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Province: Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape, a land of undulating hills, endless sweeps of sandy
beaches, majestic mountain ranges and emerald green forests, is in surface
the second largest of the nine provinces.
The region boasts a remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the dry
desolate Great Karoo to the lush forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma
Valley, the fertile Langkloof, renowned for its rich apple harvests,
and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region at Elliot.
The main feature of the Eastern Cape is its astonishing coastline lapped
by the Indian Ocean. With its long stretches of undisturbed sandy beaches,
rocky coves, secluded lagoons and towering cliffs, the coastline provides
the province with a rich natural tourist attraction.
The graceful curve of Algoa Bay provides an ideal setting for the Port
of Port Elizabeth while there are also good harbour facilities at East
London. The province is serviced by three airports situated at Port
Elizabeth, East London and Umtata.
The architecture of many of the cities and towns reflects the rich heritage
of the people.
The capital is Bisho. Other important towns in the province include
Uitenhage, which has important motor vehicle-manufacturing and related
industries; King William's Town, rich in early settler and military
history; Grahamstown, also known as the City of Saints because of its
more than 40 churches; Graaff-Reinet, with its interesting collection
of historic buildings; Cradock, the hub of the Central Karoo; Stutterheim,
the forestry centre of the province; Aliwal North, famous for its hot
sulphur springs; and Port St Johns, the largest town on the Wild Coast.
In the Eastern Cape, various floral habitats meet. Along the coast,
the northern tropical forests intermingle with the more temperate woods
of the south. This makes for an interesting forest habitat of various
species endemic to this region alone.
Age-old forests occur at Keiskammahoek, Dwesa, Port St Johns and Bathurst;
dune forests are found at Alexandria; and mangroves along the Wild Coast.
Rolling grasslands dominate the eastern interior of the province, while
the western central plateau is savanna bushveld. The northern inland
is home to the aromatic Karoo succulent bush.
The people
With its almost seven million people, the Eastern Cape has the third-largest
provincial population, living on about 169 600 km2 of land.
The language spoken by most is isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English.
The province has five universities, three technikons and 20 technical
colleges. Despite the high quality of educational facilities, 20,9%
of those aged 20 years or older have never received any schooling, while
4,7% have completed some form of higher education.
Agriculture, fishing and forestry
The Eastern Cape has excellent agricultural and forestry potential.
The fertile Langkloof valley in the southwest has enormous deciduous
fruit orchards, while the Karoo interior is an important sheep-farming
area. Angora wool is also produced.
The Alexandria-Grahamstown area produces pineapples, chicory and dairy
products, while coffee and tea are cultivated at Magwa. People in the
former Transkei region are dependent on cattle, maize and sorghum farming.
Extensive exotic forestry plantations in the high rainfall areas of
Keiskammahoek provide employment for large numbers of the population.
The province is a summer-rainfall region with high rainfall along the
coast, but becoming gradually drier behind the mountain ranges into
the Great Karoo.
The Eastern Cape fishing industry generates about R200 million a year.
The basis of the fishing industry is squid, some recreational and commercial
fishing for line fish, some collecting of marine resources, and access
to line catches of hake.
Industry
The metropolitan economies of Port Elizabeth and East London are based
primarily on manufacturing, the most important being motor manufacturing.
The province contributes approximately R30 billion to national GDP and
is widely regarded as having the potential to substantially increase
this contribution as South Africa moves towards an export-led industrial
strategy.
With two harbours and three airports offering direct flights to the
main centres, and an excellent road and rail infrastructure, the province
has been earmarked as a priority for growth and economic development.
To facilitate integrated planning sensitive to the environment, the
province is implementing a consultative process involving community
participation. It includes the Fish River SDI and the Wild Coast SDI,
and two industrial development zones (IDZs), namely the West Bank (East
London) IDZ and the Coega IDZ. The latter, 20 km east of the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage
metropole, was the first IDZ to be earmarked and is one of the biggest
initiatives ever undertaken in South Africa. Plans for the development
of the area as an export-orientated zone include the building of a deepwater
port.
The Eastern Cape offers travellers unrivalled beauty and experiences
beyond their wildest dreams. Below is a list of MUST SEE highlights
and icon sites.
