Buffelsbaai

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Buffels Bay | native_name = Buffelsbaai | native_name_lang = af | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Buffelsbaai from the air (20324288260).jpg | image_caption = Buffelsbaai from the air | pushpin_map = South Africa Western Cape#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|34|05|S|22|58|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Western Cape]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Garden Route District Municipality|Garden Route]] | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = [[Knysna Local Municipality|Knysna]] | subdivision_type4 = Ward | subdivision_name4 = 5 | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | leader_name = Hilton Stroebe | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/180011 |title = Main Place Buffelsbaai |work=Census 2011}} </ref> | area_total_km2 = 0.82 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | population_total = 71 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]] | website = {{URL|https://www.buffelsbaai.co.za}} | demographics1_info1 = 1.4% | demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds|Coloured]] | demographics1_info2 = 71.8% | demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]] | demographics1_info3 = | demographics1_title4 = [[White South African|White]] | demographics1_info4 = 26.8% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 =  | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]] | demographics2_info1 = 100.0% | demographics2_title2 = | demographics2_info2 = | demographics2_title3 = | demographics2_info3 = | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 =  | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street) | postal_code = | postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box|PO box]] | postal2_code = | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]] }} '''Buffelsbaai''' (also '''Buffels Bay''' and '''Buffalo Bay''') is a small seaside village 15 kilometres<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – Buffelsbaai |url=https://www.buffelsbaai.co.za/about/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> from [[Knysna]] in the [[Garden Route District Municipality]] in the [[Western Cape]] province of [[South Africa]].

The village is named after Buffelsbaai which stretches east of the village. It is a popular vacation destination with a small waterfront with stores.

[[File:Buffelsbaai.jpg|center|thumb|Buffelsbaai Beach]]

== History == Source:<ref>{{Cite web |last=funtowndev |date=2020-06-15 |title=The Fascinating History of Buffelsbaai: From Indigenous Inhabitants to Popular Tourist Destination |url=https://buffelsbaaieiendomme.co.za/gallery-post-format/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Buffelsbaai Eiendomme |language=en-ZA}}</ref> === The Early Inhabitants === The area around Buffelsbaai was home to the [[Khoisan|Khoi and San people]] for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. These [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]] were hunters and gatherers who lived off the land, and their way of life was closely tied to the seasons and the weather. They had a rich culture, with their own languages, traditions, and beliefs.

=== The Early Settlers === In the 1700s, the [[Dutch East India Company]] established a trading post in the nearby town of [[Mossel Bay]], which marked the beginning of European settlement in the area. The Dutch farmers, known as [[Boers]], began to migrate inland from the coast and establish farms in the region. They were followed by [[1820 Settlers|British settlers]], who arrived in the 1800s and established trading posts in the area.

Buffelsbaai was initially established as a farming community, with many of the early settlers working as farmers and ranchers. The area was particularly well-suited for [[cattle farming]], and many of the early farms focused on producing [[beef]], [[Dairy product|dairy products]], and [[wool]]. The town grew slowly over the years, and by the turn of the 20th century, it was a small, self-sufficient community.

== Incidents == The cargo ship ''Kiani Satu'', travelling from [[Hong Kong]] to [[Ghana]] with a shipment of [[rice]], ran aground and sank off the coast of the town in August 2013. Leaked oil from the vessel threatened the nearby Goukamma Nature Reserve; 217 birds were cleaned by [[SANCCOB]] after the spill.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Kiani-Satu-sinks-off-Knysna-20130821 |title=Kiani Satu sinks off Knysna |date=21 August 2013 |website= |publisher=News24 |accessdate=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enca.com/south-africa/kiani-satu-afloat-after-stalling|title=Kiani Satu afloat after stalling |date=17 August 2013 |website= |publisher=eNCA |accessdate=5 August 2014}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Buffelsbaai|position=left}}{{Eden District Municipality}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Knysna Local Municipality]]