Munyati River


The Munyati River is a river in Zimbabwe. Under the Rhodesian administration, it was officially named the Umniati, but its spelling was changed in 1983 to more closely resemble the correct Shona pronunciation.
The river rises in Mashonaland East, just north of Chivhu, and approximately south of Harare. It runs approximately north-west and for much of its length it originally formed the southern border of Mashonaland province, and today is largely the southern border of Mashonaland West. The river is joined by the Mupfure River. Below this point, the river is often referred to as the Sanyati. After a total of the river flows into Lake Kariba, making it part of the Zambezi Basin.
The river flow is highly variable, reflecting the sharp distinction in the local climate between dry and wet seasons. Between December and May it flows strongly and is about deep on the plateau, and in breadth on its lower reaches. During the rest of the year, it is much reduced and slower-flowing, usually only deep, and almost drying up on rare occasions during serious droughts; as last in 1984.

Gandavaroyi Falls

The biggest drop on the river is at Gandavaroyi Falls. As in Shona, ganda means "to throw", and varoyi means "witches", "with typical poetry and precision, the Local people have named the cataract after the picturesque practice they had of throwing reputed witches over the waterfall."