Lifestyle

Top Spots To Visit In The Eastern Cape

25th August 2020

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Now that inter-provincial travel is allowed, Travel Counsellors is highlighting the Eastern Cape, which is filled with many incredible gems. It is known as the ‘wild’ province and boasts pristine beaches and bush with an abundance of wildlife and forests.

See the ‘Big 5’ at the Addo Elephant National Park, visit the Cambedoo National Park, the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area, the Tsitskamma National Park as well as the many beautiful beaches.

Highlights of the main centres in the Eastern Cape:

Port Elizabeth

Also known as the Friendly City, the Windy City, and PE. Port Elizabeth was founded as a town in 1820 to house British settlers. It is the second-oldest city and the fifth-largest in South Africa. Life in PE mostly revolves around the ocean. The city offers something for everyone.

East London

This city is also known as Buffalo City. It gets its name as it lies between the Nahoon and Buffalo Rivers. It is the only river port in the country. The East London Museum offers some amazing displays, which includes the last known dodo egg in the world.

Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay, or J Bay, is situated in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. It is famous for being one of the best surfing spots in the world. Many of the world’s finest surfers are in the area for the Billabong Pro event annually in July. There is so much more on offer from skydiving, sandboarding, and whale and dolphin watching.

Grahamstown

Grahamstown is about 130km from Port Elizabeth and is home to the oldest independent newspaper in South Africa, Grocott’s Mail. Grahamstown is best known for the annual National Arts Festival which is held in July. This festival is recognised as one of the biggest cultural events in Africa.

Graaff-Reinet

Did you know that this is the only city in South Africa to be surrounded by a national park – the Cambedoo National Park? It was founded in 1786 and has been a traveller’s oasis in South Africa’s semi-arid desert, the Karoo, for more than two centuries. Don’t miss out on seeing the amazing examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

Port Alfred

Port Alfred is a popular holiday spot along the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast. It offers visitors loads of activities and has beautiful beaches, water sports (kitesurfing and water-skiing) and diving among the reefs off the coast. The popular Fish River Sun is a short 20 minutes’ drive from Port Alfred.

Kenton-on-Sea

This little village is a popular holiday spot. Here you will find great beaches, rock pools and protected bays with plenty of opportunities for water sports like fishing and canoeing. Between April to December, it is a great place to do some whale spotting. If you are keen to see some game, it is close to a number of inland game reserves.