No matter which experience you choose, make sure you get to see the
following:
Nelson Mandela Museum
Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, at the Museum's opening.
The museum was officially opened on the 11th of February 2000, at a
function to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the release from
prison of Mr Mandela in 1990. T
Addo Elephant Park
Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the
conservation success story of this park is world famous.
Valley of Desolation
The Valley of Desolation is the product of volcanic and erosive forces
of nature over 100 million years.Just a few kilometres north-west of
Graaf-Reinet lies the Valley of Desolation. A steep and narrow road
leads into the mountains that surround the valley.
Grahamstown National Arts Festival
Come to Grahamstown and enjoy South Africa's largest Arts Festival.
Africa's largest and most colourful cultural event offers a choice of
the very best of both indigenous and imported talent.
Hole in the wall
Near Coffee Bay is a prominent rock formation with a big hole in the
middle, which has become a symbol for the Xhosa of a great historical
tragedy, the "Great Cattle Killing".
It 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".
Tsitsikamma National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park is also known as "the place of much water".
Where the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky
shores, where temperate high forest and fynbos roll down to the sea
in an unspoilt verdant carpet, where ancient rivers carve their paths
to the ocean down rocky ravines…this, "the place of much water", is
the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Highest Bungee Jump in the world
Bungeeeeeeeeeeee!
Bloukranz adrenalin rush! Throw yourself off the world's biggest bungee
jump located at Bloukrans Bridge on Storms River, in South Africa's
Eastern Cape. A 180m freefall that takes seven seconds traveling at
193kmph - even the rebound is higher than the Victoria Falls.
Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area
The Baviaanskloof or the "Valley of Baboons" is rapidly assuming national
conservation and heritage prominence.The Baviaanskloof is a wilderness
area situated on the eastern border of the Cape Floral Kingdom, some
two and a half hour's drive from Port Elizabeth.
The Owl House
Explore the "Camel Yard" and enter a magical world at the Owl House.
The owl house, in Nieu-Bethesda just outside Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern
Cape, was where Helen Martins, or "Miss Helen" as she was known to the
locals, spent the latter part of her life in the house where she was
born. Regarded as an eccentric and deeply interested in Eastern philosophy,
she lived a hermit-like existence, devoting her life to her beloved
Owl statues, and "the search for light and brightness".
Jeffreys Bay - Supertubes
Experience the perfect wave in J-bay.
Probably South Africa's longest and most consistently good wave. It's
ordained by ocean deities as a mecca for surf and began in the late
60s and early 70s as a hippie hangout from whence came the surf dynasties:
Rip Curl, Billabong, Country Feeling and so forth.
Snow Skiing
Hit the slopes at Tiffendell - the only ski resort in South Africa!
Imagine snow skiing and snow boarding in Africa! Well now you can -
at Tiffendels, the only ski resort in South Africa! Tiffindell ski resort
is situated in the Southern Drakensberg on the slopes of the highest
mountain peak in the Eastern Cape (3001m).The resort was started in
1994 with basic small accommodation, a rough road and few facilities,
offering exciting snow fun in SA.
The Eastern Cape offers 800km of untouched and pristine coastline along
with some of the world's best beaches. Port Elizabeth alone has 40 km
of magnificent beaches and, with its perfect combination of warm water,
calm sea and fair breezes, it is one of the best sailing venues in the
world, and a Mecca for all beach and Watersports enthusiasts.
The Southern Beaches offer safe and sheltered swimming, body surfing,
sunbathing, boardsailing, excellent waves and surfing opportunities
as well as interesting inter-tidal sealife, while the Northern Beaches
offer vast stretches of sand and dunes ideal for long beach walks and
superb angling and swimming opportunities.
The beaches include King's Beach, Humewood Beach, Hobie Beach, Pollock
Beach, Brighton Beach, Bluewater Bay, St George's Strand and Wells Estate.
Humewood Beach is linked to Happy Valley - a walk through garden with
landscaped lawns, lily ponds and trickling fresh-water rivers.
On the south side of the city Schoenmakerskop - a picturesque seaside
village - offers scenic picnic spots, coves, rock pools and holiday
resorts with safe bathing and fishing in tidal pools.
A little further along is Sardinia Bay, a Marine Reserve with miles
of unspoilt coast-line and crystal clear water - excellent for diving,
horse riding and scenic walks and hikes.
