Port Elizabeth and East London are the two major cities of the
Eastern Cape and are set in the midst of magnificent white beaches
with some of the best surfing in the world. The surfing mecca of
Jeffrey's Bay is situated within one hours’ travel of Port Elizabeth
together with the highest commercial bridge bungi jump in the world,
off the Bloukrans bridge. The Addo Elephant National Park protects
the last viable elephant population in the Eastern Cape, an hour’s
drive north of Port Elizabeth.
Shamwari Game Reserve is an ideal location to observe the unique fauna
and flora of the region. The Mountain Zebra National Park close to
Cradock protects the largest population of endemic mountain zebra
remaining in the wild in the beautiful Karoo mountain habitat of the park.
East London is South Africa's only river port and is the main centre
in what is known as Settler Country. The Border region of East London
was the centre of conflict two centuries ago between the Xhosa people
moving slowly south and east and the Dutch and British settlers expanding
north and west into the vast interior. Many a bloody battle was fought in
the green hills that surround East London. This area is today the home of
the Xhosa people and their homesteads dot the grassy hills of this area from
the sea to the southern Drakensberg Mountains.
Rugged mountains, magnificent coastlines, a varied population and diversity
of languages and cultures are the fabric of the Eastern Cape. It is an area
of South Africa that has seen little tourism thus far but it is an area of
stunning beauty and interest and well worth a visit.
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