EASTERN CAPE, THE OVERBERG & THE GARDEN ROUTE, SOUTH AFRICA - 
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

EASTERN CAPE,  SOUTH AFRICA - TRAVEL GUIDE

The Eastern Cape is not classic lowveld, which is the vegetation type found around the Kruger National Park and is most usually associated with big game. However, this province has some awesome safari destinations. The Greater Addo Elephant National Park, near the town of Addo, conserves a staggering diversity of plant and animal life. There are a number of private game lodges, both in the national park and in surrounding private reserves. Best of all - it's totally malaria-free. South Africa's first and - to date - only serious commercial ski resort is in the high-lying northern part of the Eastern Cape. OK, it's not exactly Chamonix or Aspen - but it is skiing in Africa. Snowboarding's big, too.

The Eastern Cape's cultural heritage is particularly varied and interesting, and there are so many interpretive tours, museums and monuments, you'll never be bored. Towns that will particularly appeal to more culturally minded visitors include Graaff-Reinet and Grahamstown.

Nieu Bethesda, which is close to Graaff-Reinet, is a funky little village that owes its popularity to the existence of the Owl House, which is South Africa's most well known example of outsider art. Port Elizabeth is renowned for its excellent township and cultural tours. The Nelson Mandela Museum in Umtata is a loving tribute to South Africa's first president. There are great tours along the Wild Coast, on which you get to spend time with the local people and see how they live. The Grahamstown Festival or, more accurately, the National Festival of the Arts, which showcases a huge variety of South Africa's visual and performance arts, is held in Grahamstown at the beginning of July.

There are some excellent golf courses, but they're not all as conveniently close together as they are, for example, on the Garden Route. Some of the better courses are to be found in or near Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred, East London and Port Edward. A brand new golf course has been built at the rather interesting town of Alicedale, which is experiencing a huge economic revival after spending years as a virtual ghost town.

CAPE ST FRANCIS,  EASTERN CAPE,  SOUTH AFRICA

The adjacent town, St Francis Bay, was the site of "ten-million-to-one" surfing waves seen in the 1966 surf/travel documentary, The Endless Summer.

Cape St. Francis is now known as one of the best surfing locations on the planet. Given its geological location, it is susceptible to swell year round from large low pressure systems that form between Antarctica and the southern tip of Africa. When the large south west swell wraps around the coastline of the region and the prevailing offshore winds come up, the surfing is as good as it gets.

EAST LONDON,  EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

East London has some great cultural attractions, including a wonderful natural history museum, where you can see the only dodo egg in existence - but don't expect Jurassic Park, it's a bit dodgy. 

What isn't dodgy, though, is the fact that it was this museum that identified the first specimen of a coelacanth - there's a great exhibit outlining the history of this awesome prehistoric fish. Previously known only from the fossil record, it was assumed to be extinct, and is believed to be the missing link between aquatic and terrestrial animals. OK - one of the missing links - it's quite a long chain. 

East London has all the facilities you'd expect in medium sized city - good hotels, sufficient shopping opportunities, yummy restaurants and an airport - while still retaining the sleepy charm of a village.

EAST LONDON HOTELS,  EASTERN CAPE,  SOUTH AFRICA

EAST LONDON BED & BREAKFASTS/GUEST HOUSES,  EASTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA

EAST LONDON SELF-CATERING/HOLIDAY RENTALS,  EASTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA

GRAHAMSTOWN ACCOMMODATION - EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The more academic of the many museums in Grahamstown includes the Observatory Museum, which has the only genuine Victorian Camera Obscura in the southern hemisphere, the National English Literary Museum, the Library of African Music and – rather unusually considering its inland position – the SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, where you can see exhibits relating to the coelacanth – the fossil fish that was thought to be extinct but still lives off the South African coast.

Grahamstown’s position on the 19th century frontier between the British colonialists and the Xhosa tribes, has contributed to its interesting history. And the culture of rebellion that was forged in the Frontier Wars was brought to bear during the 20th century to the extent that Grahamstown was one of the major centres of resistance to the apartheid regime. 

Local historians offer insightful tours of the area, highlighting seminal moments in South Africa’s history. Grahamstown has a decent golf course and it is very close to one of the newest golf resorts in South Africa – the Gary Player-designed Bushman Sands in the interesting and unusual town of Alicedale. 

There is good climbing near the town, a skydiving club and – less than an hour’s drive away – good surfing at Port Alfred. There are numerous excellent game viewing destinations within an hour’s drive of Grahamstown.

Image © South African Tourism

PORT ELIZABETH ACCOMMODATION, EASTERN CAPE,  SOUTH AFRICA