Kou-Kamma Local Municipality is the westernmost municipality in the Sarah Baartman District, Eastern Cape, bordering the Western Cape. The 2022 census recorded 36,487 people across 3,642 km². Kareedouw is the seat.
Towns and Villages in Kou-Kamma
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kareedouw | Seat town | 5,972 (2011) |
| Joubertina | Town | 7,472 (2011) |
| Louterwater | Village | 5,785 (2011) |
| Sanddrif | Village | 4,065 (2011) |
| Woodlands | Village | 2,254 (2011) |
| Stormsrivier | Village | 2,000 (2011) |
| Clarkson | Village | 2,185 (2011) |
| Coldstream | Village | 1,985 (2011) |
| Krakeelrivier | Village | 2,313 (2011) |
Smaller settlements recorded by the national gazetteer:
- Bergheim
- Bernardshoek
- Boplaas
- Brandhoek
- Bruinklip
- Eersterivierstrand
- Fairview
- Geelhout
- Heights
- Kleinbos
- Lottering
- Lucerna
- Marienburg
- Nuweplaas
- Onverwagslaagte
- Oubosrand
- Oubosstrand
- Ravinia
- Redclyffe
- Rockdale
- Sardinia Bay
- Stormsriviermond
- Thornham
- Twee Riviere
- Two Streams
- Witelsbos
- Witkleibos
Geography
Kou-Kamma splits between the inland Langkloof valley around Kareedouw and Joubertina and the coastal Tsitsikamma belt around Stormsrivier. It borders Kouga and Dr Beyers Naudé within Sarah Baartman District, and the Western Cape province lies immediately to the west.
Demographics
Population fell slightly from 40,663 at the 2011 census to 36,487 in 2022. Afrikaans is the leading home language (73.8%), with Xhosa spoken by roughly one in five residents.
Economy and Local Life
The Langkloof runs on seasonal deciduous-fruit farming, with high labour demand around harvest and water supply as a persistent constraint. The Tsitsikamma coastal strip, including Stormsrivier, draws tourism and forestry-linked business, with indigenous forest and holiday accommodation along the N2.
History
Kareedouw takes its name from the karee trees along the Kaan River, and grew as a wagon-road stop between the Langkloof and the coast. Joubertina, further up the valley, is named after Petrus Jacobus Joubert, a 19th-century Voortrekker and Boer War general. The Tsitsikamma forest belt around Stormsrivier was heavily logged for hardwoods through the 20th century before conservation limits were imposed, and today feeds the indigenous-forest tourism trade along the N2.
Getting There
The N2 crosses the Tsitsikamma section near Stormsrivier, linking the municipality to Kouga and the Garden Route. The R62/R340 Langkloof road runs through Kareedouw and Joubertina toward Uniondale and Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. Gqeberha’s airport is roughly 140 km from Kareedouw.
Most local travel within Kou-Kamma still runs along these two corridors, since the mountainous terrain between the coastal and inland halves of the municipality offers no direct shortcut; residents crossing between Stormsrivier and Kareedouw generally travel via Kouga on the N2 rather than over the mountains.
Housing across Kou-Kamma remains split between formal town housing in Kareedouw and Joubertina and farm-worker settlements scattered through the Langkloof orchards, a legacy of the area’s deciduous-fruit labour economy. Water security is a recurring local concern: the Langkloof’s rivers feed both farm irrigation and the small towns’ supply, and dry years put pressure on both at once.
FAQ
What is the seat of Kou-Kamma Local Municipality? Kareedouw.
What is the population? 36,487 people at the 2022 census.
How big is Kou-Kamma? 3,642 km².
Which district is it in? Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
What are the main towns? Kareedouw, Joubertina and Stormsrivier.
What language do most residents speak? Afrikaans, spoken by about 74% of residents; Xhosa is the main second language.
What is the Langkloof known for? Deciduous fruit farming — apples, pears and other orchard crops grown along the valley between Kareedouw and Joubertina.
Is Stormsrivier in the Western Cape or Eastern Cape? Eastern Cape — it sits just inside the Kou-Kamma boundary, close to the provincial line.
What district is Kou-Kamma part of? Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
How far is Kareedouw from Gqeberha? About 140 km east along the N2 and Langkloof roads.
Does Kou-Kamma border the Western Cape? Yes — its western edge is the Eastern Cape’s boundary with the Western Cape.