund at Cape Cross in 1484. Parts of Namibia are notoriously dry and much of the country is made up of the Namib Desert and the Kalahari. Towards the north the country becomes greener with the Etosha Pan filling with water from northern rivers. This area is rich in diverse wildlife. The Skeleton Coast marks the area where the Namib meets the Atlantic Ocean and is littered with wrecks of ships that ran ashore in the treacherous waters, whalebone shelters used by the San and ghost towns that boomed during the early diamond days. Due to its harsh environment Namibia is sparsely populated with various different groups. Its population is made up of San, Damaras, Ovambos, Namas, Hereros, Oorlams, Kavangos, East Caprivians, Rehoboth Basters, Kaokovelders, Tswanas and European settlers, mostly German. The country is rich in natural resources and its main mineral products are copper, diamonds, gold, lead and uranium.

The South African and Portuguese governments jointly developed the Kunene hydroelectric scheme in 1969. Fishing is also a prominent industry in Namibia, but exploitation of the rich marine resources led to the near extinction of pilchards and anchovies in the 1960s and 70s. Strict controls were put in place and the numbers of fish have steadily increased since then. In 1885 the Chancellor of the German Empire, Bismarck, held a convention in Berlin where European powers divided Africa among themselves. This was called the “Scramble for Africa”. In 1886 the border between Angola and what would become German South West Africa was negotiated between the German and Portuguese nations. In 1890 the first German military fort was built at Windhoek and, in July of the same year, the British government also apportioned the Caprivi Strip to the Germans. This would give Germany access to the Zambezi River and its other East African territories, and it would give up its claims on Zanzibar.

The reason Germany selected Namibia as its “protectorate” was influenced by the fact that a tobacco merchant from Bremen, Franz Luderitz, bought up coastal land in the area in 1882. This resulted in Germany actively establishing itself in the African country by 1884. They occupied Herero lands. Initially the Herero accepted the “treaties of protection”, but the Nama people resisted. In 1888 the Germans confiscated Herero lands and large numbers of their cattle. The aim was to turn South West Africa into a settler colony. In 1890 German soldiers attacked the Nama and by 1892, despite efforts by the Nama and Herero to put up a united front, they were crushed. By the beginning of the twentieth century African resistance become the central theme under local leaders. German forces were still occupied in crushing the 1903 Bondelswarts Uprising and were hard pressed when the Herero rose in revolt in 1904. Once reinforcements arrived with superior guns German troops defeated them. The new German commander-in-chief, General Lothar von Trotha, ordered the extermination of all Herero people.

Pursued by German troops they fled into the desert, into northern Ovamboland and into eastern Bechuanaland, or Botswana. While the German troops were destroying the Herero, the Portuguese launched a new offensive against the northern Ovambo. In 1905 the Nama, who responded a band of guerrilla fighters. After a year of fierce fighting, Witbooi was killed in action but Jacob Marengo continued to lead the Nama resistance for a further two years. In 1907, the death of Marengo brought about the end of the war of resistance. Many of the surviving Nama and Herero were imprisoned or sent to labour camps. All the remaining Herero lands were confiscated and they were forbidden to keep cattle. Thereafter German policy altered to one of forcing the survivors into the workforce in order to develop the colony. When the First World War broke out in 1914 South Africa agreed to participate in an assault on German South West Africa. Some Afrikaner Nationalists in South Africa opposed this.

Led by Generals J B M Hertzog and C R de Wet they were against South African participation in the war against Germany and any attack on South West Africa, which they viewed as the colonial territory of a friendly power. The Union Government, however, had military necessity and economic reasons to incorporate the territory into the Union after the war. These conflicting motives and ideals led to the South African Rebellion. With the suppression of the rebellion General Louis Botha launched South Africa's troops upon the conquest of the German colony and the British navy captured Luderitz Bay in September 1914, cutting off German supplies. South African occupation started in May 1915 when General Louis Botha, first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, ordered 40 000 South African troops into the territory. Heavily outnumbered, the German forces were forced into retreat. The colony surrendered on 9 July 1915, bringing 31 years of German rule to an end. General J C Smuts , a member of the British War Cabinet, put forward the idea of a League of Nations Mandate system for Germany's conquered colonial possessions.

