Touring Eastern Cape
EASTERN CAPE
The Eastern Cape is one of Africa’s rare and unspoilt gems, offering great diversity. Discover superb beaches on its wild coast, the vast Karoo landscape with unforgettable star-studded night skies, charming, historic towns, and a warm welcome. Port Elizabeth, East London and Graham’s town are in the province, as well as Umtata in the Transkei. Qunu in the Transkei is the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, who is affectionately known as Madiba. The Eastern Cape, a land of undulating hills, expansive sandy beaches, majestic mountain ranges and emerald green forests, is the second-largest of the nine provinces in terms of surface area.
The shoreline of this province extends from the Umtamvuna River in KwaZulu Natal, to the Storms River mouth on the scenic Garden Route, in the west, and stretching inland, to the north, bordering on Lesotho. Today, the Eastern Cape incorporates the previously independent `homelands’ of the Ciskei and Transkei.
REGIONS OF THE EASTERN CAPE:
AMATOLA:
The Amatolas stretch into the hinterland just north of Grahamstown and west of Stutterheim, their slopes covered in dense natural forests of white stinkwoods, yellowwoods, Cape chestnuts, and a myriad other indigenous trees. Nestling in their shadow in the valleys are a cluster of villages, a mission station, churches and towns that line the valleys of an area not only rich in history but in incredible scenery too.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE AMATOLA REGION:
Adelaide: Lying just south of the Winterberg Mountains, seeped in settler history, Adelaide is a charming little town some 37 kilometres from Fort Beaufort. Adelaide’s main attraction is its setting. It lies right in the heart of eco-tourist heaven. There are no fewer than six distinct biomes in the surrounding countryside; there is a spectacularly rich bird life, fine examples of rock art, a rich diversity of flora and fauna, and access to a number of game reserves and game farms.
East London: Known as the Buffalo City - lies on the Buffalo River - its people are refreshingly friendly and its weather generally pleasant throughout the year. This is holiday place for the whole family.
EAST LONDON ATTRACTIONS:
The Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance: Bantu Steven Biko, one of the most recognised leaders of the Black Consciousness Movement, is regarded as one of the greatest martyrs of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. The Steven Biko Garden of
Remembrance, formerly known as the Ginsberg cemetery, lies at the entrance to King William’s Town.
East London Museum: Residents of East London tend to mention their museum and the coelacanth in one breath, and with good reason. The East London Natural History gallery features the original coelacanth - a prehistoric fish that has lived in the Indian Ocean for 400 million years, thought to be extinct until it was re-discovered in 1938.
East London Aquarium and Whale Viewing Deck: Said to be the oldest aquarium in South Africa, East London’s aquarium, which opened its doors originally in 1931, lies on the esplanade on the beachfront. The observation deck hovers 11 metres above the Indian Ocean, which dramatically improve your view of breaching humpbacks or bottlenose dolphins that are virtually daily visitors to the deck.
Hogsback: On the western end of the forested Amatola Mountains lies a village, overlooked by mountains and surrounded by indigenous forests that are centuries old, called Hogsback. It only lies 90 minutes journey from Grahamstown, yet Hogsback may as well be in another world. Walking, mountain biking, bird watching, mountain climbing and trout fishing are the attractions of the outdoors here, and the pure mountain air and waterfalls just add to the allure.
King Williams Town: Considered one of the most interesting towns to visit in the region, along with Grahamstown, King William’s Town began its life on the banks of the Buffalo River as a mission station in 1834. Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki hail from the area and many tourists now follow the Nelson Mandela Route.
OTHER TOWNS AND ATTRACTIONS - AMATOLA REGION:
GONUBIE, HAGA HAGA, HOGSBACK, KATBERG, CINTSA, STUTTERHEIM, TARKASTAD, FORT BEAUFORT
AMATOLA REGION - “MUST SEE” ATTRACTIONS:
The Grahamstown National Arts Festival: Africa’s largest and most colourful cultural event offers a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. From theatre to dance, opera to cabaret, fine art to craft art, classical music to jazz, poetry readings to lectures, every art form imaginable is represented in one of the most diverse festivals in the world.
