# Morgan Bay

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Place in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Morgan Bay af: Morganbaai Gxarha Morgan Bay Morgan Bay Show map of Eastern Cape Morgan Bay Show map of South Africa Morgan Bay Show map of Africa Coordinates: 32°42′14″S 28°20′10″E / 32.704°S 28.336°E / -32.704; 28.336 Country South Africa Province Eastern Cape District Amathole Municipality Great Kei Area [1] • Total 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi) Population (2011)[1] • Total 321 • Density 236/km2 (611/sq mi) Racial makeup (2011) [1] • Black African 47.5% • Coloured 0.6% • Indian/Asian 0.6% • White 47.2% • Other 4.1% First languages (2011) [1] • Xhosa 47.9% • English 40.7% • Afrikaans 9.5% • Other 1.9% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST) Postal code (street) 5292 PO box n/a

**Morgan Bay**, officially renamed **Gxarha** in 2022,[2] is a village in [Amathole District Municipality](/source/Amathole_District_Municipality) in the [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape) province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).

The holiday village of Morgan Bay was given its current name in 1822. It was named after A.F. Morgan, the master of the [Barracouta](/source/HMS_Barracouta_(1820)), a survey ship of the Royal Navy. The ship was part of an expedition under Captain [William Fitzwilliam Owen](/source/William_Fitzwilliam_Owen), sent out by the [British Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) to survey the coast from [Maputo](/source/Maputo) to the mouth of the [Keiskamma River](/source/Keiskamma_River). The nearby Bead Beach (Treasure Beach) at the [Double Mouth Nature Reserve](/source/Double_Mouth_Nature_Reserve) is the site of a 16th-century Portuguese shipwreck.[3]

## Tourism

Morgan Bay is a popular holiday destination due to its picturesque setting, mile-long beach, estuary, sea cliffs and location at the southern end of the [Wild Coast](/source/Wild_Coast_Region%2C_Eastern_Cape).

The 1.6 km-long (0.99 mi) sandy beach is patrolled by lifeguards during the festive season and is ideal for ball games such as cricket, rugby and tennis. A set of touch rugby and cricket tournaments are held between Christmas and New Year every year. The dunes are good for sandboarding and the beach is also popular with joggers and walkers. [4]

The shallow Inchara river estuary, which hosts numerous water birds, is ideal for swimming and water sports like canoeing, board sailing and standup paddle boarding.

The Morgan Bay cliffs are popular with hikers and offer excellent vantage points for watching the sunrise or enjoying a sundowner with friends. The Morgan Bay cliffs is the largest sea cliff climbing location in South Africa with over 600 climbing routes and several bouldering problems. [5]

The Morganville Motorcycle Museum which is located just 7 km (4.3 mi) from town, houses over 650 motorcycles, a Convair 880 passenger jet, several London buses and many other collectables. Owned and run by the former Eastern Cape Finance MEC, Billy Nel, the museum is opened to the public on the occasional open-day, which he holds for local charities, as well visiting motorcycle clubs during rallies. [6][7]

Other activities in Morgan Bay include bird watching, hiking, mountain biking, township tours, fishing, surfing, game drives and horse riding.

The [Cape Morgan Nature Reserve](/source/Cape_Morgan_Nature_Reserve) is a coastal forest reserve found between the Morgan Bay [estuary](/source/Estuary) and the Cwili estuary. The Strandloper Hiking Trail begins at the visitor centre found on the reserve.[8]

## Gallery

		- Keightly's Krantz in Morgan Bay

		- Morgan Bay cliffs

		- Morgan Bay beach and touch rugby competition

## External links

- [Morgan's Bay](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Morgan%27s_Bay#Q6911964) travel guide from Wikivoyage

- [Morgan Bay Tourism](http://www.morganbay.co.za)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Morgans Bay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Morgans_Bay).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-3) ["Main Place Morgan Bay"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/272014). *Census 2011*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Lambley, Garrin (2022-08-26). ["FIVE new name changes for towns in South Africa: Welcome to Gxarha!"](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/five-name-changes-towns-south-africa-welcome-to-gxarha-breaking-latest-friday-26-august-2022/). *The South African*. Retrieved 2024-10-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Double Mouth Nature Reserve"](https://www.morganbay.co.za/activities/double-mouth-nature-reserve/). *Morgan Bay Tourism*. Retrieved 2017-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Morgan Bay beach"](https://www.morganbay.co.za/activities/beach/). *Morgan Bay Tourism*. Retrieved 2018-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Morgan Bay Rock Climbing"](http://www.easterncaperockclimbing.co.za/location/morgan-bay). *Eastern Cape Rock Climbing*. Retrieved 2018-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Freeman, Jim (2017-12-16). ["Bike nut, and he has a plane!"](https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-citizen-gauteng/20171216/282342565193420). *The Citizen*. Gauteng. Retrieved 2018-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Morganville Motorcycle Museum"](https://www.morganbay.co.za/activities/motorcycle-museum/). *Morgan Bay Tourism*. Retrieved 2018-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Strandloper Hiking Trails – … where the ultimate coastal experience awaits you!"](https://strandlopertrails.org.za/). Retrieved 2023-03-24.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape District seat: East London Amahlathi Border Post Braunschweig Burnshill Cathcart Debe Nek Frankfort Kei Road Keiskammahoek Mnyameni Stutterheim Amathole District within South Africa Great Kei Chintsa Haga Haga Kei Mouth Komga Morgan Bay (Gxarha) Queensberry Bay Sihota Mbhashe Idutywa (Dutywa) Elliotdale Hobeni Willowvale Mnquma Blythswood Butterworth (Gcuwa) Centane Mazeppa Bay Nqamakwe Qolora Mouth Ngqushwa Bell Bodiam Hamburg Peddie Wesley Wooldridge Raymond Mhlaba Adelaide Alice (Dikeni) Balfour Bedford Calderwood Fort Beaufort (KwaMaqoma) Healdtown Hogsback Katberg Kwezana Mhlangeni Middledrift (Ixesi) Seymour

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