Eastern Cape

South_Africa

The Eastern Cape's Wildcoast is a rough piece of nature.

Eastern Cape is in South Africa and stretches along the Indian Ocean between Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The Eastern Cape province includes the former "homelands" of Transkei and Ciskei. With a long coastline on the Indian Ocean it offers great beaches as well as several very interesting National Parks. Its population is mainly Xhosa-speaking and the province is home to several of South Africa`s most important persons in the fight against Apartheid (e.g. Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko and Oliver Tambo). It's still a poor province especially in the former homelands but beautiful and not so touristy.

The Eastern Cape can be divided in the following regions:

  • Bhisho. - The capital of the Eastern Cape
  • Port Elizabeth. - the largest city in the province is connected to the rest of the country by flights, motorways and rail.
  • East London. - the second largest city is accessible by plane, car and train and is the starting point for traveling to the former Transkei and Wild Coast.
  • Grahamstown. - heart of the Settler Country offering traditional atmosphere.
  • Mthatha. (formerly called Umtata) - the main city in the former Transkei.
  • Graaff-Reinet. - the capital of the Karoo desert and a national heritage site.

Bhisho. - The capital of the Eastern Cape

Port Elizabeth. - the largest city in the province is connected to the rest of the country by flights, motorways and rail.

East London. - the second largest city is accessible by plane, car and train and is the starting point for traveling to the former Transkei and [[Wild Coast]].

Grahamstown. - heart of the Settler Country offering traditional atmosphere.

Mthatha. (formerly called Umtata) - the main city in the former Transkei.

Graaff-Reinet. - the capital of the Karoo desert and a national heritage site.

  • Cintsa. - backpackers haven with two famous hostels and a great atmosphere.
  • Hogsback. - high up in the Amathole mountain range, surrounded by indigenous forests with hiking trails and waterfalls.
  • Pearston.
  • Wartrail and New England.

Addo Elephant National Park. At least 400 elephants all sizes, great accommodation, book through parks Board, 30 mins by car from [[Port Elizabeth]]

Cambdeboo National Park.

Mountain Zebra National Park.

Tsitsikamma National Park. (Book through the Parks Board) phone: +27 21 423 8005. Wonderful coastal scenery with great hikes and walks, nice accommodation, between [[Plettenberg Bay]] and [[Humansdorp]] including the famous Otter Trail.

Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve.,

Commando Drift Nature Reserve, 60 km east from Cradock.

Dwesa and Cwebe Nature Reserve, dutywa. Two small reserves separated by the Mbashe River, next to the Indian Ocean near Elliotdale.

  • Kragga Kamma Game Park.
  • Seaview Game & Lion Park, +27 42 378-1702.
  • Schotia Safaris Game Reserve, +27 42 235-1436. Huge stock of game with free roaming lions. One gets the safari feeling here without paying through the nose. Ggame drive, meal and drink R600pp or staying overnight, with evening and morning drive, meals and drinks for R1200pp..
  • Shamwari Game Reserve, +27 42 203-1111. The most well-known and luxurious of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape.

Kragga Kamma Game Park.

Seaview Game & Lion Park, +27 42 378-1702.

Schotia Safaris Game Reserve, +27 42 235-1436. Huge stock of game with free roaming lions. One gets the safari feeling here without paying through the nose. Ggame drive, meal and drink R600pp or staying overnight, with evening and morning drive, meals and drinks for R1200pp..

Shamwari Game Reserve, +27 42 203-1111. The most well-known and luxurious of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape.

Cintsa. - backpackers haven with two famous hostels and a great atmosphere.

Hogsback. - high up in the Amathole mountain range, surrounded by indigenous forests with hiking trails and waterfalls.

Pearston.

Wartrail and New England.

  • Port Elizabeth: the provincial capital and major transportation hub
  • East London: Gateway to the Wild Coast
  • Grahamstown: University town with a colonial English atmosphere
  • Graaff-Reinet: a national heritage site and the classical example of an inland town.
  • Wild Coast: spectacular scenery and only a few tourists make this an out-off-the-beaten track destination
  • Morgan's Bay: Seaside village with magnificent cliffs that plunge into the sea.
  • Kei mouth: Southern gateway to the Wild Coast via one of South Africa's two remain pontoon car ferries.
  • Tsitsikamma National Park: not as spectacular as some of the other National Parks it offers superb coastlines, whale watching and excellent hiking.
  • Addo Elephant National Park: famous for the elephants this park is after the unification with Zuurberg NP one of South Africa`s largest. Also has lion.
  • Mountain Zebra National Park - small, but only very few people there. See the endangered Mountain Zebras.

Tiffendell, southern Drakensberg, +27 45 974-9004. [[South Africa]] is not well known as a [[Alpine skiing|ski]] destination, but if you do find yourself in [[South Africa]] during winter and would like to ski.

  • When in Jeffreys Bay or Paradise Beach, try the beach restaurants near Marina Martinque called Tapas - cheap or the Whale Skipper slightly more expensive. Wherever try the calamari.
  • St Francis - go out to the port and have Cajun Calamari at the Porthole for lunch, sit in the sun, enjoy the food and watch the fishermen at work. What a pleasure