He did not intend this to apply to Germany's African colonies because he hoped to see South West Africa incorporated into South Africa. He was unable to persuade the Peace Conference to approve this and in 1920 he and General Louis Botha very reluctantly agreed that South Africa should administer South West Africa under a Class C Mandate from the League of Nations. The mandate purported to safeguard the rights and interests of the indigenous people. It was also obliged to submit annual reports to the League of Nations Permanent Mandates Commission. The hopes of the inhabitants of South West Africa for redress of grievances when the Union Government took over the territory were soon dashed. During the period 1922 to 1946 the indigenous peoples were allocated from 10,6% to as little as 3,6% of the budget. Even though about 6000 Germans left the country, grazing lands sequestrated by the German colonial government were not restored. Instead, pastoral chiefdoms and communities were dispossessed and almost half the territory was allocated to some 3 000 White settler ranches that were heavily subsidised.

Some of these were given to about three hundred Afrikaners, descendants of Voortrekkers who had previously settled in Angola. Until 1948 the highest authority in the territory was the Administrator of the territory, appointed by the South African Government. Only White settlers were allowed to vote for the Legislative Assembly and local authorities. A resident commissioner and magistrates administered the local inhabitants, issuing directives to chiefs and headmen. Four native commissioners exercised authority in Ovamboland. Black chiefs were treated as government agents who could be replaced or dismissed. Ovamboland was looked on as a labour reserve and very little development was undertaken there. The greater part of the territory outside Ovamboland included White settlements and the mines. The Herero and Nama communities within this zone were allocated reserves. Expenditure on development of the reserves was curtailed in order to pressure the local people into seeking employment on White farms. This would develop contract labour and establish a migrant labour system similar to that of South Africa. One incident in particular served to draw international criticism to South Africa.

In 1921 the Union administration became involved in the suppression of the Bondelswarts, who, although living on the borderlines of poverty, managed to retain their economic independence by hunting, using dogs. To break this activity the tax on dogs was levied. In addition, their leader, Jacobus Christian, was arrested without proper cause. In May 1922 the popular hero Abraham Morris, who had led the Bondelswarts resistance to the Germans in 1903, decided to come home with some armed refugees who had fled to the Union for sanctuary during the German occupation. Morris had served as a guide to the South African invasion forces, and had been given a gun in recognition of his services. The Bondelswarts were ordered to hand him over. Violence broke out when Morris' followers refused to surrender their guns. Although Morris agreed to hand over the guns, a fortnight later the new Administrator-General of South West Africa, G R Hofmeyr, and the Bondelswarts leader, Christian, failed to agree. Hofmeyr ordered a punitive expedition.

Smuts tried to restrain Hofmeyr, but failed, and the South African army with bomber support attacked the community, killing some women and children. With this, the Bondelswarts men openly rebelled, but they were soon completely crushed. Thereafter, and throughout the period that led to Second World War, South Africa was subjected to regular criticism by the United Nations Permanent Mandate Commission. The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1944 and soon afterwards began trying to persuade South Africa to submit the mandate to United Nations trusteeship. Smuts made a determined effort to incorporate South West Africa into the Union of South Africa after the war. In May 1946 the White Legislative Assembly of the territory called for South West Africa's incorporation in South Africa and chiefs and headmen were also persuaded to petition for transfer of the territory to the Union. The South African proposal was opposed by the UN General Assembly, with India, already at loggerheads with South Africa over the treatment of South African Indians, leading the attack. The liberal English clergyman, Reverend Michael Scott, and Dr Xuma , president of the African National Congress (ANC) , provided evidence against South Africa on the grounds of racial discrimination.

