eastern-cape, accommodations

In a province that was once home to South Africa’s iconic Nelson Mandela, you’ll find sublime Eastern Cape accommodation options nestled between picturesque villages and beautiful natural sites, populated by people who are warm, generous, hospitable and driven. The province offers visitors a range of experiences and sights, from lush wilderness and semi-arid plains to unspoilt beaches and snow covered mountains. Bushveld, wildlife, and the spectacular rural Wild Coast are all ‘must-sees’ when visiting the Eastern Cape.

The most famous city in the province is Port Elizabeth (PE), which forms part of the greater Nelson Mandela Bay metropole. Due to the climate, PE is often referred to as the ‘Windy City’ although, if you ask residents, they will lay claim to the title ‘Friendly City’ instead. The gateway to the Eastern Cape, PE offers fun-in-the-sun and family focused holidays. Interestingly, it is also reputed to have the fourth best climate in the world for a coastal city.

Positioned at the start of the Sunshine Coast tourism route, the metro is surrounded by more than a million hectares of malaria-free game reserves. Apart from the beautiful swimming beaches, the city boasts art galleries, museums and the Bayworld Oceanarium.

The Buffalo City area encompasses East London, the nation’s only river port. It also takes in the Eastern Cape’s capital, Bisho and the historic King William’s Town, as well as Berlin – a town established by German military settlers in the 1800s.

 If you’re interested in staying in the area on holiday, you’ll have no trouble at all finding suitable accommodation. Eastern Cape weather is some of the finest and offers a mild and temperate climate, accompanied by rolling grasslands and hills, unspoiled estuaries, malaria-free game reserves, and a phenomenally beautiful coastline - the region is rich in natural diversity.

Renowned as the region that was the cradle of South Africa’s democracy, the Eastern Cape is the home of educational institutions such as Fort Hare University and Lovedale College, which produced struggle leaders such as former President Nelson Mandela and the late Black Consciousness leader, Steve Biko.

However, it is undoubtedly the natural wonders of this province that hold tourists in awe. From the rough and rugged coastline of the Wild Coast, to the undulating green hills of the interior, the Eastern Cape really is a world in one province.  Discover sights, culture, magic and Eastern Cape accommodation in a setting that is truly magnificent, with a few easy clicks.  

Things to do:

• Both the Addo Elephant National Parkand the Mountain Zebra National Park are amongst South Africa’s great conservation success stories and offer visitors the chance to view these beautiful creatures up close.
• For sublime accommodation, Eastern Cape’s town of Cradock has some quaint and memorable spots which you can use as a base from which to explore. See the historic Olive Schreiner House, the former home of the renowned author of ‘Story of an African Farm’, as well as the Dutch Reformed Church that was built as a replica of London’s famous St Martin’s-in-the-Fields.
• Nelson Mandela’s original home, in his birthplace of Qunu can be seen by those who wish to learn more about the Eastern Cape’s most famous resident.
• Go to Port St Johns for some of the best sights along the Wild Coast - its towering cliffs, where the Umzimvubu River breaks through in its final sweep into the Indian Ocean are awe-inspiring.
• Try your hand at skiing at Southern Africa’s only snow ski resort Tiffindell in the Southern Drakensberg, a place that provides distinguished Eastern Cape accommodation where you can enjoy a unique skiing experience as well as sublime sights. 
• Experience an old style steam train ride on the Apple Express, which winds from Port Elizabeth to Thornhill.
• Eco-tourists take note - Ukhahlamba has a rich fossil record and rock art, as well as wonderful mountain biking, trout fishing and horse trails.
• On South Africa's Otter Trail, you can experience a majestic five-day, 42km hike that winds through the Tsitsikamma Forest and skirts the Garden Route's rugged coastline. It is considered by serious hikers to be the best hiking trail in the country.
• Try one of the world's highest bungee-jumping sites – the Bloukrans River Bridge on the Storms River, where you can experience a dazzling 160 metre freefall.
• View the Hole in the Wall at Coffee Bay, a unique detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by the waves. It is known in Xhosa as "izi Khaleni", meaning "place of thunder".

Top Festivals and Events:

• The large German community in East London holds annual Christmas and Easter markets, where traditional fare is sold and German culture celebrated.
• Every July, Grahamstown hosts the world-renowned National Arts Festival. This is considered the country’s largest and most colourful cultural event that attracts in excess of 50 000 visitors every year. If you are interested in visiting, it is wise to book your Eastern Cape accommodation in advance.
• Jeffrey’s Bay (J-Bay) is one of the country’s top surfing hotspots and July sees the Billabong Pro J-Bay take place. This is one of 11 stops on the ASP World Tour Supertubes, which features the world's top 32 ranked surfers.
• The September Calamari Classic in St Francis Bay has seen golfers and bowlers participating in sports competitions for nearly 15 years. The festival has now grown to include running, swimming, squash and – naturally - a calamari cookout.
• The Liberty Health Baviaanskloof Trail Run is not for the faint of heart. A 50km single day trail run is held in the wilderness area of the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in September. Expect a journey through wilderness populated by both Black Rhino and Cape Buffalo.
• The Fugard Festival, which occurs every September, honours one of the world’s greatest playwrights, Althol Fugard, who grew up in Port Elizabeth.
• The Hogsback Garden Club celebrates spring in October, and visitors can not only see a stunning array of flowers, but they can hike indigenous forest trails and see hidden waterfalls in this town - that was the inspiration for JRR Tolkein’s Middle Earth.
• The Uitenhage Street Carnival delivers two days of art, music, culture, street markets, parades, good food, good company and good times every December.
• The second leg of the IRB Sevens World Series takes place in George in December. The George Sevens features a weekend of international rugby at the intimate Outeniqua Park Stadium. During this time in the Eastern Cape, accommodation spots will be bustling with tourist from all over the country.
• The little town of Nieu-Bethesda celebrates New Year’s Eve with its Lantern Parade, an inspiring community event that provides a symbol of hope and beauty in a parade that crosses cultural and religious barriers in a joyous celebration.

Things you should know:

• The Eastern Cape is South Africa’s second largest province with an area of 170 600km² and is home to some 6 300 000 people.
• More than 80% of the population speak IsiXhosa, while English and Afrikaans are popular languages as well.
• Port Elizabeth Airport is the fourth largest airport in the South African domestic network.
• Access to the Amathole district is served by the East London Airport, as well as the East London river port.
• Visitors can view a variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, in a natural and malaria-free environment which has a varied choice of Eastern Cape accommodation options to suit all travellers. 

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