Thence it makes a zig-zag turn to Cookhouse, from where it meanders down the escarpment east of Grahamstown before its final near-straight run to its estuary 8 km northeast of Seafield, into the Indian Ocean.

[5] At the river mouth, the climate is temperate with around 650 mm (26 in) of rainfall that falls mainly during spring and autumn.

The most commonly viewed wild mammal is the vervet monkey, which has been known to grab food under the nose of unsuspecting guests at the Fish River Sun Resort.

There are over 135 species of marine and terrestrial birds found along the river including the colourful Knysna lourie, giant kingfisher and the fish eagle.

During apartheid, the lower reaches formed the western boundary of the nominally independent Ciskei homeland.

The camp site was ‘rediscovered’ when large quantities of artifacts were unearthed during the construction of the Fish River Sun golf course.

[10] A certain Sergeant C. Broxholm is rumoured to have built the only structure that survived the war, located on the eastern side of the river.

Some of the soldiers that died during the occupation of Waterloo Bay were buried in a small cemetery near the eastern bank of the Old Woman's River.

[10] A large civilian camp with the accompanying trading stores and inns which followed the military activities was apparently situated on the western side of the Old Woman's River.

The 184,000 hectare property on the eastern banks of the Fish River fell within the then Ciskei region, a former Bantustan homeland during the apartheid administration.

The resort establishment suffered a huge knock when its casino license was not extended after its ten-year period, ending in 1999.

Activities include swimming, guided nature walks, golf, dune boarding, canoeing, fishing, mini-golf, and spa treatments.