Bushman's River

{{About|the river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa|other rivers|Boesmans River (disambiguation){{!}}Boesmans River}}

{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Bushman's River

| native_name = {{native name|zu|uMtshezi}}A. J. P. Opperman, The Battle of Blood River. CUM Books, Roodepoort, 1982. First edition, First impression. {{ISBN|0 86984 265 X}}. Page 4[http://www.salanguages.com/munnames.htm South African Languages - Place names]

| native_name_lang =

| name_other = Boesmansrivier

| name_etymology =

| image = Wagendrift-damwal in Boesmansrivier.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Bushman's River at Wagendrift Dam

| map =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map = South Africa

| pushpin_map_size =

| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Bushman's River mouth

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = South Africa

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| subdivision_type3 = Province

| subdivision_name3 = KwaZulu-Natal

| subdivision_type4 =

| subdivision_name4 =

| subdivision_type5 =

| subdivision_name5 =

| length =

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location= Wagendrift Dam

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|358|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_max =

| source1 =

| source1_location = Drakensberg

| source1_coordinates=

| source1_elevation =

| mouth =

| mouth_location = Tugela River, Weenen

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|28|45|39|S|29|57|21|E|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}

| progression =

| river_system =

| basin_size =

| tributaries_left =

| tributaries_right =

| custom_label =

| custom_data =

| extra =

}}

The Bushman's River ({{langx|af|Boesmansrivier}}) is an east to north-easterly flowing tributary of the Tugela River, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg Mountain range, with its upper catchment in the Giant's Castle Game Reserve, north of the Giant's Castle promontory. It feeds the Wagendrift Dam and then flows past the town of Estcourt to join the Tugela River near the town of Weenen.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ewisa.co.za/misc/RiversSA/defaultb.htm |title=Rivers in South Africa - e-wise |access-date=2009-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622074922/http://www.ewisa.co.za/misc/riverssa/defaultb.htm |archive-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead }}

Its tributaries include the Little Bushmans River which joins the Bushmans River at Estcourt, Rensburgspruit, Mtontwanes River and the Mugwenya River. The Wagendrift Dam near Estcourt is its major reservoir. Several densely populated rural villages, many inhabited by the amaHlubi, are found in the river's upper catchment area.{{cite book

|title = Barrier of Spears - Drama of the Drakensberg

|first = R.O.

|last = Pearce

|publisher = Howard Timins

|isbn = 0-86978-050-6

|pages = 3–13

|year = 1973}} The river is flanked by the Bloukrans River to the north and the Mooi River to the south.