They had also received reports from the Herero and others that indicated that the local chiefs had misunderstood the petition and that many of them were, in fact, against incorporation in South Africa. Smuts refused to accept that the UN was the legitimate successor to the defunct League of Nations by refusing to register South West Africa as a UN Trusteeship Territory. Dr D F Malan used Smuts' difficulties with the UN over South West Africa as a tool in his election campaign before 1948. The National Party (NP) intended to incorporate the territory into South Africa unilaterally, and to apply its racial policies in spite of world opinion. After the NP won the South African election of 1948 the new government refused to submit further reports on South West Africa to the UN because the mandate over South West Africa had lapsed, but they stopped short of open defiance of UN authority. In 1949, without incorporating the territory, the Nationalists ingeniously increased their majority in the South African Parliament by creating six new seats for the White population of South West Africa in the Lower House and four in the Senate. In this way it brought about effective rule over South West Africa as a fifth province, without UN recognition.

The UN challenged South Africa's actions in the International Court of Justice. The next year the Court of Justice gave an advisory opinion that South Africa's mandate to administer the territory should remain in force, but that as the UN was the League of Nations' successor, South Africa must still report to it. South Africa rejected the court's ruling and in 1954. South West African “Native Affairs” were placed under the direct control of Pretoria. Although it had withdrawn from the Trusteeship Committee, South Africa was persuaded to rejoin in 1957 for negotiations with Charles Arden-Clarke, the UN negotiator. When these failed, the period of resolutions condemning South Africa's policies began. In 1959 riots broke out in Windhoek over the extension of urban apartheid to South West Africa, and the forced removal and resettlement of people from locations near Windhoek to one remote from the city. In November of that year the UN Assembly noted that South Africa was administering the territory in a manner contrary to the mandate, the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice, and earlier resolutions of the UN Assembly itself.

The Trusteeship Committee required that South Africa revoke all apartheid laws that applied in South West Africa and it appointed a seven-nation committee to investigate conditions. In 1960 Liberia and Ethiopia applied to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, the World Court, for binding judgment against South Africa. The South African government invited the chairman and secretary of the seven-nation committee, Victorio Carpio of the Philippines and Dr Martinez de Alva of Mexico respectively, to visit the territory. They arrived in 1962 and while they were in South Africa they issued a report favourable to it. After leaving the country they brought out another report affirming that apartheid was being rigorously enforced in South West Africa and stating that South Africa did not intend to abandon its policies, and was not preparing the people of South West Africa for independence. Carpio repudiated the first report. At the time, Carpio and De Alva lost credibility, not only because the two reports seemed contradictory, but also because the South West African case was sub judice at The Hague. However, with the publication of the Odendaal Report in 1964, the substance of the second report was proved correct.

In 1962 the World Court decided that it had the power to judge the case and it rejected the South African argument that the plaintiffs, Ethiopia and Liberia, had no standing. The plaintiffs argued that the franchise in South West Africa was restricted to Whites. They said that inadequate educational facilities were provided and that the inhabitants had to use travel passes. They observed that political party and trade union membership had been banned, that the inhabitants were kept racially segregated, that certain jobs were reserved for Whites, that Blacks were excluded from the right to own landed property over large areas of the territory and that the administrator of the territory could force deportation of individuals without right of appeal. The case dragged on for six years, during which time one judge died and a successor with different views was appointed who rejected the legal standing of Ethiopia and Liberia. South Africa narrowly won the case by eight votes to seven. This strengthened the determination of members of the UN General Assembly to end South Africa's mandate over the territory and to place it under UN control. Rising political consciousness in South West Africa resulted in the formation of Black political parties. The South West African National Union (SWANU) was founded in 1962 and was active in central South West Africa for a time.

Other small parties developed in the south. Toivo ya Toivo and Sam Nujoma transformed the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) into the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1960 and began training a guerrilla army. SWAPO gained the sympathy of the Black African states and through them the UN, resulting in the resolution of the UN Security Council that banned the sale of arms to South Africa. During 1966 SWAPO’s first military action took place in Ovamboland. Two years later SWAPO members were convicted in the Pretoria terrorism trial and their leader, Toivo ya Toivo, was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. This changed South Africa's political approach to a policy of separate development. In 1964 the Report of the Commission of Enquiry, which had been prepared in close collaboration with Dr H F Verwoerd , recommended that South West Africa be partitioned. The 1968 the Development of Self-Government for Native Nations in South West Africa Act laid the foundations for homelands.

