Kei Mouth is a resort town on the southeast coast of South Africa, situated along the R349 Regional Route in the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape Province, approximately 84 km north-east of East London.
Kei Mouth is located on the Indian Ocean coast, on the western bank of the Great Kei River, and has one of South Africa’s three remaining car-transporting pontoon river ferries.
Kei Mouth falls within the Great Kei Local Municipality and the Amathole District Municipality.
Kei Mouth’s economy 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 (Savemor), a shop (Rainbow Supermarket), and a fuel station.
The town is home to a large number of retirees, thanks to the mild climate and holiday atmosphere.
Nearby resort towns include: Chintsa, Haga Haga, Morgan Bay, and Qolora Mouth.
The main languages spoken in Kei Mouth are isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans.
History
The resort 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 the third cave in 1930. She was eventually chased off and continued her journey southward once more.