Travel Guide SA - Eastern Cape

The scene of countless years of discord between the indigenous Xhosa people and the Dutch and British interlopers, today offers the South African traveller one of the most diverse and spectacularly beautiful experiences to be found anywhere on this earth.

The Eastern Cape

This east coast paradise, known as Frontier Country, is a meeting place for four major weather systems, hence its incredibly diverse environment. Here the South African traveller is exposed to spectacular mountain ranges, valleys, lush forests, scrub bush and some of the most spectacular and unspoiled beaches you’ll find anywhere.

In Frontier Country the South African traveller will experience untamed Africa at its best and view the 'big five' (seven if you include whales and the Great White Shark) in malaria- and bilharzia-free reserves. One can indulge in fresh and salt water fishing, experience some of the most rewarding bird watching (if you're lucky you'll see indigenous parrots in their natural environment) and see a wide range of plant life including the almost prehistoric cycads in their natural environment. You could also attend one or more of over 400 performances presented annually at the Grahams town Arts Festival, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

TRAVEL SOUTH AFRICA……

South African tourists can explore beautiful towns and villages established by British settlers long years ago as well as old mission stations, schools and the university where Nelson Mandela and other prominent African leaders were educated.

Whether you choose to explore Frontier Country in the saddle (on horseback or mountain bike), by car, coach, river raft or canoe, you will be awed by the sheer raw beauty of its mountains, valleys, plains, rivers and coastline.

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying arts and crafts, sampling a traditional meal, enjoying fine cuisine in a country restaurant, having a pint in a country pub, watching a cricket match on an old village green or visiting a township or historical monument. You will be made to feel welcome because Frontier Country people are known for their hospitality.

So, whether you're in the mood for an informal seaside escape, an encounter with the "Big Five" on safari, or a choice of scintillating city or adventure diversions, you're sure to find what you're looking for in the Eastern Cape, especially along the pristine coast. Alternating between sweeping sandy beaches with picture perfect surfing waves and craggy rock faces holding the wild, crashing surf at bay, the Eastern Cape coastline is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Surfers travel from around the world to catch the perfect ride, anglers reel in king-size catches, and board sailors revel in the challenge of the wind. Year round sunshine, fine leisure resorts and splendid facilities ensure that the great outdoors is always in style for those South African travellers who choose to visit the Eastern Cape.