The exact meaning of the Kariega's name is unknown, but it may have originated from the Khoikhoi language. The Khoikhoi were among the first settlers in the Cape region. Although their descendants still live in the area, their language is only spoken in some parts of the Northern Cape. However, many Khoikhoi words are still used for various locations in South Africa, including the Garden Route town of Knysna, meaning "ferns," and the Cango Caves, Cango meaning "wet mountain."
Cave paintings found near the river depict local wildlife, including the Steenbok.
Other Kariega Rivers
In the Eastern Cape, there are three Kariega Rivers.
The Kariega and the Beervlei Dam
The Kariega River drains into the Beervlei Dam north of Willowmore. The name of this river has appeared in several forms, including Kariega and Karuka, and experts have concluded that Kariega is the older form, alluding to buffalo. The river was called the Buffels, or Buffalo, by the area's first European settlers. However, several sources claim that the name means 'steenbok,' based not on linguistics but on the presence of the antelope in the area.
The Kariega and the Sundays River
The Kariega River is a tributary of the Sundays River,.[2] For much of its course, it runs across the Steenbok Flats. Based on linguistic evidence and the abundance of steenbok in this area, experts feel that this instance of Kariega refers to 'steenbok'.
The Kariega and the Great Fish River
The Kariega River, which has its source in the highlands 20 kilometres north of Somerset East, is also a tributary of the Great Fish River.
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