The Collywobbles is a series of twists and turns in the Mbhashe River in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is one of the world's most remarkable examples of meandering in a river.
The Mbhashe River rises in the mountains of the southern Drakensberg, and flows eastward across an undulating grassland coastal plateau until shortly after passing under national road N2, the river encounters southwest of Elliotdale and north-east of Dutywa the more rugged terrain of the Wild Coast and suddenly enters into a 64 km long series of violent twists and turns known as the Collywobbles before continuing more sedately to discharge into the Indian Ocean.[1][2]
In the area enclosed by the river's twists and turns, are the agricultural settlements of Msikiti, Zangcete, KuLombete and Mkhalalo.
The area is named after Lt. George Pomeroy Colley who was a magistrate in the Idutywa District from 1858 to 1860. On an inspection visit, he came across this unique geographical phenomenon in the river and upon seeing the spectacular view before him, exclaimed "How that river wobbles!" "Yes sir", replied a quick witted aid, "in fact, it Colley Wobbles!".[3][2] Collywobbles is an English word for a stomach upset.