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From the Tsitsikamma National
park in the south to Port Edward in the north, the Eastern
Cape has a 800km coastline, a combination of pristine beach and indigenous forest
known as the “Sunshine Coast”. This is the home of the Xhosa nation, of whose royal family
former president Nelson Mandela is the most famous descendant. The Eastern
Cape's two major cities are Port
Elizabeth and East
London, both commercial centres with excellent tourism facilities and warm-water
beaches. Smaller towns include Port Alfred with its 30km of navigable river,
the university town of Grahamstown where the country's premier
cultural event, the Grahamstown Festival, takes place every July, and Bathurst
with its English country ambience. The province has nearly a million hectares
of malaria-free game-viewing. The Addo Elephant National
Park is home to elephant, black rhino, buffalo and numerous antelope. Jeffrey's
Bay is one of the world's best surfing sites. The Transkei region has the Wild Coast, a beautiful, untouched coastline
whose often stormy seas have caused many shipwrecks.
Tsitsikamma, a Khoisan word meaning “place of many waters”,
is an area of indigenous forest, including the giant Outeniqua Yellowwood, rugged
coastline and scenic hiking trails. The Tsitsikamma
National Park is Africa's oldest marine reserve,
and plays a vital role in the preservation and conservation of marine flora
and fauna.
Tsitsikamma National
Park is situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region known as the
Garden Route.
Tsitsikamma is a Khoisan word meaning “place of much water.” The Park incorporates
80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous
region with secluded valleys covered in mountain fynbos and temperate high forests
with deep river gorges leading down to the Indian Ocean,
where breakers pound rocky shores beneath 180 m high cliffs.
St. Francis
Bay, a thatched Cape village nestling at the mouth
of the Kromme River, is a
one-hour drive via the N2 from both Port
Elizabeth and Plettenberg Bay. It has
its own airstrip and golf-course. A 4 km stretch of sandy beach offers safe
bathing and ideal surfing. The Kromme River, which is navigable for 14 km,
has a canal system incorporating a boat harbour and accommodates water-skiing,
board-sailing, yachting and fishing. Jeffreys Bay,
situated on the Sunshine Coast, has developed from a small
fishing village into a growing coastal resort. Known for its surfing, it has
wide expanses of beaches and many interesting rock pools. Every tide brings
in a treasure-trove of shells, many of which are displayed in the Kritzinger
Shell Museum situated on the
beach-front. Jeffreys Bay is bordered by two lagoons at
Kabeljous and Aston Bay. It is also the home of a thriving
handcraft industry, particularly leatherware and clothing. The Noorsekloof
Nature Reserve is a haven for the area's flora and fauna.
Addo Elephant National Park,
72 km from Port Elizabeth via the R35, is the only reserve where the Addo elephant
is still found. In addition to over 180 elephants the 12 126 ha park is also
a home to buffalo, kudu, black rhino, bush-pig, bush-buck, ostriches and an
abundance of bird-life. The best time to view the elephants is towards mid-morning
when they generally make their way to the water-hole. There is also a special
hide overlooking the dam for bird-watching. Other facilities in the park include
rondavels and fully equipped family cottages, a swimming-pool for residents
and a fully licensed à la carte restaurant. The reserve is open through-out
the year. For further inform-ation phone 042 233 0556.
