Accommodation in Eastern Cape - Eastern Cape Information - Eastern Cape Attractions

Eastern Cape Information - Eastern Cape Attractions

Addo Elephant Park
Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the conservation success story of this park is world famous. Since its proclamation in 1931, the last eleven elephants (55 kbyte file) in that region have bred to number 170. Its 11718 ha also offers sanctuary to the last Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino of the very scarce Kenyan sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung-beetle which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of animals are frequent and an illuminated waterhole provides excellent night-time viewing.

A large waterhole near the chalets and cottages enables guests to watch game from the comfort of their verandas. Illuminated at night, it provides exceptional opportunities for game viewing. Accommodation is also available in self- contained rondavels as well as caravan and campsites. Facilities include a swimming pool, an a la carte restaurant and attractive picnic sites.

Hole in the wall
Near Coffee Bay is a prominent rock formation with a big hole in the middle, which has become a symbol for the Xhosa of a great historical tragedy, the "Great Cattle Killing". It is a unique structure with a huge detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by the waves. The local Xhosa call this place "izi Khaleni", which means "place of thunder". At certain seasons and water conditions (high tide) the waves clap is such a fashion that the concussion can be heard throughout the valley.

Tsitsikamma National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park is an 80 kilometre long coastal strip between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River. In the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape. Two long hiking routes with some huts for overnight stays are well established. The popular Otter Trail of 48 km and the Tsitsikamma Trail of 72 km, both offer the well-trained hiker an experience of a unique plant and animal world. Some indigenous.Yellowwood trees still exist here, over 800 years old. Besides the diverse bird life, one can also observe smaller mammal species, the cute dassies for example, which often graze near the beach.

The Owl House
The owl house, in Nieu-Bethesda just outside Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, was where Helen Martins, or "Miss Helen" as she was known to the locals, spent the latter part of her life in the house where she was born. Regarded as an eccentric and deeply interested in Eastern philosophy, she lived a hermit-like existence, devoting her life to her beloved Owl statues, and "the search for light and brightness".

From the moment you step into the house a 360-degree canvas of colour envelops you, where the walls, ceilings and even the doors are decorated with finely-ground glass of various hues. In the "Camel Yard" at the back of the house, trapped by a stone wall and high chicken-wire, are hundreds of figures, camels and sphinxes, made of cement and glass, all paying homage to the East.

Hogsback
Hogsback is famous for its spectacular waterfalls such as Madonna and Child, Swallowtail and Kettle spout. The village and holiday resort are magnificently sited on the slopes of the Amatole Mountains, overlooking the rivers and fertile plains of the Tyume Valley in a region dominated by three ridges said to resemble the bristles on a hog's back.

There are also large tracts of indigenous forest, where the rich variety of birdlife includes parrot and Loerie. Rivers tumble prettily to the plain, creating a number of small but spectacular waterfalls such as Madonna and Child, Swallowtail and Kettle spout - where the water flows through a natural spout in the rocks and, in windy conditions, arches up in a feathery plume some 9 m high.

Walks and trails range from 3 km to 20 km and some of the routes - which include places of historic and natural interest - are marked with painted hogs. The hiking trail covers a 2 day walk. The locally produced guidebook is an essential investment for visitors, especially those interested in exploring this lovely area on foot. Hogsback is 30 km from Alice, which in turn is 22 km from Fort Beaufort.