Eastern Cape cultural tours
The Eastern Cape is far less visited than many parts of South
Africa, this is a fascinating region of wild, empty beaches, forested
mountains and sun-baked plains of the Karoo.
Port Elizabeth is a major industrial centre, but offers surprisingly
good beaches and acts as a gateway to the Garden Route – the
lush coast stretching towards Cape Town – and the Tsitsikamma
National Park. Jeffrey’s Bay, where the long beach and perfect
waves attract surfers from around the world, is only a short drive
from here. Just west of Port Elizabeth lies the Baviaanskloofberge,
a rugged wilderness area that offers challenging hiking in forested
hills.
Eastern Cape attractions
To the north are a variety of game reserves and national parks,
including Addo Elephant Park, with its extraordinary herds of elephant,
Mountain Zebra Reserve, a haven for the endangered mountain zebra,
and Shamwari Game Reserve, where you can catch a glimpse of the
Big Five. Further inland, you’ll find the mystical landscapes
of the Amatola Mountains and the sharp contrasting Karoo, with its
surreal semi-desert conditions and 19th century towns.
Eastern Cape villages
The eastern region is known as the Transkei, a traditional Xhosa
area with a rugged, virtually deserted coastline called the Wild
Coast. This is far less developed than the rest of South Africa’s
coast – instead of full-blown resorts, there are small seaside
villages backed by protected stretches of coastal forest and windswept
dunes.
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