Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape Province provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With 800 kilometers of unspoiled and mostly uncrowded coastline to choose from, many of the Eastern Cape's attractions include the sparkling blue ocean. However, this does not mean that the rest of the province does not merit attention. Here you can choose between magnificent indigenous forests, sub-tropical coastal shrub, towering mountains or semi-arid Karoo plains. In fact, the Eastern Cape combines six of the seven different biomes found in the entire country – a privilege which no other province shares.
With this wonderful variety and abundance, the area is able to host a number of top game reserves and nature reserves. The most notable of these is the Addo Elephant National Park where the last vestiges of Eastern Cape Elephant can be found. It is also home to black and white Rhino, Buffalo and many other game species. Other Reserves are Zuurberg National Park, Buffelspruit Game Reserve, Die Berg Nature Reserve, Karoo Nature Reserve (in the Valley of Desolation), Mountain Zebra National Park, the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve and the Tsitsikama National Park. There are also a number of privately owned reserves which offer excellent game viewing experiences and top notch accommodation.
The two largest cities in the region are Port Elizabeth and East London. Both are port cities and offer all the amenities of a large city, but still manage to maintain a holiday resort atmosphere.
The coastal areas between Jeffrey's Bay and Port Alfred are reputed to offer some of the best surfing spots in the world. They feature magnificent waves and swells, which provide the best thrills of this sport. Anglers and divers will also delight at the vast marine resources this Indian Ocean coastline can offer. The coast from East London to Port St Johns offers one of the most unspoiled and remote beaches in the world. The north eastern section of this province offers some of the best trout fishing in the country.
Other cities in the province are Grahamstown, which is steeped in settler history, King Williams Town, Queenstown with its beautiful roses, and Umtata, which was the capital of the old Transkei region.
This province in South Africa offers visitors some of the most unspoiled areas in the country and is rich with history and culture. Why not give it a try and discover the Eastern Cape for yourself?