3.1 THE KOUGA REGION

The Kouga Region is situated in the Eastern Cape Province, west of Port Elizabeth and includes the coastal zone between the Van Stadens River in the east and the Tsitsikamma River in the west and inland stretches towards the Baviaans Kloof Mountains in the north.

It is an area of great archeological significance, with human remains uncovered in the region dating back over 120 000 years. Evidence of the KhoiSan is abundant, with rock art found in caves and on protected rock faces throughout the region. Other evidence includes tools, jewellery, pottery shards and the remains of feasts and rituals found in the rock caves and dune fields of the region. The descendants of the KhoiSan still live in the region.

The Klasies River Cave Natural Heritage Site consists of 80ha of dune forest west of Oyster Bay, and includes four caves of international archeological significance.

Kilometers of unspoilt coastal dune fields occur between Jeffreys Bay and Port Elizabeth, and the mountainous inland region includes the Kouga Mountains to the south and the Baviaans Range in the north. The Baviaans Mega Reserve is a World Heritage Site and here leopard, buffalo and black rhino live in 190 000 ha of protected natural landscape.

Tourism in the region is in keeping with the Mission Statement of the World Eco Summit of 2003, in that is deliberately low in impact and aims to generate a conservation-based awareness of the natural environment and the local community.

Towns in the region include Jeffreys Bay, Patensie, Hankey, Humansdorp and St Francis Bay. The N2 national road which links Cape Town and Port Elizabeth is the major access road through the region.