| Lephalala River Palala River | |
|---|---|
 Palala / Lephalala River gorge in Lapalala Wilderness, Waterberg, showing horizontal sandstone layering | |
  Location of the Lephalala River mouth | |
| Etymology | Name derived from Lephalale (Sotho), which means "one that inundates".[1] |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| State | Limpopo Province |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Waterberg Massif |
| Mouth | |
• location | Limpopo River, South Africa/Botswana border |
• coordinates | 23°5′2″S 27°53′40″E / 23.08389°S 27.89444°E |
• elevation | 788 m (2,585 ft) |
| Basin size | 4,868 km2 (1,880 sq mi) |
| [2] | |
The Palala or Lephalala River, also called the Rhooebok-river by Thomas Baines,[3] is a river in South Africa. This river's catchment basin is a sub-watershed of the Limpopo River.
It is a significant watercourse in the Waterberg area of Limpopo Province. The river drains much of the Lapalala Wilderness area and considerable additional lands that are important habitat for native wildlife in a zone with considerable ongoing bushveld restoration. The predominantly dry deciduous forest community of the upland portion of the Palala River watershed is home to many large African mammals including Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, White Rhino and numerous bovids.
The Palala River has been shown to exhibit high water quality with very clear flowing waters, especially in the uppermost regions; correspondingly biotic health has been assessed as healthy using the North African catfish as a bio-marker. Interesting prehistoric rock paintings exist on bluffs along the river in the Lapalala Wilderness area.
- ^ du Plessis, E.J. (1973). Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town. pp. 301, 302. ISBN 0-624-00273-X.
- ^ Major rivers and streams within the Limpopo River Basin
- ^ Kennedy, R.F. (1964) [1961]. Journal of Residence in Africa by Thomas Baines. Van Riebeeck Society, Cape Town. p. 162.