The Wild Coast
Port Edward is the northern gateway to the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape Province - a 280 km stretch of outstandingly beautiful unspoilt coastline. Close to Port Edward is a stunning resort and casino complex, while further south is Port St. Johns, a well-known holiday spot with a nearby nature reserve. The resort of Coffee Bay got its name after coffee beans washed ashore from a shipwreck actually started to grow. About 50 km from here is The Hole in the Wall, a huge, detached cliff with a giant hole carved out by wave action. Nelson Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape in 1918 and retired to Qunu near Umtata. Here the Nelson Mandela Museum houses some of the gifts he received following his release from prison.
Addo Elephant National Park
Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the conservation success story of this park is world famous. Since its proclamation in 1931, the last eleven elephants in that region have bred to number 170. Its 11718 ha also offers sanctuary to the last Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino of the very scarce Kenyan sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung-beetle which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of animals are frequent and an illuminated water hole provides excellent night-time viewing.
The elephants of Addo are however the main draw card for visitors to the park. They are gregarious, living in family groups led by a matriarch or lead cow. Elephant bull have their own social system with a dominant bull who does most of the mating. Addo elephant bulls carry small tusks, and most cows are tusk less - thought to be the result of selective shooting in the nineteenth century. Calves are born after a gestation period of 22 months, and weigh about 120 kg at birth.
Protection of the elephant has resulted in simultaneous protection of an ecosystem which supports a fair number of antelope, numerous reptile, amphibian and insect species and a recorded 170 bird species.
Two walking trails have been laid out in the park, and conducted night drives can be arranged, offering a rare experience of nocturnal life in the bush.
A large water hole near the chalets and cottages enables guests to watch game from the comfort of their verandas. Illuminated at night, it provides exceptional opportunities for game viewing. Accommodation is also available in self- contained rondavels as well as caravan and campsites. Facilities include a swimming pool, an a la carte restaurant and attractive picnic sites.
East London
Located on the Buffalo River, South Africa's only river port is known for its fine beaches which attract swimmers, surfers and anglers. East London Museum houses a superb natural history collection, including an example of a coelacanth - a fish thought long extinct until it was caught off the coast in 1938. The Ann Bryant Art Gallery displays works widely representative of South African artists. Inland is Fort Hare University where several of South Africa's black leaders studied, and the small cathedral city of Grahamstown, where the History Museum depicts the life of the British settlers of 1820. The city is host to the National Arts Festival every July - and also boasts the oldest post box in the country.
The Garden Route
Stretching from Heidelberg in the West to the Tsitsikamma Forest in the East, the Garden Route is a necklace of cliffs, bays, beaches and towns, strung along beautiful coastline. A spectacular 80 km long rocky shore, lush forest flora and a wealth of bird life are some of the attractions while activities include the famous Otter Trail hiking route and an underwater snorkeling trail.
Port Elizabeth
Is the largest coastal city between Durban and Cape Town. With its long, golden beaches safe for swimming, attractions like the Oceanarium, Snake Park and scenic nature trails, it is an ideal family destination. British settlers arrived here in 1820. The Donkin Heritage Trail winds through the city's historical heart, including the Victorian houses in Donkin Street. Take a trip on the Apple Express steam train, with spectacular views of the Storms River from the Van Stadens Bridge. West of Port Elizabeth, heading towards the Garden Route, are the surfing beaches of St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay.
Tsitsikamma National Park
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.
The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep sea fish. Dolphins frolic in the breakers, surfing and playing for the sheer joy of life, and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed. The Tsitsikamma National Park is an 80 kilometer long coastal strip between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River. In the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape. Two long hiking routes with some huts for overnight stays are well established. The popular Otter Trail of 48 km and the Tsitsikamma Trail of 72 km, both offer the well-trained hiker an experience of a unique plant and animal world. Some indigenous Yellowwood trees still exist here, over 800 years old. Besides the diverse bird life, one can also observe smaller mammal species, the cute dassies for example, which often graze near the beach.
Graaff-Reinet
Founded in 1786 and set in the middle of the Karoo Nature Reserve, Graaff-Reinet boasts more national monuments - over 300 - than any other town in South Africa. They range from simple, whitewashed Karoo Cottages to grand Cape Dutch homes and Victorian villas. The Graaff-Reinet Museum is well worth visiting. Nearby is the striking scenery of the Valley of Desolation, with its towering rock columns rising from the valley floor
