Keimoes is a town in the

Northern Cape The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi T ...

province of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It lies on the

Orange River The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...

and is about halfway between

Upington Upington ( Nama: //Khara hais) is a town founded in 1873 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was originally called Olijvenhoutsdrift ('Olive wood drift'), due to the abundance of ...

and

Kakamas Kakamas is a town founded in 1898 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. Originated as at a place where the Orange River could be relatively easily crossed. The spot was first known as Basso ...

History

It attained municipal status in 1949. The name of the town translates in both the

Khoekhoe Khoekhoen (singular Khoekhoe) (or Khoikhoi in the former orthography; formerly also '' Hottentots''"Hottentot, n. and adj." ''OED Online'', Oxford University Press, March 2018, www.oed.com/view/Entry/88829. Accessed 13 May 2018. Citing G. S. ...

and

Khoemana ǃOrakobab or ''Khoemana'', also known as Korana, ǃOra, or Griqua, is a moribund Khoe language of South Africa. Names "Khoemana" (from ''khoe'' 'person' + ''mana'' 'language') is more commonly known as either Korana (also ǃOrakobab, ǃOra, ...

languages. The first translation from Khoekhoe means "large eye". At the Roman Catholic Mission Station in the town there is a natural water fountain called Big Eye or Keimoes. The "big eye" may also come from the vast views that can be seen from the

Tierberg The Hinter Tierberg is a 3,445 metres high mountain in the Uri Alps, located on the border between the cantons of Bern and Uri. It overlooks the Trift Glacier on its west side and the Chelen Glacier on its east side. The massif of the Tierbe ...

, a small mountain outside the town. The second translation is taken from the

language. The town is said to have gotten the name in the 1860s from Klaas Lukas, a Khoemana leader Keimoes. Accessed 6 August.
/ref> Klaas Lukas called it Keimoes (‘mouse nest’) after the colonies of mice living there. The discovery of

Middle Stone Age The Middle Stone Age (or MSA) was a period of African prehistory between the Early Stone Age and the Late Stone Age. It is generally considered to have begun around 280,000 years ago and ended around 50–25,000 years ago. The beginnings of pa ...

stone tools such as, blades, points, scrapers and one adze found in Keimoes confirms the prehistoric activity in the town.2015 Archaeological Impact Assessment For the proposed Construction of Raisin drier facilities at the Orange River Wine, Cellars: Kanoneiland extension Northern, Cape Province.
Accessed 6 August 2018 An irrigation system was built in 1882 and in 1883 a second furrow was added to the system. These furrows contributed to the advancement of the town and in the following years many families started moving to the area. In 1887 a school was opened, with Pieter Rossouw as its first teacher. The school was closed again in 1899, due to the start of the

South African War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...

or second Anglo-Boer War. By 1910, Keimoes had its own hotel, prison, court and police service. In 1951, Keimoes opened its own power station and the town was powered by electricity.

Agriculture

Keimoes lies on the Orange River Valley making the region suitable for growing and cultivating fruit such as grapes, peaches and watermelon. Keimoes is famous for producing sultanas which are exported around the world. Fauna and Flora of the Northern Cape.
Accessed 7 August 2018 Wine is also a source of income to the town with one of the largest wine co-operatives, Orange River Wine Cellars, situated in Keimoes.

Attractions

*The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1889 by Revered Schroeder. Due to its historical significance the church has been declared a national monument in 1978 and is now a Provincial Heritage Site. *The Tierberg ‘Tiger Mountain’ Nature Reserve lies 4 km outside Keimoes. The reserve covers an area of 160 hectares. It is significant because it is home to large Aloes, numerous species of succulents, springbok and views of the Orange River Valley. *There are a number of irrigation canals which run through Keimoes. The canal which runs along Main Road was completed in 1883 and still supplies water to the area. *In 1978, the Persian water wheel was declared a national monument. It is now a Provincial Heritage Site. It has been restored and it is still in use on an irrigation canal along the main road of Keimoes.

References

{{Authority control Populated places in the Kai !Garib Local Municipality 1899 establishments in the Cape Colony

History

Agriculture

Attractions

See also

References