| Black Kei River | |
| Name Other: | Swart-Keirivier |
| Name Etymology: | From kei, the word for "water" in the Khoekhoe language |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Black Kei River mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type3: | Province |
| Subdivision Name3: | Eastern Cape Province |
| Source1: | Stormberg |
| Source1 Location: | Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1500m (4,900feet) |
| Source Confluence: | Swart-Kei / Wit-Kei |
| Mouth: | Confluence with White Kei River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -32.2261°N 27.51°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 540m (1,770feet) |
| Tributaries Left: | Klaas Smits River |
| Tributaries Right: | Klipplaat River |
The Black Kei River, originates southwest of Queenstown, and eventually joins the White Kei River, to become the Great Kei River. Several villages are situated on its banks, including McBride Village, Qabi, Ntabelanga, Thornhill, Loudon, Mitford, Basoto, Baccle's Farm and Tentergate.[1]
The Thrift Dam is its only significant reservoir. Presently this river is part of the Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area.[2]
Its upper reaches form the western boundary of the Tsolwana Nature Reserve, and during the mid-1800s, the Black Kei and its Klipplaat tributary formed the northern boundary of British Kaffraria. The Klaas Smits and Klipplaat rivers are its main tributaries.[3]
