Bushmans River|33km stretch open water

Bushmans Village is located on the west bank of the Bushmans River with Kenton-on-Sea across the river.  It was established in 1897 when farmers from the interior were given permission by the Department of Forestry who owned the land, to camp along the banks during the Christmas holidays.  As no facilities existed, they brought all their provisions by oxwagons and camped at the mouth of the river.  Land leases were signed in the early 1900’s, resulting in private land ownership and eventually the development of the village itself, a part of which extends across the R72 Sunshine Coastal Road, along the banks of the river.  The supply of electricity and running water were only laid on in the early 1980’s.  Today the village is a picturesque mixture of quaint attractive old holiday homes, and modern upmarket accommodation.
Fishing is excellent, plus all water sports, canoeing, hiking, and horse riding trails along the unspoilt beaches and inland, making this a wonderful holiday destination for the whole family.

There have been many shipwrecks along this coastline and the best known one is the barque VOLO which went aground on the beach at Kwaaihoek. It was built in Norway and some families living in Bushmans are related to the survivors (all survived including the ships cat who people reckon is the father of all cats here!)  Families came out from Norway a couple of years ago for a ‘reunion’ here in Bushmans.  The anchor was found 100 later and now stands in front of the old town hall in the middle of Bushmans.  At the same place is a monument to the Voortrekkers as well which most people don’t know about.