# Great Kei Municipality, Amathole District – Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/great-kei/ Local municipality · Amathole District # Great Kei Great Kei is a local municipality of South Africa in Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province. It had an estimated **32,986 people** in 2020 on 1,700 km² (about 19 per km²). 87 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 111 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 32,986people (2020) - 1,700km² - 111mapped services - 214 mtypical elevation ## How many people live in Great Kei? Great Kei had an estimated **32,986 people** in 2020 — 4.2% of Amathole District, 169th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,058 women for every 1,000 men (below the Amathole District figure of 1,108). Spread over 1,700 km², that is about **19 people per km²**, 123rd of 190 local municipalities. 27.6% of people are children under 15 and 10.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 30 years (it is 25 across Amathole District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 62 children and older people. 0–4 ****3,172** 5–9 ****3,169** 10–14 ****2,771** 15–19 ****2,873** 20–24 ****2,251** 25–29 ****2,145** 30–34 ****2,511** 35–39 ****2,261** 40–44 ****2,131** 45–49 ****1,730** 50–54 ****1,746** 55–59 ****1,511** 60–64 ****1,166** 65–69 ****1,228** 70–74 ****1,264** 75–79 ****619** 80+ ****438** Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf). ## Where is Great Kei? Great Kei lies in [Amathole District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/), [Eastern Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 3 other local municipalities: [Amahlathi](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/amahlathi/), [Buffalo City](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/buffalo-city/buffalo-city/) and [Mnquma](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/mnquma/). By area it is the 177th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 8.0% of [Amathole District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/). The centre of Great Kei is about 771 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. The centre point is at 32.6817° S, 28.0526° E. Local names: EC123 . Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf). ## Things to see in and around Great Kei OpenStreetMap lists 11 named sights in Great Kei: 6 nature reserves; 3 beachs; 1 monument; 1 museum. - Hazel Jefferies Shell Museum · museum - Cape Henderson Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Cape Morgan Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Double Mouth Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Entle Protected Environment · nature reserve - Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Long Beach Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Bead Beach · beach - Bosbokstrand · beach - Yellow Sands · beach - World Wars Memorial · monument Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Great Kei - Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg - CurrencyRand (ZAR) - Country calling code+27 - LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana - Plug typesType C, D · 230 V - Driving sideLeft - Postcode format4 digits (####) ### Nearest airports - King Phalo Airport (ELS) · East London45 km - K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT) · Mthatha139 km ### Nearest railway station Tanga (Great Kei), about 16 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 04:54) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:07, sunset around 17:08). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Great Kei Open gazetteers list **87 villages, towns and localities** in Great Kei. The largest with a recorded population: Komga (9,692), Kei Mouth (2,439) and Cintsa Mouth West (2,084). Settlements here lie between about 7 m and 630 m above sea level (median 214 m). - Audie - Avalon - Barracuda - Bayview - Beacon Hill - Bernese - Black Hill - Bluerock - Bokpoort - Bylletrs - Carleen - Cefani - Chintsa - Cintsa - Cintsa East - Cintsa Mouth - Cintsa Mouth West - Cintsa West - Crediton - Cwili - Dallas - Diphini - Double Mouth - Ewanrigg - Fort Warden - Geneva - Glen Eden Estate - Glen Muir - Glen Navar - Glengariff - Gubeni - Gxarha - Haga-Haga - Happy Home - Harefield - Hatchleydene - Hopewell - Irisdale - Kefani - Kei Mouth - Kelswood - Khula Dharma - Khwenxurha - Kildare - Komga - Krauses Beach - Kwa-Bola - Kwa-Sithungi - KwaMahomba - KwaSilatsha - Kwenxura - Lemoenfontein - Lily Vale - Lone Tree - Lusasa - Lusizini - Marshstrand - Moedershuis - Monzi Park - Morganville - Mountford - Mpetu - Mzwini - Ncalukeni - Ngxingxolo - Ocean View - Pine Tops - Puzana - Queensberry Bay - Quko Valley - Rockwood - Rocky Ridge - Round the Bend - Seaview Water Park - Sotho - Soto - Sparkling Hills - Sunray - Sutcliffe Vale - Tainton - Toekoms - Towerhill - Try Again - Tyityaba - Van Der Kemp - Vista - Wildene Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Great Kei Named natural and