Port
Elizabeth, known as the “Friendly City”,
is situated along the shores of Algoa
Bay. The city offers a diverse selection of attractions, including
eco-attractions, scenic nature trails, historic heritage, cultural experiences
and water-sport activities. The Campanile, completed in 1923 to commemorate
the landing of the 1820 Settlers, has a magnificent view of the harbour from
the top, reached by climbing a 204-step staircase. The City Hall and Market Square, in Main Street, built between 1858-62, was proclaimed
a national monument in 1973. Fort
Frederick, Belmont Terrace, was built by the British
forces in 1799 and is now a national monument. It is reputed to be the oldest
stone building in the Eastern Cape
and has an interesting array of cannons. No 7 Castle Hill Museum, in Castle
Hill Road, is housed in one of the oldest surviving Settler cottages, dating
back to 1827. King George
VI Art Gallery,
St. George's Park, has permanent exhibitions of South African, British and Oriental
art, and regular temporary exhibitions and lectures on art. The Horse Memorial,
corner Cape and Russell Roads, is dedicated to the horses
killed during the Boer War. St George's Park, the city's oldest park, contains the Prince Alfred Guard Memorial,
the Pearson Conservatory (with a collection of rare orchids), sports fields
and a swimming-pool. Settlers
Park, a 54-hectare area of indigenous flora close to
the city centre, abounds with bird-life. Situated in Beach Road, Humewood, the Museum has four sections, the Costume, History,
Marine and Bird Halls. Videos are shown on snake-handling. The Tropical House,
part of the Snake Park, has birds,
fish and reptiles in lush tropical surroundings. In the Nocturnal House, nocturnal
animals and birds may be seen under simulated moonlight. The Oceanarium, well
known for its performing dolphins and seals, holds shows daily after which the
seals are fed. Reptile demonstrations daily in season. For further information,
contact Tourism Port Elizabeth Phone: 041 585 8884. Fax: 041 585 2564. E-mail:
information@tourismpe.co.za
The coastal route passes through the holiday village of Kenton-on-Sea, which is situated between two tidal rivers and has unspoilt
beaches. Attractions include arts and crafts, whale and dolphin watching, watersports
and superb birding. Nearby is the Dias Cross, a replica of the one erected
at this spot by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488. The original is in the library at
Wits University. Port Alfred is situated on the coast midway between Port
Elizabeth and East London. It has developed along the
banks of the Kowie River,
which is navigable for 28 km, and offers boating, water-skiing, cruising, angling
and bird-watching, and has a canoe trail. Long stretches of unspoilt beaches
with safe swimming, surfing and scuba-diving are features of this seaside resort.
The Kowie History Museum
is worth a visit with its attractive displays and 1820 Settler index, and there
are crafts, antiques and restaurants in the business centre. Port Alfred's beautiful
18-hole golf-course welcomes visitors. Horse-rides, hikes and mountain bikes
are available and there is a luxury health centre just out of town. The Royal
Alfred Marina is a fine example of waterfront living, and the small craft harbour
is available for river and sea-going boats. For further information, contact
Port Alfred Tourism Phone: 046 624 1235 Fax: 046 624 4139. E-mail: patourism@intekom.co.za
The village of
Bathurst, 15 km from Port Alfred on the Grahamstown
road, has many Settler buildings. The Pig and Whistle Hotel, built in 1831,
is one of the oldest inns in South
Africa. The 1821 Bradshaw's Mill, home of the wool industry
in South Africa, has a working
reconstructed water-wheel. The Bathurst Agricultural Museum houses over 1 200
items, and The Big Pineapple offers farm tours, an ethnic village and a pub
in a converted 1820 Settler barn. Salem, a quaint village, south-west of Grahamstown on the R343, started
as a school in 1822. The Old Methodist Church,
the village green and recently restored Settlers' houses are interesting features.
Grahamstown, is home to the annual Grahamstown Arts Festival,
which offers both local and international talent in more than 500 shows. The
town, established in 1812 as a military outpost, had less than 12 houses when
the British Settlers arrived in 1820. The many historic Georgian and military-style
buildings which followed, reflect their architectural style. Rhodes University
stands on the site of the old Drostdy. Behind the University on Gunfire Hill
is Fort Selwyn, part of a series of signal towers which stretched as far as
the Fish River. Also on this hill is the 1820 Settlers' Monument, which hosts
the annual National Festival of Arts. The Albany and 1820 Settlers' Memorial
Museums have many 1820 Settler exhibits. The Old Provost dates back to 1836
and was for a time a prison. The Cathedral of St Michael and St George, with
its 46 m spire, is the oldest Anglican church in S.A. The nearby Thomas Baines
Nature Reserve has game including white rhino, buffalo and zebra. For further
information, contact Makana Tourism Phone: 046 622 3241. E-mail: info@grahamstown.co.za
King William's Town, one of the oldest border towns, was originally
the site of a mission station built in 1826. Fort Beaufort, a military post,
played a large part in the defence of the eastern frontier. Hogsback lies at
the western end of the deeply forested Amatola mountains at the foot of the
three Hogsback peaks. The region is rich in bird-life. Hog emblems emblazoned
on trees and rocks indicate the many trails. The Katberg, another well-known
holiday resort, has impressive mountain scenery. Rhodes, situated deep in the
southern Drakensberg is home to Tiffendell Ski and Alpine Resort, which was
established in 1993. Tiffendell is located on the slopes of Ben McDhui peak
(3001m), and is the only ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa. The natural snow
is supplemented by a snowmaking system that guarantees on average 95 days of
skiing each year.