Valley Of The Ancient Voices: A 4-hour journey that spans thousands of years in the Valley of the Ancient Voices. Rock art, relics and artefacts give clues to the myriad of animals and people that have crossed through this place.
Kirkwood’s annual wildlife festival: Developed around an auction of game from the Addo Elephant National Park and other reserves has become a firm family favourite because of the variety it offers. There is a special play area to keep the very young safe and happy while the rest of the family enjoys the entertainment and browsing through one of the biggest selections of specialist craft stalls in the Eastern Cape.
NORTHERN REGION:
UKhahlamba, the Xhosa word meaning “barrier of spears”, refers to the majestic portion of the Drakensberg that dominates the northern section of the Eastern Cape. UKhahlamba is largely sheep, cattle and goat farming country.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHERN REGION:
Aliwal North: Aliwal North is a small, largely unknown town - aside from its two hot mineral springs that have extremely high concentrations of minerals and gases and formed part of the reason for the town’s development. There are a number of historical buildings in Aliwal North worth a visit, including the Kerkplein Museum and the Garden of Remembrance, which includes a British blockhouse. The Buffelspruit Nature Reserve lays close by and gives you access to a rich collection of antelope, buffalo and some striking grassland scenery.
Barkly East: Barkly East lies nestled amongst the majestic mountains of the southern Drakensberg, between the villages of Lady Grey and Elliot. Barkly East also offers excellent Trout fishing in mountain streams. There are some examples of San art in surrounding caves, and a breathtaking series of wildflowers.
Lady Grey: As its name suggests, the town was named after a genuine ‘lady’ - Lady Eliza Spencer - wife of the Cape Governor Sir George Grey, when it was founded in 1856, and a walk through the old cemetery is a must to trace its interesting history. The area is rich in sandstone, fossil beds and San rock art and the Lady Grey Dam, built in 1925.
Tiffindell: lies on the slopes of Ben Mc Dhui, the highest mountain peak in the Cape that is part of the southern Drakensberg range of mountains, quite close to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape. The quaint and appealing resort has its very own snowmaking machine, for those days on which it doesn’t snow, and you’re guaranteed of snow on the slopes at least 3 months of the year.
NORTHERN REGION “MUST SEE” ATRACTIONS:
The Lady Grey Passion Play: Includes a cast of 132 speaking characters as well as: a chorus, choir, troupe of dancers and live visual artists, and is presented over a period of three days during the Easter Weekend.
WILD COST REGION:
As its name suggests, the Wild Coast extends between the Mtamvuna River in the north and the Great Kei River to the south, is an untamed wilderness. It is an incredible combination of breath-taking coastline, precipitous cliff faces, desolate beaches, secluded bays and green hills that rush headlong into river valleys.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE WILD COAST REGION:
Bisho: is the Xhosa word for Buffalo and is named after the river that runs through the city. It lies just 3km east of King William’s Town and has some of the most spectacular views of the Amatola.
Butterworth: is situated north of the Great Kei River and was established originally as a Wesleyan mission in 1827. These missionaries had great fortitude during the wars between settlers and tribes. Two sites in Butterworth that are well worth visiting are two nearby waterfalls namely the tumbling cascades of Gcuwa Falls and the impressive 100m drop at Bowa Falls, which is also believed to have been a place of executions.
King Williams: Considered one of the most interesting towns to visit in the region, along with Grahamstown, King William’s Town began its life on the banks of the Buffalo River as a mission station in 1834.
Port Edward: boasts with flawless and peaceful beaches that are protected for swimmers. Silver Beach is one such beach and is also a popular fishing destination. Fishing is one of the most popular sports in Port Edward. The gullies, rocks, surf, river and lagoon all offer a great setting for a line and rod. Overlooking Silver Beach is an interesting sightseeing spot known as Tragedy Hill. It was so named in 1831 after Zulu Warriors massacred the family and followers of pioneer Henry Flynn in a misunderstanding over stolen cattle. Another popular attraction of Port Edward is the “Sardine Run.”
