Ntshingwayo Dam, formerly known as Chelmsford Dam, is an arch-gravity dam situated on the Ingagane River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, at approximately 28°00′S, 29°55′E. Completed in 1961, the dam stands 23 metres high with a crest length of 1,677 metres. The reservoir it creates covers a surface area of 3,610.1 hectares and holds a total capacity of approximately 211,258,000 cubic metres, drawing from a catchment area of 834 square kilometres. This makes it a substantial body of water with considerable open-water paddling potential.

The dam is enclosed within the Chelmsford Nature Reserve, which provides the surrounding landscape context for any paddling activity. The dam's hazard potential has been officially ranked high (category 3), a designation that paddlers should take seriously when planning any on-water activity. Its primary purpose is municipal and industrial water supply, which is relevant to understanding any access restrictions or regulations that may apply.

Ownership of the dam rests with the Department of Water Affairs, and given its location within a nature reserve and its high hazard classification, paddlers should verify current access permissions and any applicable regulations with the relevant authorities — the Chelmsford Nature Reserve management and the Department of Water Affairs — before planning a trip. The nature reserve setting suggests the surrounding environment includes natural vegetation and potentially wildlife typical of KwaZulu-Natal, though specific details about wildlife or facilities for paddlers are not confirmed.