As in South Africa bantustans, later known as homelands, were defined for the various Black, Khoi, San and Damara communities. More than 50% of the land was to be reserved as a homeland for the White minority. This included most of the territory's mineral wealth and agricultural potential, and was ultimately to be absorbed into South Africa. This scheme was furthered when the South West Africa Affairs Act of 1969 transferred many powers from the Territorial Assembly in Namibia to the South African Assembly. Lack of Black support in Namibia for these plans, especially in SWAPO-supporting territory, was demonstrated in 1973 by the very small poll in the elections for Ovamboland's so-called ‘self-government'. In 1967 the UN Council for South West Africa was established, and subsequently renamed the Council for Namibia. Prodded by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) international pressure mounted against South Africa. The UN again tried unsuccessfully to take over the administration of the territory in 1967, and two years later passed a resolution that South Africa should terminate its administration over South West Africa.

South Africa ignored this and took the administration of the territory under direct rule in 1969. Although the UN Security Council endorsed the termination of South Africa's mandate with a declaration that South Africa was an illegal occupier of Namibia (Resolution 276), and although it requested sanctions against South Africa (Resolution 283), it was unable to do anything about it. It therefore asked the World Court for an advisory opinion on the consequences of South Africa's occupation. In 1971 the World Court advised that South Africa's presence in South West Africa was unlawful. South Africa held that it was not bound by the advisory opinion of the World Court. A visit to South Africa and Namibia in March 1971 by, the Secretary General of the UN, Dr Kurt Waldheim, ended in a deadlock with Prime Minister Vorster . Further attempts to negotiate a solution to the dispute failed. To pursue their policy of partitioning the territory into a series of ‘independent' ethnic states the South African Parliament passed the ‘Development of Self-Government for Native Nations in South West Africa Amendment Act' in 1973. This provided for ‘self-government' in Ovamboland and East Caprivi.

The UN responded by recognising SWAPO as the only lawful representative of the population of Namibia. During the next two years South Africa deployed a large police and military force to the territory to protect White farmers in outlying areas from terrorist attacks, and to protect Blacks who had not joined SWAPO from intimidation. South Africa persisted in extending apartheid to Namibia in the face of all international opposition. With the collapse of Portuguese rule in Mozambique South Africa's position was weakened on its eastern borders because Mozambique was taken over by the Marxist-oriented Frelimo regime. UN pressure increased. The Security Council threatened South Africa with expulsion if it did not recognise the territorial and national integrity of Namibia by withdrawing South African administration. While seeking to protect White interests, security and law and order, South Africa attempted to placate international criticism in an attempt to prevent a communist-backed SWAPO government from coming to power in Namibia. It changed its policy of partition and sought to establish a federation of Black states in Namibia. The South African government hoped this would meet UN demands for the preservation of the national integrity of Namibians, while allowing Whites to retain control over the greater part of its resources.

To bring this plan to fruition representatives of the various ethnic regions met at the Windhoek Turnhalle in September 1975 to work out a federal constitution based on ethnic states. Some of the social aspects of apartheid were abandoned. SWAPO and the UN rejected it. In 1976 the South African Government stalled on giving Namibia unilateral independence because the Zimbabwe election, where Robert Mugabe's radical ZANU party won a resounding victory, had alerted South Africa to the likelihood of SWAPO sweeping to victory in Namibia. Mutual differences led to the collapse of the settlement attempt and arrangements for the elections were delayed under a variety of pretexts. The prolonged stalemate led to the establishment of an interim government, but the South African Government held back on pushing the territory into unilateral independence, maintaining it would allow UN-sponsored elections once agreement could be reached on the details. In the meantime SWAPO stepped up its guerrilla activity and its political support in Namibia expanded. By 1981 a drastic economic downturn had occurred in Namibia. A general world depression had affected the prices of Namibia's chief exports, diamonds, karakul, copper, and uranium.

