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Centane

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Explore Centane’s 4×4 routes & Qholorha Mouth, a historic Xhosa settlement near the Kei River with the unique Back To My Roots Music Festiva

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Seagulls Beach Hotel

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Trennerys Hotel

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About Centane

Centane, The Eastern Cape’s Coastal Crossroads

The landscape here is defined by the meeting of river and sea at Qholorha Mouth, a place where the freshwater of the Qholorha River finally merges with the Indian Ocean. This dynamic coastal environment, with Qolora Beach and Qolorha Bay nearby, forms the character of the area around Centane, situated inland from this striking coastline and within practical reach of towns like Gcuwa, KwaMaqoma, and the coastal hub of Kei Mouth.

The ground holds a significant history, being the site of the Battle of Centane in February 1878 during the Ninth Frontier War, a conflict also known as ‘Imfazwe ka Ngcayechibi’. This engagement was a pivotal moment, resulting in the loss of more than 300 Xhosa lives.

For the active traveller, the coast provides the setting for surf angling and rock angling, while the calmer waters of the bays are suited to stand-up paddling and kayaking. Inland, the terrain opens up for 4×4 routes and horse riding, and the clear night skies away from major light sources are ideal for astronomical observations. The Kei Mouth Motorcycle Museum offers a distinct cultural diversion, and the historic Cape Morgan Lighthouse stands as a sentinel on the headland for those exploring the coastline.

With a Mediterranean climate bringing an annual high of around 23°C and most of its 756mm of rainfall during mid-summer, the drier autumn and winter months present a compelling time for beach exploration and long walks. The area particularly suits those interested in coastal heritage, fishing, and self-driven exploration. It makes for a purposeful weekend or a longer stay, especially if timed with the annual Back To My Roots Music Festival in late December.

Centane functions well as a base for discovering this part of the Eastern Cape, with Port Alfred to the south-west and Stutterheim to the north-west both within reach for a day’s excursion. After a day spent on the coast or traversing the backroads, the local accommodation and dining offer a place to plan the next day’s journey to another nearby point of interest.

Places To Visit

Aberdeen Addo Adelaide Alexandria Alicedale Aliwal North Barkly East Bathurst Baviaanskloof Beacon Bay Bedford Bhisho Boknes Strand Burgersdorp Bushman’s River Mouth Buyskloof Cala Cannon Rocks Cape Saint Francis Cathcart Centane Chintsa Coffee Bay Cofimvaba Cookhouse De Vlakte Despatch Dordrecht Dutywa East London Elliot eMaxesibeni Flagstaff Fort Beaufort Fort Brown Gcuwa Gonubie Gqeberha Graaff-Reinet Grahamstown Gxarha Haga Haga Hamburg Hankey Hluleka Hofmeyr Hogsback Humansdorp James Calata Jansenville Jeffreys Bay Kareedouw Kariega Kei Mouth Kei Road Keiskammahoek Kenton-on-Sea Khowa Kidd`s Beach Kirkwood Klipplaat Komani Kougadam Kromriver KwaBhaca KwaMaqoma KwaNojoli Kwelerha Lady Grey Loerie Lusikisiki Maclear Makhanda Malalane Maletswai Matatiele Maxambeni Mbizana Mdantsane Mdumbi Middelburg Molteno Mount Frere Mthatha Ncanarha Ndabakazi Ngcobo Ngqeleni Nieu-Bethesda Nomlengane Nqanqarhu Nqweba Ntabankulu Nxuba Oyster Bay Patensie Paterson Pearston Port Alfred Port Elizabeth Port Saint Johns Qamata Qolora Mouth Qonce Queenstown Qumrha Qunu Rhodes Riebeek East Saint Francis Bay Salem Selborne Seymore Sidbury Sterkspruit Sterkstroom Steynsburg Steytlerville Storms River Stormsrivier Stutterheim Sunland Tarkastad Thornhill Tsitsikamma Tsomo Ugie Uitenhage Umtata Venterstad Willowmore Xesi