Page 6 - GOURITS ESTUARY

The Gourits River is formed by the confluence of the Gamka
and Olifants Rivers, south of Calitzdorp.
The Olifants River is fed by 12 tributaries, originating in the
Groot Swartberge and the Kammanassieberge.
The Gamka is fed by numerous tributaries, originating in the
Nuweberge.
The Buffels River, rising from the Nuweveld Mountains, joins
the Groot River, along with the Touws River from the west. The
Groot River then joins the Gourits.

The total river length of the Gourits River is approximately 1 045km.
It enters the Indian Ocean about 33km south-west of Mossel Bay (35º
21‘S; 21º 53’E).
The Gourits River Catchment stretches from the Karoo in the north, to
the coast in the south. It is the third largest catchment in South Africa
and comprises approximately 45 000 km2.