Towns and suburbs

Bot Rivier

Bot River

History of Bot Rivier

The indigenous herders who lived along the Bot River were prosperous. They named the river “Couga River,” which means “rich in fat,” due to the butter that could be produced there. The river flows towards an estuary, providing the inhabitants with ample water. Today, Bot River is known as the “Gateway to The Overberg.”

Early European settlers came to the area to barter for butter, and they named the river “Bot” from the Afrikaans word “botter,” meaning butter. The small settlement that developed here, called Compagnes Drift, became an outpost for the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century. The company used this outpost to monitor the frontier. They owned the surrounding farms and loaned them to farmers who worked the land and paid rent.

After the Dutch were defeated at the Battle of Blouberg, Daniel De Kock was awarded a farm at Bot River for his loyal service to the Dutch East India Company. He planted fruit trees, vines, wheat, and vegetables. He also grew turmeric, which was in high demand in the Malay and Indonesian-inspired curry kitchens of the Cape. De Kock provided accommodation for travellers before they continued their journey into the Overberg. His farm served as an outspan (resting place) on the Old Wagon Track for many years. The Bot River Hotel, likely built in the early 1890s, also offered lodging to travelers.

The railway line from Cape Town to Caledon reached Bot River in 1902, and by 1912, trains carried produce and passengers to Cape Town.

In Bot River, you might spot some feral horses, the only herd of wild horses in South Africa. They are believed to be descended from horses freed by British cavalry at the end of the Anglo-Boer War. In the 1940s, an attempt to eliminate the herd, which was damaging grazing land, left only three survivors. The descendants of these three still roam wild in the Rooisand Nature Reserve today.

The postcode for Bot Rivier is 7185

Bot River        Bot river

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Things to do and see in Bot Rivier:

  •  The wetlands are home to thousands of waterfowl
  • Van Der Stel pass
  • South Africa’s only herd of wild horses
  • 4-day Green Mountain eco route,
  • There is a Working water mill where wheat is crushed and sold at Beaumont Winery on Companjesdrif
  • The Barrels and Beards harvest celebration is held in April  083 9906319
  • The Bot River Estuary,/ Lagoon, is part of the Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System. This became a Ramsar site wetland in 2017. It is at the mouth of the Bot River. The lagoon covers almost 13.6 km 2 (5.3 sq mi) between Kleinmond, Hawston, and Fisherhaven.
  • Botriver challenge -MTB – 35km, 15km,-Trail Run-15km 8km – Run/Walk- 21km,10km, 5km- 021 851 2295

  • Useful Numbers

  • Police: 028 284 9351
  • Municipality; Caledon-028 214 3300
  • Traffic department: Caledon-028 212 2878
  • Fire: Grabouw Fire Station-021 859 5525
  • Water:
  • Electricity: 028 214 3300 – 079 873 4451
  • Prepaid Electricity: 079 873 4451
  • Ambulance: Grabouw Ambulance Services-028 212 9111
  • Post office;028 284 9574
  • Library:
  • Closest hospital/clinic-028 284 9317/9842
  • Pharmacy; Grabouw Pharmacy- 021 859 3383
  • SPCA: Hermanus Animal Welfare Society-028 312 1281
  • Schools: Botrivier Primary-0282849523

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