The Eastern Cape has rich history with backpacking. Some of the first hostels in South Africa were opened in the Eastern Cape. A little more relaxed than the rest of the country Eastern Cape backpacker hostels promise good service and more importantly a good time. 500km of coastline with pristine beaches and coastal dunes
and a sunny moderate weather in which to enjoy them. Aptly
name the ‘Sunshine Coast’. For a refreshing
diversion from main route travelling in South Africa, head
inland to the interior. It’s filled with undiscovered
jewels and quirkier attractions.
What to see and do
Surfing
“Bruces Beauties” in Cape St. Francis was immortalised
in the cult surf movie “Endless Summer”. Jeffreys
Bay’s Boneyards, Supertubes and Kitchen Window are
all entrenched in surfing lore. East London also has popular
surf spots at Main Beach and Nahoon.
Seaview Lion Park (25km outside PE)
You get to pet lion cubs while they’re still cute
and not too scary.
Addo Elephant Park
Addo has over 450 elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, black
rhino, leopard and
a variety of antelope species. Also look out for meerkats
and dung beetles.
The Owl House
Helen Martins, an outsider in the little town of Nieu Bethesda,
found her joy by taking the mundane and turning it into
art. She used cement, bright paint and crushed glass to
create fantastical figures around her house.
Valley of Desolation
Starkly eroded dolomite pillars found in the Camdeboo National
Park.
Where to stay
Cape
St. Francis
This pretty little village lies at the mouth of the Kromme
River. It is about 10km south of St. Francis Bay. Its impressive
lighthouse was built in 1878. It boasts white sandy beaches
and ideal surfing conditions. In fact, a local wave break
was immortalised and named “Bruce's Beauties”
after is was filmed for the cult surf movie “Endless
Summer”.
Jeffreys
Bay
Jeffreys Bay, or J-Bay as the locals call it, is the centre
of the winter surfing season in South Africa. Boneyards,
Super Tubes, and Kitchen Window are waves that are firmly
entrenched in surfing lore. Super Tubes is the holy grail
for visiting surfers to J-Bay.
Those not in the waves can pleasantly pass time walking
the miles of beach collecting shells and enjoying the balmy
weather - they don't call it the Sunshine Coast for nothing!
J-Bay is laid-back and friendly. There are plenty of other
activities to keep non-surfers and land-lovers amused.
Big brandname surf shops offer great discounts so shop
till you drop, then shop some more (put it on visa - they
don't mind). Before you leave try some of J-Bay's edible
white gold - calamari
Port
Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth, or PE, is known as 'The Friendly City'.
It's population of over a million have good reason to be
happy. They enjoy mild weather and scattered rain throughout
the year.
This, together with 40km of white sandy beach and calm,
warm water make PE ideal for year-long watersports. Wind-surfing,
diving, angling, surfing and sandboarding are popular pastimes.
Humewood and Summerstrand beaches are close to the city
centre.
There is plenty to do in PE. The city is packed with museums,
Victorian mansions, shopping malls and flea markets. Settler's
Park in the city centre and the Oceanarium will bring you
closer to nature. Alternatively, do a morning or night game
drive to the Addo Elephant Park or Shamwari Game Reserve
for a chance to spot the Big 5 in their natural surroundings.
words in collaboration with Ian (PE Backpackers - www.owlhouse.info)
Addo
Area
The Addo Elephant National Park was originally proclaimed
in 1931 when there were only 11 elephants remaining in the
area. Today Addo has over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, black
rhino, leopard, a variety of antelope species. Lions have
also been reintroduced. Addo has a great natural diversity,
with five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones
(biomes). There are plans to expand the park to include
a marine reserve.
Nieu
Bethesda & Graaff-Reinett
Graaff-Reinett
This charming monument town is the 4th oldest in South Africa.
It is totally surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park,
the country's newest.
The starkly eroded dolomite pillars of The Valley of Desolation
and the only tequila distillery outside Mexico are not to
be missed.
Nieu Bethesda has the only backpackers in the area and is
well situated to explore the surrounding Great Karoo.
Nieu Bethesda
Nieu Bethesda is a fertile oasis in the arid Great Karoo.
The late Helen Martins' Owl House, made famous by Athol
Fugard, author of Oscar award winning “Tsotsi”,
is the reason so many people come to this remote village.
The lucid light, gigantic skies, babbling water furrows
and tender pace of life are why so many stay. The turn-off
to Nieu Bethesda is 31km from Graaff-Reinet and 56km from
Middelburg on the N9.
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is Africa’s Festival Capital. The city
hosts the country's largest arts festival every July. It
is also called the City of Saints with more than 40 places
of worship. It is also the home of Rhodes University.
The Camera Obscura in the Observatory uses lenses to project
a panoramic view of town onto a flat surface in a darkened
room.
If you are driving between PE and East London on the R72,
take the short drive from Port Alfred to Grahamstown on
the R67 through the interesting town of Bathurst.
The National Arts Festival is held from 29 June to 8 July.
Visit www.nafest .co.za
Hogsback
The town of Hogsback nestles on the slopes of the Amatola
Mountains and is particularly renowned for its indigenous
forests and its fairytale landscape. Rumour has it that
J.R. Tolkien was inspired in part by the Hogsback when he
created his classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. This wonderland
caters for many outdoor activities from angling to rock
climbing. The magnificent Amatola Mountains and the Hogsback
have this Pan-like ability to lead you astray and lose track
of time as you are lulled by the awe-inspiring beauty and
the whispering cool breezes.
East
London
This laid-back port city is fairer by far than its namesake
in England. It's small, convenient and difficult to get
lost in – follow the beach signs to the Esplanade
and all the attractions can be found there.
Nahoon beach is legendary amongst surfers.
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