The Swartkops River Estuary is a unique Watersports playground - ideal
for power boating, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and angling.
King's Beach, Hobie Beach, Brighton Beach and Wells Estate also offer
other entertainment options for the entire family.
Malaria Free Big 5 Game Viewing
Visitors get up close and personal with some Rhino without the risk
of Malaria.
When coming to Africa many tourists are weary of getting Malaria - and
rightfully so. Now you can rest easy…view the "Big Five" in a malaria
free environment!
The Eastern Cape boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa.
Home to a herd of 300 elephants, the 'Addo Elephant National Park' allows
close quarter viewing.
Whether at the exclusive Shamwari Game Reserve, the large Addo Elephant
Park or the Mountain Zebra National Parks, the East Cape offers unequalled
game viewing in conditions suited to the traveler.
Further north, along the Eastern Cape's east cost, we find the Wild
Coast untamed and beautiful, this is the perfect holiday destination.
Fishing more than anything else, draws holiday-makers to the Wild Coast.
In summer, catches include huge reef fish such as musselcracker. In
autumn, the annual sardine run brings fighting game fish. Totally unspoilt
and uncommercialised, the Wild Coast offers a pleasant climate, mild
seas and family resorts where fresh seafood features on most menus.
Southern right whales and their calves are regularly spotted from the
high dunes, usually between May and November, and common and bottlenose
dolphins are often seen close to shore, providing a wonderful treat
for people who want more from the sea than food. Coffee Bay is easily
accessible from the N2 and is popular among surfers, anglers and shell
collectors. The lagoon offers safe bathing.
REGIONS
THE FRIENDLY ROUTE & SURROUNDS
Towns:
Aliwal North
| Queenstown | Stutterheim
| Elliot | Tarkastad
| Kei Road Cathcart
| Molteno | Burgersdorp
| Rhodes | Lady Grey
| Barkley East | Sterkspruit
| Jamestown | Dordrecht
| Steynsburg | Maclear
| Venterstad | Indwe
AMATOLA MOUNTAIN ESCAPE
Hogsback
| Seymour | Whittlesea
| Keiskammahoek| Alice
|
Fort Beaufort | Bisho
SUNSHINE COAST
Towns
Port Elizabeth |
Addo
| Alexandria |
Kenton-on-sea |
Port Alfred
East London | Gonubi | King Williams Town | Hamburg | Kidds Beach
FRONTIER COUNTRY
Grahamstown | Salem | Riebeeck East | Alicedale | Bathurst | Peddie
Fort Bedford | Adelaide | Bedford
WILD COAST
Coffee Bay
| Chintsa
| Kei
Mouth
| Morgan
bay
| Port
St Johns
| Umtata
| Willowvale | Bizana
|Butterworth | Haga
Haga | Komga
KAROO HEARTLAND
Towns:
Graaff Reinet |
Cradock | Somerset East | Middelburg | Nieu
Bethesda
Pearston| Aberdeen
| Jansenville | Klipplaat
| Cookhouse | Steytlerville
Willowmore
KOUGA REGION
St Francis Bay |
Patensie | Hankey| Jeffreys
Bay| Loerie
TSITSIKAMMA
Kareedouw | Storms
River | Joubertina
Theme Routes
Karoo Heartland Route
Amatola Mountain Escape Route
The Friendly N6 Route
Tsitsikamma Adventure Route
Sunshine Coast and Country Route
Owl Route
Merino Route
Cambedoo
Route
Blue Crane Route
Mountain Zebra/ Wapadsberg Route
Mohair Route
Game and Nature Reserves
Double Drift Game Reserve
Tsolwana Game Reserve
Mpofu Game Reserve
Mkambati Nature Reserve
Hluleka Nature Reserve
Addo Elephant National Park
Kikuyu Lodge
Inkwenkwezi
Mpofu Game Reserve
Lalibela Game Reserve
Shumba Safari Lodge
Kariega Game Reserve
Droekloof Bushcamp
Nyala Valley Game Park
Shamwari Game Reserve
Amakhala Game Reserve
Seaview Game and Lion Park
Schotia Safaris
Timbila Game Reserve
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2010 Accommodation bookings and enquiries
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