Drought and terrorism had crippled cattle ranchers, and the fishing industry was at low ebb, due to over-fishing during the 1970s. Whites began leaving Namibia in increasing numbers. South Africa, equally hard-pressed, was finding Namibia less profitable and its Namibian subsidies and defence of that country were heavy burdens. Friction developed between the Administrator-General of the Territory appointed by the South African Government and ministers of the interim government, which collapsed in 1983 with the resignation of Chairman, Mr Dirk Mudge and the Council of Ministers. Direct South African rule through the Administrator-General was re-imposed. South African troops repeatedly attacked SWAPO bases in Angola and openly supported Jonas Savimbi's guerrilla struggle against the Angolan MPLA, causing the MPLA to call for more support from the Cuban troops. By 1983 as many as 20 000 South African soldiers were stationed in Namibia to combat SWAPO's guerrilla forces. Cross-border raids continued until a massive invasion by South African forces into Angola saw South Africans occupying wide areas of the southern part of the country. Both sides gained breathing space when an agreement was reached in Lusaka.

The MPLA Government agreed that South African troops would withdraw from Angola and stop supporting UNITA, while the Angolan authorities would prevent SWAPO establishing bases on their territory. The Angolan authorities were unable to eliminate the SWAPO bases and South Africa did not complete its withdrawal. During the Carter regime relations between the United States of America (USA) and South Africa deteriorated. The Reagan administration supported South Africa in its insistence that Cuba withdraw as a precondition for any settlement that would permit UN-sponsored elections in Namibia. In 1985 a new grouping of anti-SWAPO parties was formed and the idea of a Multiparty Conference (MPC) to form a transitional government was put forward. There was still no sign of a withdrawal of South African troops from the territory for fear that a SWAPO-dominated government, backed by Communists would be installed. In 1987 and 1988 South Africa increased the number of troops sent to the border and stepped up attacks against SWAPO fighters in Angola. At the end of the decade, Namibia's future remained unresolved.

A Joint Commission, instituted in 1988 supervised the implementation of UN Resolution 435 for the independence of Namibia and monitored Namibian/Angolan peace initiatives. Independence was achieved after negotiations were conducted between South Africa, Western powers, the UN and the South West African Peoples' Organization (SWAPO). The settlement was signed in New York in December 1988. The New York agreement led in turn to the Namibian independence election in which democratic principles had been inserted into the independence process by the Western powers. SWAPO won 57% of the votes, but as this was not an absolute majority, other parties also took part in the drafting of the constitution. It contained, in the words of Professor Gerhard Erasmus of Stellenbosch University, “a remarkable set of finely tuned checks and balances on the exercise of power”. Six parliamentary opposition parties were supported by 43% of the electorate. In 1991 national reconciliation was still the watchword, capital was still largely White-controlled, and the fishing and uranium industries had taken a downturn. South Africa cut its subsidies and totted up a bill of R700-million, which it said Namibia must pay.

At that stage it was still withholding Walvis Bay, Namibia's trade lifeline, but, by 1994, the city had been returned to Namibia. By then South Africa, led by Nelson Mandela 's Government of National Unity, and the SWAPO Government had embarked on a policy of national reconciliation. SWAPO, having adopted a policy of caution concerning economic and social reform, was proving Namibia to be one of the most democratic states in Africa. References: Orange River | Namibia | South Africa Rivers of Namibia The Orange River (Afrikaans/Dutch: Oranjerivier), Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa, bordering Namibia. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. The river forms part of the international borders between South Africa and Namibia and between South Africa and Lesotho , as well as several provincial borders within South Africa. Although the river does not pass through any major cities, it plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation in southern Namibia, as well as source of hydroelectric power stations.

The Orange River was named by Robert Jacob Gordon after the Dutch Royal House. Several tour operators offer canoe trips along the Orange River. Course of Orange River The Orange River rises in the Drakensberg Mountains along the border between South Africa and Lesotho, about 190 km (120 miles) west of the Indian Ocean and at an altitude of over 3,000 m. While in Lesotho, the river is known as the Senqu and parts of it freeze in winter, because of the altitude there. The river then runs westwards through South Africa, forming the south-western boundary of the Free State province. In this section the river flows into first the Gariep Dam (the largest in the country), and on to the Vanderkloof Dam. From the border of Lesotho to below the Van der Kloof Dam the river bed is deeply incised. Further downstream the land is flatter, and the river is used extensively for irrigation. At the western point of the Free State, southwest of Kimberley, the Orange meets with its main tributary, the Vaal River, which itself forms much of the northern border of the province.

