| Kraai River | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Eastern Cape |
| Source1 Location: | Moshesh's Ford |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -30.8525°N 27.7778°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1845m (6,053feet) |
| Mouth Location: | Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -30.6672°N 26.7517°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1340m (4,400feet) |
| River System: | Orange River |
| Tributaries Left: | Karnmelkspruit |
| Tributaries Right: | Bell River |
The Kraai River (literally "Crow River") is a tributary of the Orange River (also called Gariep River by locals) that flows near Barkly East in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The Kraai River originates in the mountains south of Lesotho and flows westward from the confluence of the Bell River and the Sterk Spruit at Moshesh's Ford at -30.8526°N 27.7778°W all the way to Aliwal North, where it joins the Orange River at -30.6672°N 26.7518°W.[1]
The river flows almost entirely over sandstone rocks of the Clarens Formation.
The Kraai is fishable, containing rainbow trout, brown trout and smallmouth yellowfish.[2] In 1881[3] a sandstone[4] arch bridge called the J W Sauer bridge was completed over the river. The bridge linked communities in the Kraai River basin with Aliwal North. The Sauer bridge and the Loch Bridge on the farmTyger Krantz, are now Provincial Heritage sites.[5] [6]