| Kariega River | |
| Name Other: | Tyelerha, Karuiga, Karuka |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Kariega River's mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type3: | Province |
| Subdivision Name3: | Eastern Cape |
| Subdivision Type5: | Towns |
| Subdivision Name5: | Kenton-on-Sea |
| Length: | 138km (86miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | Kenton-on-Sea |
| Source1 Location: | Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Mouth: | Indian Ocean |
| Mouth Location: | Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -33.6822°N 26.6833°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Basin Size: | 685km2 |
The Kariega River (Afrikaans: Kariegarivier) is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river begins 24 kilometers west of Grahamstown and is characterized by its intermittent flow. It empties into the Indian Ocean through an estuary.[1]
The exact meaning of the Kariega's name is unknown, but it may have originated from the Khoikhoi language. The Khoikhoi were among the first settlers in the Cape region. Although their descendants still live in the area, their language is only spoken in some parts of the Northern Cape. However, many Khoikhoi words are still used for various locations in South Africa, including the Garden Route town of Knysna, meaning "ferns," and the Cango Caves, Cango meaning "wet mountain."
Cave paintings found near the river depict local wildlife, including the Steenbok.
In the Eastern Cape, there are three Kariega Rivers.
The Kariega and the Beervlei Dam
The Kariega River drains into the Beervlei Dam north of Willowmore. The name of this river has appeared in several forms, including Kariega and Karuka, and experts have concluded that Kariega is the older form, alluding to buffalo. The river was called the Buffels, or Buffalo, by the area's first European settlers. However, several sources claim that the name means 'steenbok,' based not on linguistics but on the presence of the antelope in the area.
The Kariega and the Sundays River
The Kariega River is a tributary of the Sundays River,.[2] For much of its course, it runs across the Steenbok Flats. Based on linguistic evidence and the abundance of steenbok in this area, experts feel that this instance of Kariega refers to 'steenbok'.
The Kariega and the Great Fish River
The Kariega River, which has its source in the highlands 20 kilometers north of Somerset East, is also a tributary of the Great Fish River.