From here the river flows further westwards through the arid wilderness of the southern Kalahari region and Namaqualand in the Northern Cape Province to meet with Namibia at the 20th degree of east longitude. From here it flows westwards for 550 km, forming the international border between the province and Namibia's Karas Region . On the border, the river passes the town of Vioolsdrif, the Customs and Excise post between South Africa and Namibia. In the last 800 km (500 mi) of its course the Orange receives many intermittent streams and several large wadis lead into it. In this section, the Namib Desert terminates on the north bank of the river, so under normal circumstances the volume of water added by these tributaries is negligible. Here the bed of the river is once again deeply incised. The Hundred Falls or Augrabies Falls are located on this section of the Orange, where the river descends 122 m (400 ft) in a course of 26 km (16 mi). This image shows only the last c. 100 kilometers of the Orange River.

In this last stretch the gravel deposits in the river bed and along the banks are rich with diamonds, and several diamond mines operate along the stretch pictured here. The Orange empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay, which lies about equidistant between Cape Town and Walvis Bay . Some 33 km (21 mi) from its mouth it is completely obstructed by rapids and sand bars and is generally not navigable for long stretches. The river has a total length of 2,200 km (1,400 mi). Tributaries of the Orange River The river starts at the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho, high in the Drakensberg Mountains as the Senqu River.

Tributaries in Lesotho include: the Koakoatsi River, Tlhanyaku River, Moremoholo River, Mokhotlon River, Sehonghong River, Khubelu River, Makhoaba River, Bobatsi River, Mphelebeko River, Semena River, Nashai River, Litsoeyse River, Matebeng River, Liboleng River, Tsoelike River, Linakeng River, Qabane River, Kolo-La-Tsoene River, Senqunyane River, Qhoali River, Meletsunyane River, Qhuasing River, Outing River, Sebapala River, Thaling River, Masitise River and the Tele River (the border river between South Africa and Lesotho.

Tributaries in South Africa include: the Makhaleng River (the west border of Lesotho), Kromspruit, Bamboesspruit, Gryskopspruit, Winnaarspruit, Knoffelspruit, Wilgespruit, Nuwejaarspruit, Kraai River, Melkspruit, Sanddrifspruit, Stormbergspruit, Moddelbulspruit, Palmietspruit, Caledon River, Oudagspruit, Broekspruit, Bossiespruit, Brakspruit, Suurbergspruit, Donkerpoortspruit, Oorlogspoort River, Rietkuilspruit, Vanderwaltsfonteinspruit, Otterspoortspruit, Paaiskloofspruit, Seekoei River, Kattegatspruit, Knapsak River, Hondeblaf River, Berg River, Lemoenspruit, Vaal River, Withoekskloof, Lanyonspruit, Diep River, Brak River, Karabeeloop River, Prieska River, Rooiloop River, Kat River, Marydale River, S

outloop River, Elmboog Sloot, Eselfontein River, Matjies River, Donkerhoekspruit, Helbrandkloofspruit, Hartbeer River, Slang River, Brabees River, Molopo River, Bul River, Kourop River, Bak River, Kraalputs de Loop, Narrie se Loop, Samoep River, Kaboep River, Mik River, Hartbees River, Brak River, Matjies River, Groen River, Kahams River.