WILD COAST REGION “MUST SEE” ATTRACTIONS:
HOLE IN THE WALL: at Coffee Bay is a unique structure with a huge detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by the waves. The local Xhosa call this place “izi Khaleni”, which means “place of thunder”. During certain seasons and water conditions (high tide) the waves clap is such a fashion that the concussion can be heard throughout the valley.
NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM: was officially opened on the 11 February 2000, to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the release from prison of Nelson Mandela in 1990. The birthplace and museum is situated at Qunu, south of Umtata. The Museum offers visitors an inspiring journey through the life of Nelson Mandela. Known affectionately as ‘Madiba’, he is loved and respected world-wide.
WESTERN REGION:
The Western Region of the Eastern Cape stretches from the Tsitsikamma National Park to Algoa Bay and in the North to the Karoo as far as Middleberg. The main city of the area is Port Elizabeth, capital of the Eastern Cape and often referred to as the Friendly City. Port Elizabeth is the largest coastal city between Durban and Cape Town and is the third largest port in South Africa.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE WESTERN REGION:
Graaf-Reinet: known as the ‘gem of the Karoo’, is well worth a visit not just because of its preservation of the character of a typical 19th century town – it has over 200 buildings claimed as National Monuments, including some of the original slave cottages. Graaff-Reinet is also close to the Valley of Desolation, where some of the most beautiful examples of the unique jointed pillars formed by dolerites, rising to about 120 metres in places, are inspiring.
Grahamstown: Known as the ‘City of Saints’ because of the plethora of churches in the city and inextricably linked with the annual Arts festival, held in the city since 1974, Grahamstown is just off the N2 en route from Port Elizabeth. Marketed as the heart of Frontier Country, Grahamstown has retained the small town Victorian appeal of its founders in the early 1800s.
Port Elizabeth: the ‘friendly eco-city’, is about beach holidays but the centre of Port Elizabeth also has its attractions. Known as the ’10 minute city’ because everything is only 10 minutes away, staying centrally means you are within walking distance of restaurants, shops, St George’s Park, the Opera House, Feather Market Centre and other museums and cultural attractions.
Cape St. Francis: is famous for its old lighthouse at Seal Point and because it is the most southern point in the province. It offers tourists an endless summer, due mostly to its mild temperatures but also to the many water ways that give rise to a never-ending list of water sports and activities that include: surfing, swimming, jet skiing, deep sea fishing, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and yachting.
Stormsriver /Tsitsikamma: Popular with tourists the Storms River/Tsitsikamma area is situated in the heart of the Garden Route and lies between the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the sea. Often described as a beautiful wonderland, visitors are amazed by the site of the rolling seas, sheer cliffs, and forest and fynbos vegetation. The famous indigenous forests of Tsitsikamma are home to the giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees.
WESTERN REGION “MUST SEE” & DO ATTRACTIONS:
Bloukrans River Bridge - Highest Bungi Jump in the World: Bungi jump the highest commercial bungi jump in the world! The Bloukrans Bungi Jump surpasses the position previously held by the Victoria Falls as the ‘highest bungi in the world”. The Bloukrans Bridge is 216 m high; the jump is approximately 160 metres.
TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK:
Tsitsikamma is a Khoisan word meaning, “place of much water”. The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with a spectacular view of the sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain Fynbos and high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea.
WEATHER:
Generally the weather in the Eastern Cape is good to visitors, rarely reaching extremes, except perhaps in the height of the Karoo summer. The changes depend on how much you move across the province’s expanse and in and out of different climatologically zones.
PHOTOS OF THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE:
 GRAHAMSTOWN  PORT ELIZABETH TSITSIKAMMA  CAPE ST FRANCIS |
 GRAAFF REINET  BLOUKRANS RIVER BRIDGE  HOLE IN THE WALL  STORMS RIVIER |
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