Emil Holub wrote about the pristine beauty of the area along the river and its magnificent karst features.
Just after Donaldson Dam, the river flows into a 1 metre (3.3 ft) diameter pipeline which transports it over the dewatered dolomitic compartments to just outside Carletonville.
These dams were deemed unsafe for public use due to acid mine runoff and waterborne radioactive materials, including uranium.
[2] There is a wide variety of habitats along the river course including wetlands, impoundments, grassland, scrubland, riverine forest, thornveldt, rocky outcrops and both rural and urban settlements.
Other antelope such as the common duiker, steenbok, grey rhebok and klipspringer are found in their natural habitat along the river, as well as: as well as various other small rodents, feral animals and livestock.
Large African rock pythons 5.5–6 metres (18–20 ft) have frequently been seen along with rinkhals, boomslang, and other snakes.
African bullfrogs, tree frogs, common caco, and various toads are among the amphibians inhabiting the river.