Visit the Eastern Cape region of South Africa to experience towering mountain ranges, an abundance of forests, rocky coves, sandy beaches, rolling hills and the some of the best game viewing opportunities available in Africa. Stay in luxury Eastern Cape accommodation wherever you choose to base yourself and explore the myriad attractions of the region.
Start your Eastern Cape journey in the Tsitsikamma, a treasure trove of attractions; this indigenous forest is part of a huge conservation area boasting an incredibly diverse ecosystem. Walk the forest, climb the mountain or follow the water – in spectacular gorges and crystal clear rock pools as it makes its way through kloofs and waterfalls to the river mouth and the sea.
Enjoy a malaria-free African safari in the Eastern Cape, home to some of the country’s leading luxury game reserves. The Big Five are on show here in game reserves such as Shamwari, Addo and Kwandwe; you will see elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo as well as a host of other mammals and predators. Luxury accommodation is available on the game reserves and safaris include game drives, unique bush experiences and fabulous cuisines and wines.
Head to the country’s fifth largest city and capital of the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth if you need some city life after time spent in the bush on safari. Geared up for visitors, Port Elizabeth’s attractions include safe swimming beaches and warm water! The Snake Park, Aquarium and delightful performing wildlife at the Oceanarium are guaranteed to be a hit with both adults and children. Stroll along the beachfront at the end of the day before heading out to dinner at one of the city’s fine dining establishments.
Get into the warm Indian Ocean waters to swim, surf, yacht or ski and the beautiful white sand beaches are the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. The coastal waters are also teeming with life from the abundance of fish to dolphins and even the occasional whale is spotted.
Make a pilgrimage to the Valley of Desolation, set just outside of Graaf-Reinet in the Great Karoo. Here vertical cliffs teeter 120m above the valley floor in a simply awe-inspiring sight. The vast open spaces of the Great Karoo, clear night skies and hospitality on offer in the small towns and villages will leave you wanting to stay longer.
If you travel a few hours up the coast from Port Elizabeth you will reach the laidback city of East London, the only river port in South Africa. Long, white sandy beaches that are a surfer’s paradise appeal to all who love being on the water. It also boasts a natural history museum that is home to the only dodo egg in existence!
Stretching from the lush Tsitsikamma Forests, inland to the Great Karoo, the Bavianskloof Wilderness Area and the southern slopes of the Drakensberg, the Eastern Cape offers you seaside escapes, Big Five encounters on malaria-free game reserves, the chance to discover the history of the frontier and sophisticated city entertainment. Contact Southern Africa Travel today.
The Eastern Cape is best known for:
Malaria-free Game Reserves
Choose a luxury safari experience when visiting the game reserves of the Eastern Cape. Home to the Big Five - elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard – these luxury game reserves offer game drives and unique bush experiences.
Addo Elephant National Park
Visit one of our national treasures, the Addo Elephant National Park to view one of the densest African elephant populations on earth. You can view these magnificent creatures, more than 450 of them, as they roam peacefully in the bush. The Park is also home to other Big Five members as well as the unique flightless dung beetle!
Off the beaten track:
Be entertained at the Grahamstown Arts Festival
This annual arts festival has been running since 1974 and is simply superb entertainment. Performers from all around the country gather to put on plays, exhibit their art and dance and sing their way into your heart. Craft markets abound and thousands of people gather in the small town of Grahamstown to celebrate the phenomenal artistic talent of South Africa.
Visit the Hole in the Wall at Coffee Bay
A bizarre sight, this huge detached cliff in Coffee Bay on the east coast has a giant opening in its centre. Caused by wave erosion over the years, this hole has given rise to many local myths and legends as to its origins. Locals call it the ‘place of thunder’ because during high tide and storms the clap of the waves can be heard for miles around.
Experience the Owl House
If you find yourself in the tiny hamlet of Nieu-Bethesda, make sure to pop into the famous Owl House. The original artist Helen Martins, inspired by the bible, the poetry of Omar Khayyam and the works of William Blake went to town here creating hundreds of sculptures, murals and relief figures of scenes from these books as well as her own fantastical imaginary beings.
