DESTINATION EASTERN CAPE

Rich in cultural diversity and heritage, the extraordinarily beautiful Eastern Cape offers the tourist superb value in activity and entertainment for a classic holiday.

History and People

The Eastern Cape is the birthplace of the iconic Nelson Mandela, former apartheid political prisoner and first black President of South Africa. The Xhosa-speaking peoples, from whom Mandela is descended, comprise most of the population and inhabit predominantly the pristine, beautiful eastern region called the Transkei. Many yet are seen in their natural habitat living as they did centuries ago in round, thatched dwellings constructed of clay and straw practicing their age-old traditions and customs.

Disrupted by the arrival of the Afrikaners and the British, these peaceful, indigenous people fought over 100 years to preserve a heritage which is still proudly intact. During the twentieth century their suffering continued, but in that time they became part of the backbone upon which the South African nation is built.

Spread across the region, in the cities and on vast areas of farmland, the English and Afrikaans-speaking white population integrate happily with the indigenous Xhosa and descendents of the Coloured/Malay people of the south Western Cape, creating a rich collage of diverse cultures.

Uniqueness in Diversity

The country’s most mountainous and second largest Province justifiably claims the title as the most bio-diverse area in South Africa and one of the most bio-diverse in the world. Five of the country’s seven biomes (bio-geographic areas) are found in the Eastern Cape.

Stunningly different landscapes consisting of semi-desert plains, bushveld, luxuriant forests, snow-capped mountains, perfect beaches and rugged coastline provide an ecstatically awe-inspiring experience.

Host to some of the foremost and finest surfing in the world, the 800km long coastline is the longest in South Africa. The profusion of sumptuous white beaches, wild coast and protected bays is the region’s main tourist attraction and leisure resorts abound along this magnificent stretch of coast. Other

water sports such as angling, diving and sailing thrive in the unique conditions.

The region has several sophisticated and easily navigable coastal towns unique in kind and quality.

Boasting a plethora of basic and luxury accommodation, the historical and picturesque Port Elizabeth, located on Algoa Bay where the 1820 British Settlers alighted, is the largest, offering more sunshine than any other coastal town in the country. Rated as having the fourth best weather of any coastal city in the world this metropolis is the gateway to a tourist mecca of activity and entertainment which includes abundant inland and coastal scenic hiking trails, historic sites, and nature and game reserves of international quality.

This area is home to the internationally renowned Shamwari Game Reserve and Addo Elephant Park, the largest elephant park in Africa. Boasting regular royal visits and Big 5 safari areas, Shamwari distills the total African experience into its exclusive reserve, offering unique safari-based activities to allow for a completely 5-star tailor-made experience. The 164 000 ha Addo Elephant Park is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, a variety of antelope species, Cape buffalo, black rhino and set to expand into a 360 000 ha mega park.

Rich as a diverse eco-tourism destination and South Africa’s only river port, situated at the mouth of the Buffalo River, East London is a stepping stone to three of the Eastern Cape’s tourist destinations.

The Sunshine Coast to the west offers African safaris, adventure travel, rich historical sites, stupendous scenery, some of the finest beaches in the world and game lodges offering Big 5 game viewing in a malaria-free environment.

To the east, with its vast stretches of mangrove forests, caves, bays, shipwrecks, cliffs, lies the world-renowned and remarkable Wild Coast - an awesome coastline that can be traversed, in its entirety, on foot along the acclaimed Wild Coast Hiking Trail. The unique conditions along this pristine coastline invite all forms of fishing, 4x4 adventure, bird watching (320 listed species of bird), snorkelling and scuba diving that frequently yield odd bits of treasure from the many shipwrecks.

It is not surprising that the Amatola Mountain Escape is said to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s best-seller, The Hobbit. One of the finest examples of rare natural beauty, this outstanding mountain range is a haven for tourists wanting to leave the beaten path. The small village of Hogsback is central to this wonderful area of breathtaking hiking trails, ancient San rock art, cascading waterfalls, pools, forests and invigorating pure mountain air in which Nature weaves her powerful therapy on the tired and stressful mind.

Known to the ancient San peoples as ‘the place of sparkling waters’, the magnificent 80-kilometre Tsitsikamma National Park lies along a whale- and dolphin-populated coast at the eastern border of the region. Comprising hiking trails of international repute and indigenous 800-year-old yellow-wood trees,

South Africa’s first National Marine Park offers a unique plant and animal world experience.

On a seemingly endless central plateau in the north, the region’s scenery changes dramatically from abundant luxuriance into majestically still, austere mountain ranges and arid plains. Considered the world’s best stargazing destination in the world, The Karoo Heartland offers the astronomer, rock art lover, mountaineer, hunter, historian, game viewer, ancient fossil collector and bird-watcher an immense and unforgettable experience.

Economy and Industry

A buoyant, modern and export-oriented economy dominates three main sectors comprising manufacturing, agriculture and government services.

The hub of South Africa’s automotive industry, the Eastern Cape is home to several of the world’s biggest motor vehicle manufacturers: Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler. Acknowledging Corporate Social Responsibility in redressing socio-economic imbalances, these companies contribute to the principles of transformation and sustainable development, aligning themselves with the South African Government’s broad-based black economic empowerment, or BBBEE, process. This commitment to social upliftment has greatly benefited the region in the fields of health, environment, arts & culture, job creation, sports development, education, community development and regional heritage.

Abundant fertile land provides fruit, maize, sorghum, chicory, dairy and olive farming.

Squid is the basis of the Province’s lively fishing industry followed by commercial and recreational fishing for line fish.

20 Kilometres east of Port Elizabeth, the deepwater port and industrial development complex, Coega, rapidly gathers investor momentum. Developed on 12 000 hectares of industrial land, it is the largest infrastructure project since 1994 and will showcase the South African Government’s ambition to be a global manufacturing centre. It epitomizes the regions confidence to attract massive investor potential and stimulate an unprecedented cycle of economic growth.

The Eastern Cape will enlighten and entertain, and you are unlikely to find traffic jams or queues in this kaleidoscopic and tranquil region which, with its timeless beauty and scattered, hospitable people, is for many the quintessential Africa.

Published in Sawubona