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  INFORMATION:
   PORT ELIZABETH  |  PORT ALFRED  | CRADOCK | GRAHAMSTOWN  | SOMERSET EAST

 
Province: Eastern Cape
Region: Karoo Heartland
Route: Merino Route


MERINO ROUTE - TOWNS- MIDDELBURG, CRADOCK, TO PORT ELIZABETH

Middelburg to Port Elizabeth or Port Alfred The Route is named after the Merino sheep, of great importance to the Karoo.The sheep and wool industry is one of the oldest agricultural industries in South Africa.
One of the sights of the Karoo is large flocks of Merinos grazing in the veld. This route passes through farming areas and ends in Port Elizabeth, or extends from Cradock via Bedford to Grahamstown, the Sunshine Coast and Port Alfred.

The route starts in MIDDELBURG (see under N9 route) and crosses the Great Fish River to reach CRADOCK. main centre of the Karoo Midlands. The town has many attractions, and an interesting history as a frontier post. Charming Karoo architecture includes Die Tuishuise, a street of beautifully restored period cottages used for tourist accommodation.

Olive Schreiner is strongly linked to Cradock and Olive Schreiner House has displays illustrating her life. The Olive Schreiner Grave is at the top of Buffelskop Mountain. The Cradock Spa has warm sulphur springs. Near Cradock is the Mountain Zebra National Park, a beautiful, mountainous reserve for rare zebra, other wildlife and birds. On the road outside Cradock, ingenious wire sculptures are for sale. 

COOKHOUSE, on the main N10 route to Port Elizabeth is 40 km from Somerset East. The town has a cheese factory, a country-style shop and a home industries stall on the railway station. The Slagtersnek Memorial, 8 km south of town, commemorates a farmers' rebellion in 1815 MIDDLETON, 20 km from Cookhouse, just off the main road, is a historic hamlet, below the small Methodist church, a striking landmark at the entrance. The mini- village consists of one street, a hotel, police station, railway line and old station building, conference centre, general dealer's store and caravan park.

THE ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK is 75 km north of Port Elizabeth and can be reached from the N10 route. For further information see under National Parks and Game Reserves. The route ends at the coast at PORT ELIZABETH, the largest city between Cape Town and Durban, with all the facilities of a major centre. It has an interesting history as the landing place of the 1820 British Settlers and has grown to become a city with a pleasant balance of recreational and commercial activities The turquoise waters of Algoa Bay and its magnificent beaches provide a wealth of entertainment and watersport. Excellent sporting facilities include golf courses and bowling greens, and there are numerous parks, reserves, nature walks and hikes in and around the city. The Easter Splash Festival at the beach front draws thousands of visitors.

An alternative route from Cradock through BEDFORD goes to GRAHAMSTOWN, PORT ALFRED and the SUNSHINE COAST, Grahamstown is a small cathedral city, home of Rhodes University and fine schools, museums and churches It has a heritage of 1820 Settler History.In July Grahamstown hosts the Annual Standard Bank National arts Festival, a kaleidoscope of Arts & Culture. In the heart of the Sunshine Coast, Port Alfred is set on the banks of the broad Kowie River. Beaches and watersport give a holiday atmosphere to the town, which has its share of history and heritage. A small craft harbour is linked to an attractive marina .