The Eastern Cape Coast has something for everyone, with informal bungalows along the rugged
coastline, sophisticated hotels, nature walks, world-renowned surfing spots and spectacular
beaches.
The city of Port Elizabeth, situated on the shore of Algoa Bay, is both the economic heart and
major tourist centre of the Eastern Cape Coast. It is commonly known as the 'friendly' as well
as the 'windy' city. Port Elizabeth is also known for its wide, open beaches with plenty of
surfing, diving, sailing, angling and other sporting opportunities. But it is the oceanarium,
snake park and Tropical House, and the Apple Express that attract the younger tourists. There
are several game and nature reserves in the vicinity such as the Shamwari Game Reserve and the
Addo Elephant National Park. Don't forget to walk in the steps of the 1820 Settlers on the
Historic Donkin Heritage Trail, and visit No. 7 Castle Hill Museum, the Port Elizabeth Museum
and the flea markets.
Just outside Port Elizabeth in the Swartkops River Valley is the Eastern Cape's oldest town,
Uitenhage. Despite the fact that the town has become an industrial centre of the motor
industry, some of its heritage has been preserved. Features that may be of interest to tourists
include the Uitenhage Cuyler Manor Farm House Museum, the Uitenhage Old Station Museum and the
Uitenhage Drostdy and Volkswagen Museum.
East London is situated at the mouth of the Buffalo River and is South Africa's only major
riverport. It is a city with a small-town atmosphere and endless beaches, including Nahoon and
Kidds Beach. Visitors can enjoy walks and trails, fishing, surfing and sailing as well as
excellent hotels and restaurants. The abundance of nineteenth-century architecture adds charm
to the city as does the South African and international art that can be viewed in many of the
museums and galleries such as the East London Museum and the Ann Bryant Gallery. The various
gardens, including the Queen's Park Botanical Gardens, and nearby game reserves are popular
with nature lovers. The Strelitzia, also known as the crane flower, is indigenous to this area.
Approximately 60km (37.3 miles) inland lies the colonial town of Grahamstown. The rich heritage
and culture of the 1820 Settlers is still evident in the original Settler houses that have been
preserved, as well as in the nineteenth-century Victorian buildings. There are a number of
museums such as the Albany Museum, the 1820 Memorial Museum, the Observatory Museum, the History
Museum and also the JLB Institute of Ichthyology that houses the thought-to-be-extinct
coelacanth. Besides having forty places of worship, Grahamstown is both a leading cultural
and academic centre and home to Rhodes University, one of South Africa's top universities.
Every year, thousands of people travel to Grahamstown for the annual Standard Bank Arts
Festival. Picturesque neighbouring towns include Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea.
Further north, the former mission town of King William's Town is today a bustling town with
many hotels and museums such as the Kaffrarian Museum.
Within an hour and a half's drive of East London is the beautiful town of Hogsback, laden with
walks and trails. Cathcart and Bathurst are also inland towns that cannot be overlooked as they
ooze historical charm.
The Garden Route is a scenically stunning 240km (145 miles) stretch of coastline extending from
the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storms River in the Eastern Cape to Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.
The climate is mild with plenty of sunshine. It rains throughout the year, but mainly at night.
Shrouded in an abundance of flowers and greenery, the Garden Route is a most enticing region of quaint bays, beaches and imposing cliffs as well as waterfalls, rivers,
forests, deep valleys and spectacular mountain passes that extend further inland. Together with
excellent hotels, resorts, caravan parks, camping grounds, marinas and world-class restaurants,
the Garden Route is an excellent attraction for local and international visitors.
The Tsitsikamma area includes Storms River, the Tsitsikamma National Park,
the very popular Otter Trail and Nature's Valley, a small village and reserve surrounded by forest,
lagoon and the sea.
Plettenberg Bay, the fashionable holiday resort of the
Garden Route, includes the Robberg Nature Reserve and Keurbooms River Nature Reserve. Once
described by Portuguese sailors as 'the beautiful bay', Plettenberg Bay is both a nature-lover's
and fun-lover's paradise. It offers a variety of watersports, beaches and scenic walks.
The majestic town of Knysna includes the Knysna Lagoon
with the sandstone Knysna Heads at the entrance to the lagoon, the indigenous Knysna Forest,
Millwood which is the site of South Africa's first gold mine and Ysternek Nature Reserve which
is home to several rare species of flora. Other attractions include Bracken Hill Falls,
Brenton-on-Sea and Noetzie. The Outeniqua Choo-tjoe, a
working freight train, takes passengers on day trips from George to Knysna. The Wilderness area
includes Goukamma Nature Reserve, the Wilderness Nature
Reserve and Sedgefield,which boasts Buffalo Bay, a popular holiday resort. George is a pleasant town at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. The
George Museum, a variety of churches and the Crocodile Park are but a few of the town's
attractions.
Mossel Bay is known for its delicious mussels. Other attractions include the Bartolomeu Dias
Museum, Mossgas, Seal Island, which is home to many kinds of marine animals, the seaside and
the river resorts of Hartenbos, Little Brak River, Great Brak River and the Gourits River.
Other towns of note along the Garden Route include Heidelberg, Abertinia and Stilbaai.