Tributaries in Namibia include: the Kleinap River, Ham River, Udabis River, Velloor River, Sambok River, Eendoorn River, Girtus River, Hom River, Davignab River, Haib River, Sambok River, Gamkap River. Catchment and rainfall In the dry winter months the volume of the water in the river is considerably reduced because of the rapid run-off and evaporation. At the source of the Orange the rainfall is approximately 2,000 mm per annum but precipitation decreases as the river flows westward; at its mouth the rainfall is less than 50 mm per annum. The factors that support evaporation, on the other hand, tend to increase in a westerly direction. However, in the wet season (summer) the Orange river becomes an impetuous, brown torrent. The huge mass of sediment carried constitutes a long-term threat to all engineering projects on the river. The total catchment of the Orange River (including the Vaal) extends over 973,000 km², i.e. equivalent to about 77% of the land area of South Africa (1,268,5358 km²).

Approximately 366,000 km² (38%), however, is situated outside the country in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia. History Name of the Orange River The earliest pre-colonial inhabitants called the river Gariep'. The river was named the Orange River by Colonel Robert Gordon, commander of the Dutch East India Company garrison at Cape Town, on a trip to the interior in 1779. Gordon named the river in honour of William V of Orange. A popular but incorrect belief is that the river was named after the supposedly orange colour of its water, as opposed to the colour its tributary, the Vaal River ( 'vaal' being Afrikaans for pale or grey). Since the end of apartheid, the name "Gariep" has had greater favour in official correspondence in South Africa, although the name "Orange" has greater international recognition. In Lesotho, where the river rises, it is known as the Senqu River. Economy As the collection point for the majority of South Africa's water, the Orange River plays a major role in supporting agriculture, industry and mining.

To assist in this, two large water schemes have been created, the Orange River Project and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Historically, the river played an important role in the South African diamond rush, with the first diamonds in the country being discovered in alluvial deposits on the Orange. Today, several commercial diamond mines operate along the final stretch of the Orange River and around its mouth. Finally, because of the lack of dangerous animals and high water levels during summer, the river is used for recreational canoeing and rafting. Orange River Project The Orange River Project (ORP) was one of the largest and most imaginative projects of its kind in South Africa. It was constructed by Hendrik Verwoerd's government at the height of the apartheid era. The ORP was built to utilise the unused water of the Orange River - which, without the Vaal River, represents some 14.1% of the total runoff in South Africa - and in the process, to satisfy an increasing demand for water.

The main objectives of the project were: to stabilise river flow, the generation and transmission of hydro-electric power, to provide a reliable water supply for users in the Orange river basin, and to give a new lease of life to water-deficient areas in the Eastern Cape such as the Great Fish and Sundays River valleys. The Gariep Dam near Colesberg, named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam when built, is the main storage structure within the Orange River. From here the water is supplied in two directions: westward along the Orange River (via hydro-electric power generators) to the Vanderkloof Dam which was previously named the PK le Roux Dam , and southward through the Orange-Fish Tunnel to the Eastern Cape. Hydro-electricity Eskom operates hydro-electric power-stations at both the Gariep Dam and the Vanderkloof Dam. The hydro-electric power station at the Vanderkloof Dam was the first power-generation station in South Africa situated entirely underground. The towns Oviston and Oranjekrag were established to facilitate the construction and operation of the new infrastructure.

Irrigation Irrigation in the vast area downstream of the Vanderkloof Dam, which has turned thousands of hectares of arid veld into highly productive agricultural land, was made possible by the construction of the Gariep Dam and the Vanderkloof Dam. Old, established irrigation schemes such as those at Buchuberg, Upington, Kakamas and Vioolsdrif have also benefitted because regulation of the flow is now possible. In recent years the wine producing areas along the Orange River have also grown in importance. Irrigation in the Eastern Cape has also received a tremendous boost, not only from the additional water that is being made available but also owing to improvement in water quality. Without this improvement the citrus farmers along the Lower Sundays River would almost certainly have continued to suffer losses of productivity. Lesotho Highlands Water Project The Lesotho Highlands Water Project was conceived to supplement the water supply in the Vaal River System. Water is delivered to South Africa by means of the Delivery Tunnel which passes under the Lesotho South Africa border at the Caledon River and then under the Little Caledon River south of Clarens in the Free State and discharges into the Ash River about 30 km further to the north.