historic features inside Great Kei, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 24 rivers and streams. - Bulura - Cefane - Chachaba - Cintsa - Cwili - Gwahoo - Haga-Haga River - Imtwendwe River - Incarha River - Inyarha - Ku Zunga - Kubusi - Kwa Tshikitshiki - KwaMehlwenyoka - Kwenxura - Mlimane - Mpanze - Mtendwe - Ngwenkala - Ngxotwana - Tanga - Tyityaba - Zabara - Zimbane ### Coast and islands 2 headlands; 1 beach; 1 bay. - Bosbokstrand - Cintsa Bay - Flat Point - Reef Point ### Hills and mountains 8 hills; 3 mountains; 1 mountain pass. - Matollokop · 754 m - Moordenaarskop · 667 m - Smith’s Kop · 548 m - Sugarloaf Hill · 526 m - Mpetu · 514 m - Loskop · 468 m - Police Kop · 447 m - Keightley’s Kop · 409 m - Groot Keirivierpas · 308 m - Keikop · 245 m - Vis Kop · 93 m - Bolegha Hill · 56 m ### Forests and nature 1 forest reserve; 1 nature reserve. - Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve - Nyara Forest Reserve ### Getting around 2 railway stations; 1 airfield. - Keimouth - Komga - Sihota Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Great Kei and the best time to visit Using the climate of Amathole District, the warmest month is Feb (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C), after allowing for this place being about 180 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 1,278 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (203 mm) and the driest May (29 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to September**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 21 203 Feb 21 153 Mar 19 127 Apr 16 94 May 14 29 Jun 11 36 Jul 11 38 Aug 13 52 Sep 15 74 Oct 17 132 Nov 18 168 Dec 20 172 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Great Kei Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Komga Hospital ER · Great Kei 19 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.58979&mlon=27.88331#map=17/-32.58979/27.88331) Bank Standard Bank · Great Kei 19 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.57669&mlon=27.89194#map=17/-32.57669/27.89194) ATM Capitec Bank ATM · Buffalo City 25 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.90588&mlon=28.02044#map=17/-32.90588/28.02044) Petrol pump Astron Energy Komga Fuel Centre · Great Kei 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.59495&mlon=27.95083#map=17/-32.59495/27.95083) Hotel Kims Place Guest House · Great Kei 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.81830&mlon=28.11580#map=17/-32.81830/28.11580) Mall King's Mall · Buffalo City 29 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.93605&mlon=27.99459#map=17/-32.93605/27.99459) School Sikhululekile Dcc · Great Kei 1.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.68331&mlon=28.06717#map=17/-32.68331/28.06717) College King Hintsa FET College · Mnquma 32 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.49488&mlon=28.31569#map=17/-32.49488/28.31569) Police station Komga Police Station · Great Kei 19 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.57519&mlon=27.89217#map=17/-32.57519/27.89217) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Great Kei Places mapped inside Great Kei in open map data, by type. - Hospitals3 - Banks1 - ATMs1 - Petrol pumps7 - Hotels40 - Schools40 - Pharmacies1 - Restaurants16 - Police stations2 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other local municipalities in Amathole District - Amahlathi - Mbhashe - Mnquma - Ngqushwa - Raymond Mhlaba ## Quick answers - Where is Great Kei?In Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa - What is the population of Great Kei?32,986 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Great Kei?About 30 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Great Kei?About 19 people per km² - What borders Great Kei?Amahlathi, Buffalo City and Mnquma - What is there to see in Great Kei?Bead Beach, Bosbokstrand, Cape Henderson Nature Reserve, Cape Morgan Nature Reserve - What time zone is Great Kei in?UTC+2 - What currency is used in Great Kei?Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Great Kei?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Great Kei?87 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Great Kei?Settlements lie between 7 m and 630 m - What is the highest point in Great Kei?Matollokop (754 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Great Kei?April to September - Where is the nearest hospital to Great Kei?Komga Hospital ER, about 19 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Great Kei?Standard Bank, about 19 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Great Kei?Capitec Bank ATM, about 25 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Great Kei?Astron Energy Komga Fuel Centre, about 14 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Great Kei?3 mapped - How many banks are in Great Kei?1 mapped - How many ATMs are in Great Kei?1 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Great Kei?7 mapped - What is the P-code of Great Kei?ZA2123 (OCHA common operational dataset)