|
|
Eastern Cape South Africa
'Welcome to the good life - explore the wildside, relax
with the hospitality and fresh air, surf the Indian Ocean, stroll
the beaches, why does anyone ever leave the Eastern Cape?'
The Eastern Cape's beaches, waves, history and natural environment
beckon travellers for reasons that area as varied as the Eastern
Cape landscape. A collage of Karoo, hilltops, beaches, wild coast
abundance and urban excitement.
Broad brushstrokes add the rich forests of the Keiskamma Valley,
Langkloof apple country and the majesty of the southern Drakensberg,
while the culture and history lend depth and colour. The final touch
is the warm hand of small town friendship that characterises the
people of the Eastern Cape.
The coastline stretches from Storms River mouth on the Garden Route
to the Umtamvuna River, encompassing 800km of untouched shores and
magnificent beaches. Inland Eastern Cape reaches north to the Lesotho
border.
The Eastern Cape has a colourful past of settlers, redcoats, frontier
battles and Xhosa kings. No wonder her people have carried the flame
for South Africa's democracy.
The weather in the Eastern Cape allows for a year-round holiday
season. Hot summers and moderate winters at the coast - Port Elizabeth
boasts a daily average of 7 hours sunshine ! It is cooler in the
northern areas, so be prepared for quite a variation and remember
it can rain throughout the year in some places.
Because the Eastern Cape is so unspoilt it is also ideal for adventurous
spirits keen to explore uncharted territory. Remember that roads
can be unpredictable or limited so make sure you have the right
vehicle and reliable directions.
Port Elizabeth
(often referred to as P E )
Port Elizabeth, the Friendly City, is the ideal base for a family
holiday. Be calmed by the gentle pace and make the most of the wonderful
outdoor activities. With eas access to 40km of beaches that uniquely
combine warm water, calm seas and fair breezes perfect for sailing.
Try Kings beach, Humewood Beach
or Hobie Beach. They offer fabulous swimming and
watersports There are also exciting fishing and scuba diving opportunities.
Game fishing fro deep sea boats could see you hauling in a tuna,
dorado, yellowtail and leervis.
No wonder Port Elizabeth is known as a watersports hotspot
The Swartkops River is a short drive from the city
and offers a lovely expanse of water for swimming, sailing and fishing.
South of the city is the charming seaside village of Schoenmakerskop
and surrounds. It has scenic picnic spots, coves, rock pools, safe
bathing and fishing in tidal pools. If yo enjoy diving, horse riding
and walking, venture a little further on to the Sardinia
Bay Marine Reserve, an endless unspoilt coastline with
crystal clear water.
Port Elizabeths 1820 British Settler history will grab you, the
city oozes a fascinating past through her many monuments, restored
settler houses and perfectly intact fort. The Donkin Heritage
Trail will lead you in the footsteps of the early settlers.
Set aside some time to enjoy Port Elizabeths urban menu too: shopping
at Greenacres, the Bridge Park, Walmer Park, a night out at the
Boardwalk Casino. Entertainment World, right on the beachfront and
set around a series of manmade lakes and beautiful gardens, and
it wont just be the children that will love and be amazed at the
dolphins at the Oceanarium.
Wildlife along the Wild Coast
The Addo Elephant National park is 73km from Port
Elizabeth and allows for unusually close-up elephant viewing. With
its herd of 300 elephant it is possibly the most concentrated elephant
reserve in Africa. It is also one of the worlds most biologically
diverse parks offering sightings of: Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant,
Buffalo, Whales and Great White Sharks - The Eastern Capes Big Seven
!
There are other wonderful opportunities for game viewing at the
exclusive Shamwari Game Reserve and the Mountain
Zebra National Park. Similarly there is good viewing to
be had in the Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, which
also protects the endangered coastal fynbos plants.
While along the coast keep an eye out for Southern Right Whales
and their calves, there are regularly sighted between May and November.
You also sure to see common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins close
in to the shore line.
Amathole
Amathole, which takes in the Wild coast and the Sunshine coast, is an
area of heritage, beauty and adventure. It stretches along unspoilt beaches
into a hinterland of mountains and unsurpassed scenery. From Adelaide
in the east to Stutterhein in the west from East
London to Kei Mouth it is a landscape of
contrast and interest.
The landscapes range from undulating grassland to majestic mountains,
from beaches to mountain forests. This means just about any activity
goes ! Climbing, biking, hiking, birdwatching, 4x4 trails, watersports
and game watching. It's ideal for the outdoor adventurer, fisherman,
historian, nature lover, whale and dolphin spotter or if you just
need a break.
A city metropole complements quaint Xhosa culture and villages are
steeped in Xhose culture, redcoats, early settlement history and
the story of South Africa's liberation. Follow the trail through
innumerable historic sites, buildings and collections. There's the
German Settler Monument, forts and gardens a-plenty, the Steve Biko
Garden of Remembrance and The Nelson Mandela Museum Complex, just
south of Umtata in Qunu, Nelson Mandelas place of birth.
East London
boasts rocky shores, sandy beaches, magnificent lagoons, and warm, clear
waters that make them among the best surfing and diving spots in the world.
Attractions include exhibits of a diverse history, shipwreck, artifacts,
the coelacanth, the worlds only Dodo egg and a fascinating museum of transport.
Enjoy art collections, cultural activities, an aquarium, walks,
views, whale and dolphin watching, fishing, endless outdoor activities
and excellent sporting facilities. The nearby town of Gonubie
has a lovely safe swimming beach and a lagoon that lures in the
fishing and boating crowd.
