Kei Mouth (Afrikaans: Keimond) is a resort town on the southeast coast of South Africa, situated in the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape Province, situated 94 kilometres from the city of East London. The town is situated on the Indian Ocean coast, on the western bank of the Great Kei River, and has one of the country's three remaining car transporting pontoon river ferries.
Kei Mouth | |
|---|---|
  Kei Mouth  Kei Mouth  Kei Mouth | |
| Coordinates: 32°40′S 28°22′E / 32.667°S 28.367°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Amathole |
| Municipality | Great Kei |
| Government | |
| • Type | Part of a local municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 291 |
| • Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 7.6% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.7% |
| • White | 91.4% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 64.2% |
| • Afrikaans | 29.0% |
| • Xhosa | 4.3% |
| • Tswana | 1.1% |
| • Other | 1.4% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 5260 |
| PO box | 5260 |
| Area code | 043 |
| Website | Kei Mouth |
History
editThe town of Kei Mouth was created by the British after the 8th Frontier War, as part of the frontline of a buffer zone aimed at protecting British Kaffraria from the warring Xhosa tribes.
Huberta, the famous Hippo, took up residence in the Kei River just above third cave in 1930. She was eventually chased off and continued her journey southward once more.
Sports
editBowls and Golf are favoured pastimes in Kei Mouth. The Kei Mouth Country Club has a 12-hole golf course and there is a bowling green and a squash court adjacent to the campsite. The country club is the venue for a weekly parkrun.
Other sporting activities include mountain biking, horse riding and water sports such as surfing, swimming, fishing, boating and windsurfing.
Tourism
editThe economy of Kei Mouth revolves largely around tourism due to its location at the southern entrance to the erstwhile Transkei region. Whilst many of the residents are retirees, a large portion of homes are holiday homes owned by families from the interior. There are several accommodation establishments, a municipal campsite, multiple restaurants and bars, one supermarket (Savmor) and a fuel station.[citation needed].
Nearby resort towns include: Qolora Mouth, Morgan Bay, Haga Haga and Chintsa
Demographics
editThe main languages spoken in Kei Mouth are English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. The town is home to a large number of retirees, thanks to the mild climate and holiday atmosphere.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Main Place Kei Mouth". Census 2011.
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A view of the beach and rocks in Kei Mouth. -
The main road of Kei Mouth. -
A German 15 cm sFH 02 howitzer, captured in South West Africa during World War I, is on display in Grosvenor Park in Kei Mouth. -
The mouth of the Kei River, after which Kei Mouth is named. -
The town of Kei Mouth seen from the hill
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