Mbhashe River is one of the major rivers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It flows in a southeastern direction and has a catchment area of 6,030 km (2330 sq. mi.). The river drains into the Indian Ocean through an estuary located near the lighthouse at Bashee, south of Mhlanganisweni.
After passing under national road N2, the Mbhashe River encounters southwest of Elliotdale and north-east of Dutywa the more rugged terrain of the Wild Coast and suddenly enters into a 64 km (40 mile) long series of violent twists and turns known as the Collywobbles before continuing more sedately towards the Indian Ocean.
The Mbhashe river's main tributaries are the Xuka River, Mgwali River, Dutywa River and the Mnyolo River. Presently this river is part of the Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area.
History
In 1554 Portuguese ship São Bento ran aground at the mouth of the Mbhashe River. The ordeal of 322 of its survivors, who walked from there to Lourenço Marques, presently Maputo, has been recorded.Mpondo Kingdom - The History of The Kingdom
Mvezo is a village on the banks of the Mbhashe River, where Nelson Mandela was born in 1918.Route and landmarks on the Mandela~Biko~Woods Trail
On the 5 February 1963 a white family was killed by members of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Pan Africanist Congress while camping near a bridge close to the river. 40 men were arrested and 23 were later sentenced to death for the murder.https://sahistory.org.za/dated-event/poqo-members-kill-white-family
Ecology
Some of the fishes caught in its waters are Labeobarbus aeneus, Barbus pallidus, Barbus anoplus, Myxus capensis, Anguilla marmorata and Anguilla mossambica. Labeobarbus aeneus is an invasive species, now widely present in the river system.
See also
List of rivers of South Africa List of estuaries of South Africa
References
External links
Mbashe Key Area South African Tourism - Mbashe River Picture SA Birding - Cwebe and Dwesa Nature Reserves A History of the Qwathi