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Komatiepoort

The Crocodile River reaches the end of its course when it becomes a tributary of the Komati River. At the confluence of the Komati and Crocodile Rivers is the town of Komatipoort. The word Komati comes from the Swazi word, "Nkhomati", which means "river of cows".Komatiepoort is situated near the Kruger National Park, on the Western slopes of the Lebombo Mountains. The Lebombo mountains form a natural barrier between South Africa and Mozambique.

Komatipoort, in the 1890's was hot and fevorous and Malaria was endemic.The Komatipoort of those days was a wild and uproarious construction camp for the railway being built from Lourenco Marques (now called Maputo). During the Anglo/Boer War, the town was used as a base by Lieutenant-Colonal Steinaecker and his "Forty Thieves". This group was later enlarged to become "Steinaecker's Horse". They were a bunch of mercenaries and bushwackers and were recruited by the British in order to fight Boer guerillas in the bushveld.

Today, Komatipoort is a quiet, sedate town. Malaria is under control, but it remains one of the hottest places in South Africa, with summer temperatures averaging about 33 degrees celcius, and balmy winter temperatures of around 26 degrees celcius.