The scheme became viable when water demands in Gauteng reached levels that could no longer be supported economically by alternative schemes such as the Tugela River-Vaal River pumped storage scheme, which utilized the Sterkfontein Dam, located near Harrismith in the Free State. Alluvial diamonds In 1867, the first diamond discovered in South Africa, the Eureka Diamond, was found near Hopetown on the Orange River. Two years later, a much larger diamond known as the Star of South Africa was found in the same area, causing a diamond rush. This was soon eclipsed by the diamond rush to mine diamonds directly from kimberlite at Kimberley in 1871, although alluvial diamonds continued to be found in the Orange. Today, several commercial diamond mines operate on the last stretch of the river, as well as the beaches around its mouth. Diamond mines also operate on the middle stretch of the river. Rafting and canoeing During the temperate months of March and April, given good rains and the sluices of the dams being open a canoeist (or rafter) can easily travel 30 km per day. The lower reaches of the river are most popular, because of the spectacular topography.

Commercial tours are available and these expeditions depart from the border town of Vioolsdrif. Because of the river's geographical location, it is too cold in winter to support crocodiles. Maps The course and watershed of the Orange River . This map shows a conservative border for the watershed. Specifically, the Kalahari basin is excluded, as some sources say it is endorheic. Some other sources using computational methods show a basin which includes parts of Botswana (and hence of the Kalahari). Noordoewer Accommodation Noordoewer Accommodation Decorated in "True African" style, Felix Unite Namibian River Adventures now boasts a total of 20... from R1085 On the banks of the Orange River, which forms the natural border between South Africa and Namibia, you will find Orange River Lodge. We... from R750 Come and experience true Namibian hospitality at Noordoewer Guest House, the ideal halfway stop between Cape Town and Windhoek. We offer... from R1200 This is more than a trip; it’s an adventure on the great Orange River in Southern...

from R2476 Frontier River Resort is under new ownership and is a luxury tented resort situated on the South African bank of the Orange River, just 5... from R900 Evening Shade self-catering house is situated in the small town of Vioolsdrift; ideal for families, small groups and nature lovers.The... from R1500 Orange River Rafting Lodge is located on the banks of the Orange River, positioned in lovely... from R160 Fiddlers Creek campsite is the base camp for Bushwhacked Outdoor Adventures. The campsite is located in Vioolsdrift, on the banks of the... from R160 Vioolsdrift Lodge is located approximately 300 m from the South African border; it is the ideal stopover on your way to Namibia or the... from R1250 Oewerbos River Camp is situated on the banks of the meandering Orange River en route to the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Ideally... from R120 Geelkrans Chalets is situated on the banks of the Orange River only 13 km from Vioolsdrif border between Namibia and South Africa.

The... from R850 The Growcery is an eco-camp located on the banks of the Orange River, neighbouring the Nababeep Conservancy and the Ricthersveld National... from R240 There are no items in your wish list Click to Refresh Results Noordoewer Reviews Noordoewer Area Information Noordoewer is positioned on the North bank of the Orange River, which is where its name comes from. It is an important border post on a crucial transport route between South Africa and Namibia. Besides canoeing, Noordoewer is also known for their grape production and wine making. Places of interest near Noordoewer are Oranjemund, the Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais, Richtersveld, Aussenkehr and Rosh Pinah. 12 from Felix Unite Orange River Cabana's An oasis in the desert The pictures in the advertisements of the accommodation at Noordoewer gave us a little misgiving when passing into Namibia on some personal business. We imagined a very rustic weekend and very few creature comforts. How pleasantly we were surprized! Our unit was beautifully positioned overlooking the Orange River and was large, well equipped and comfortable.

The activity of so many young people who were rafting gave the place a buzz and it is amazing that in the midst of stark arid grandeur the owners have created a tranquil grassy resort. With the summer heat sufficient to fry an egg on the... South Africa Facts for Children | A to Z Kids Stuff Cold winters and hot humid summers. Land South African is composed of three primary regions: The central plateau, Coastal plains, Desert area The longest river in South Africa is the Orange River which forms part of the border between Namibia from South Africa. Plants

Question: Which river forms part of the border between Namibia and South Africa?
Answer: Orange