Situated between two spectacular tidal rivers,the Kariega and the Bushmans, Kenton-on-Sea offers a picture perfect village setting for a fantastic family holiday.

Kenton-on-Sea is a holiday village situated between 2 rivers – the tidal Bushmans (navigable for 32 kms), and Kariega River (navigable for 16kms), with a proclaimed nature reserve in between.  Unspoilt beaches with caves, rock pools (excellent for snorkelling), plus sheltered bays created by unusual rock formations.  A perfect holiday destination for everyone, offering a large variety of activities.  Hikes along the beaches, up river and inland.  Fishing (deep sea, reef and river), horse riding through nearby game reserves and along pristine beaches.  Mountain biking, a wide variety of sea and river sports, canoeing, birding and game viewing.   Big 5 game reserves are only 10 minutes inland.  These villages and towns have the Big 7 as well, as the southern right whales are here from April to December, plus the Great White Sharks that breed in Algoa Bay to the south, which are added to the Big 5. Good viewing of whales, and dolphins throughout the year.  A perfect ‘beach and bush’ holiday combination.

Here the ‘sun spends the winter’. So if you can’t make it there during your summer vacation, don’t stress, you will still have a wonderful outdoor experience during the winter. The climate is mild and temperate.

Midway between Port Elizabeth and East London, Kenton-on-Sea is easy to reach along the coastal road between these two cities. The nearest airport is in Port Elizabeth with regular flights to and from the major city centres.

Our closest city neighbour is Grahamstown – it is named a city only because of the magnificent Cathedral in the centre of the town. Grahamstown is a small University town steeped in South African history & plays host to the famous National Arts Festival, which is the largest international Arts Festival other than the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

The immediate inland vicinity is richly populated by game reserves, where luxury accommodation is available. The area is malaria free – no malaria medication is necessary when you visit us. The game reserves are well stocked with game, some have the Big Five. The Eastern Cape area boasts 5 out of the 6 different biomes of the world, which makes for a diverse African experience.

History

The Butt family owned the land  which is now Kenton.  It was called “BUTTS” till it was sold to a Mr Tilt, born in 1867. He lived in a village called Kenton, near Exeter in Devon, England.  The village of Kenton on Sea was only formally ‘registered for sale’  in 1946.  It was called Kenton on Sea after his village of the same name in the UK as he is understood to feel that he would never return there and that this would be his home.  He is buried in Grahamstown.

2 (twin) Norfolk Pines were planted up in front of where the  Kenton Hotel was to be built and became a NAVIGATIONAL AID for sailors.  Kenton therefore appears on all standard charts, including British Admiralty charts, of the South African Coastline.  They are still therefore used as navigational ‘aids’ or beacons.
KARIEGA means ‘place of Bushbuck’ – also SAN or Standloper name.

GPS Co-ordinates for Kenton-on-Sea:  26° 40 mins East and 33° 41 mins South

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.