Graaff-Reinet, the
fourth oldest town in South Africa, lies in the foothills of the Sneeuberg Mountains
in the Karoo Nature Reserve. It has many examples of Cape Dutch architecture.
Reinet House, the old parsonage, was built in 1812. The gabled Old Mission
Church now houses the Hester Rupert Art Collection. The Drostdy Hof is a street
of 19th century cottages. The Valley of Desolation, in the western section
of the Reserve, is 10 km north-west of Graaff-Reinet off the road to Murraysburg,
and shows the effect of erosion over millions of years.
East London, strategically
situated as the main city in the heart of the Sunshine Coast and Wild
Coast routes, offers ample opportunity for recreational activity. Excellent
sports facilities make East London an inviting sporting destination. East London
Golf Course is one of the country's finest. The Aquarium, on the Esplanade,
has seals, penguins, turtles, and many varieties of fish. The Ann Bryant Art
Gallery, Corner Oxford Street & St. Lukes Road, has a fine collection of
modern and older works by South African and overseas artists. The Queen's Park
Zoo, in Park Avenue, is situated in an attractively laid out park with many
trees and shrubs. The zoo is well planned to enable the visitor to see all
the animals, birds and reptiles. The Museum, in Oxford Street, is home to the
famous coelacanth. The museum also houses excellent displays of Xhosa-kraal
and tribal items, insect collections, historical items of the early British
and German settlers of the Border area, fossils and the history of East London,
with special interest in the shipwrecks along the coast. The Gately House Museum,
1 Park Gate Road, was the home of John Gately, regarded as the “father of East
London”. The house was built in 1878. The museum has a fine collection of
Victoriana and early 20th century domestic items. The German Settlers' Memorial,
Esplanade, designed and sculptured by Lippy Lipschitz, comprises three granite
figures erected to commemorate the landing of 2 315 German men, women and children
in East London in 1857. Orient Beach, named after a Russian ship, the Orient,
which was wrecked here in 1907, is the closest beach to the city centre. The
beach offers safe bathing and there is a large tidal pool, children's playground,
changing facilities, a restaurant and a theatre. Eastern Beach, another beautiful
beach where the surfing is excellent and the general public use it as a fine
swimming beach. Nahoon Beach is 8 km from the city centre, on the south bank
of the Nahoon River. Excellent angling and surfing. For further information,
contact Tourism Buffalo City Phone: 043 722 6015. Fax: 043 743 5091. E-mail:
eltour@mweb.co.za
The Strandloper Hiking Trail is a three-day, 65 km trail along
the beach between Kei Mouth and East London. It retraces the footsteps of the
strandlopers, the early inhabitants of this stretch of coast. The Wild
Coast, stretching from Gonubie to Port Edward, is filled with pristine beaches,
subtropical vegetation, abundant bird-life, rolling hills and good fishing throughout
the year. Coffee Bay is easily accessible from the N2 and is popular among
surfers, anglers and shell collectors. South of Coffee Bay, the Hole in the
Wall is a prominent landmark, with the waves continuously crashing through a
huge hole in the cliff. Port St Johns is situated on the banks of the Umzimvubu
River. Dwesa Nature Reserve is a blend of coastal forest, open grassland and
meandering rivers. Hluleka Nature Reserve contains zebra, blesbok and blue
wildebeest and offers several vantage points to observe dolphins and whales.
The Wild Coast Hiking Trail, an extensive trail of 280 km, is broken up into
several five-day trails. It offers dramatic scenery and encounters with Xhosa
people, whose lifestyles have remained unchanged for centuries. The Wild Coast
also offers many exciting snorkelling and scuba-diving sites, where relics from
the numerous old shipwrecks can be found. |
