The Idyllic Kowie River

The beautiful Kowie RiverGreen Fountain’s close proximity to Port Alfred and all that this Eastern Cape gem has to offer means that our guests have a wealth of entertainment options available to them. If you’re a water child, a nature fan or simply looking for a relaxing afternoon, look no further than the majestic Kowie River.

Port Alfred is practically split in two by this gentle lady as she meanders towards the coast from her origins in the hills surrounding Grahamstown. This is a river that saunters rather than surges, with a pace matched only by the temperament and attitude of the locals. It is possible that in passing that institute of education the river itself has learned that the wisest know it’s not the destination but the journey, and has decided it’s best to slow down and smell the Cape Aloe.

Front row seats for a Port Alfred sunsetPerhaps the Port Alfred natives’ laid back lifestyle is a symptom of living on the banks of this majestic body of water?

The river is as much a source of inspiration as it is a provider of entertainment and recreation. It lends itself to everything from watersports like skiing, wakeboarding, paddling and fishing to more passive past-times like game and bird watching or even a sundowner with friends as one drifts with the current.

The frequent bends and saddlebacks mean that there is always a stretch protected by wind and every watersports enthusiast knows that the calmer the water the better. There are over 25km of navigable river, so if you’re looking for a stretch to call your own there’s more than enough to go around.

Sit back and enjoy the birdlifeWhile the fishing is phenomenal and varied and the wildlife abounds on the banks (both the Waters Meeting and Kowie Local Authority Nature Reserves butt up against the river’s shore), the birdlife is hailed as the most sensational, ranging from eagles and the occasional Secretary bird to ducks, Egyptian Geese, Hadedas and everything in between. Waters Meeting offers guided canoe tours along 20km of the river, where you’ll see, well, pretty much everything you can imagine.

If your tastes lean towards something a little less physically intense and not too confident in your sailing skills, there are river cruises offering comfort and competence, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the scenery or let the tranquil movement of the hull lull you into a nap in the warm sun.