Smaller towns of interest are Kingswilliamtown, Bisho, Butterworth,
Kenton, Fort Hare, Fort Beaufort, Adelaide, Bedford, Hogsback, Cathcart
and Alice.
There are plenty of guided and self guided hikes and game reserves
such as Double Drift or Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve. Many farms
offer game hunting and bird watchers are spoiled with a wide selection
of trails.
The Really Really Wild Coast
When you are ready for something unique, something untamed head
for the Wild Coast. Running from East London to Port Edward, the
landscape is spectacular. Rich in the cultural heritage of the Xhosa
people and wildly beautiful, the Wild Coast will give you memories
to treasure forever.
The fishing and surfing is excellent, the climate and seas perfect.
There is accommodation across the range and fresh seafood is the
order of the day.
Favourite spots include Haga Haga, Morgan Bay and
Kei Mouth on the southern bank of the Kei River.
It's surrounded by rich coastal forest and offers a full range of
watersports and a ferry.
Mazeppa Bay has a tropical air, while the lagoon
at Qolora Mouth is great for swimming, boating
and fishing. Likewise Coffee Bay and Port
St Johns are perfect for all those fun on the sun things.
Try to get to The Hole in the Wall, it's an impressively big detached
piece of cliff with an huge opening carved through its centre by
the waves. The Xhosa call it IziKaleni - 'place of thunder'.
For more sophistication continue up to Port Edward
and the Wilds Coast Resort and Casino Complex.
The Sunshine Coast
The shore running from Port Elizabeth to the Fish River
is known as the Sunshine Coast - for good reason, it's a coastline
made for holiday makers.
Favourite attractions include the 36km Alexandria Hiking Trail that
takes you on a two day route through beach and indigenous forest
environments.Alexandria itself is 100km east of
Port Elizabeth. Step back in time to see the Diaz Cross, a replica
of the stone cross erected by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz
in 1488.
Kenton on Sea is another popular spot - a perfect
family holiday resort. It's a small village on the banks of the
Bushmans River, blessed with beaches, sand dunes, lagoons, sheltered
coves, rock pools and a nature reserve. So Waterski, fish, swim,
paddle and sunbathe to your hearts content.
Port Alfred is the heart of the sunshine route
and there you may even find a rare nautilus shell. The little seaside
harbour town offers fishing and watersports, beaches and a nearby
spa. Kidds Beach at the mouth of the Mcantsi River is made for families:
tidal pools for the children, rocky shores for fisherman and great
beaches to laze on around the lagoon.
Even more Eastern Cape treats
Inland from port Alfred is the university town of Grahamstown.
Every year it hosts the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. This is considered
to be Africa's largest and most colourful cultural event. It attracts
a fascinating range of indigenous and imported talents in the performing
arts - not to mention the fascinating array of artists, crafters and their
entourages.
On its most eastern coastline the Eastern Cape is home in part to the
Tsitsikamma National Park. When you've been there you will understand
why it ia also known as 'the place of much water'. Here, the
massive waves of the Indian Ocean pound the rocky shores.
The Otter Trail will take hikers through temperate high forest and indigenous
fynbos fauna, down to the sea across rocky ravines, the spectacle can
be truly breathtaking.
Storms River provides some exciting adventures... try blackwater tubing
for loads of fun or 3...2..1.bungeeeee ! off the Blaauwkrans Bridge on
Storms River, the worlds highest bungee jump, not for the faint hearted
a dive from the Storms Bridge is a 180m freefall adrenalin rush at speeds
of up to 193km/h.
On the Eastern border of the Cape Floral Kingdom about two and a half
hours from Port Elizabeth is Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area (Valley of
Baboons).
Jefferys Bay - international surfing mecca and undoubted
surfing capital of South Africa -is home to 'the perfect wave' and host
to international surfing events. Beyond its surf profile Jefferys Bay
is also a wonderful family holiday destination offering sailing, windsurfing,
swimming and fishing
St Francis Bay is also brilliant for watersports such
as windsurfing, canoeing, waterskiiing, sailing, swimming, power boating,
diving, deep sea and rock angling and surfing. The quaint Cape
St Francis with its carefully maintained seaside village charm
is another venue for water activities.
By stark contrast there's Tiffindell, the only ski resort
in Africa, high up in the southern Drakensberg Mountains on the slopes
of Eastern Capes highest mountain peak 3001m.
Milner Guest House, B&B
19 miner Street, Top Town, Queenstown, Eastern Cape, 5319, South Africa,
Tel: +27 (0)45 839 7698
www.staySA.co.za
Mountain Valley, B&B
P.O.Box 110, Sterkspruit, 9762, Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape, 9762, South
Africa,
Tel: +27 (0)51 611 0264
www.ectourism.co.za
Oyster Bay Lodge, Self Catering
P.O.Box 1410, Humansdorp, Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, 6300, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)42 297 0150
www.oysterbaylodge.com
Sandals Guest House
P.O.Box 689, St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, 6132, South Africa,
Tel: +27 (0)42 294 0551
www.sandalsguesthouse.co.za
Thatchwood Country Lodge
P.O.Box 497, St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, 6312, South Africa,
Tel: +27 (0)42 294 0082
www.thatchwood.co.za
Ekukhanyeni B&B
P.O.Box 4899, King William's Town, Eastern Cape, 5601, South Africa,
Tel: +27 (0)43 643 5305
www.ekukhunyenibnb.co.za
|
Current Weather in:
Kruger Park
South Africa
Current Weather in:
Current Weather in:
Current Weather in:
|
