| The Eastern Cape is South Africa's second | | | | particularly varied and interesting, and thre |
| largest and most diverse province | | | | are so many interpretive tours, museums and |
| | | | monuments, you'll never be bored. Towns that |
| It's a great sun, sand a sea destination with | | | | will particularly appeal to more culturally |
| a coastline that runs from temperate rocky | | | | minded visitors include Graaff-Reinet and |
| shores in the south to sub-tropical beaches | | | | Grahamstown. |
| in the north. There is a beach for every | | | | |
| reason - from highly developed urban | | | | Nieu Bethesda, which is close to |
| playgrounds to wild and untamed stretches of | | | | Graaff-Reinet, is a funky little village that |
| wae-washed sand. It has some of the best | | | | owes its poularity to the existence of the |
| surf in the country - make that some of the | | | | Owl House, which is South Africa's most well |
| best surf in the world. The small towns of | | | | known example of outsider art. Port |
| Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay are renowned | | | | Elizabeth is renowned for its excellent |
| and very popular surf destinations and the | | | | township and cultural tours. The Nelson |
| Wild Coast has some legendary (and mostly | | | | Mandela Museum in Umtata is a loving tribute |
| secret) breaks. | | | | to South Africa's first president. Thre are |
| | | | great tours along the Wild Coast, on which |
| The Eastern Cape is not classic lowveld, | | | | you get to spend time with the local people |
| which is the vegetation type found around the | | | | and see how they live. The Grahamstown |
| Kruger National Park and is most usually | | | | Festival or, more accurately, the National |
| associated with big game. However, this | | | | Festival of the Arts, which showcases a huge |
| province has some awesome safari | | | | variety of South Africa's visual and |
| destinations. The Greater Addo Elephant | | | | performance arts, is held in Grahamstown at |
| National Park, near the town of Addo, | | | | the beginning of July. |
| conserves a staggering diverstiy of plant and | | | | |
| animal life. There are a number of private | | | | There are some excellent golf courses, but |
| game lodges, both in the national park and in | | | | they're not all as conveniently close |
| surrounding private reserves. Best of all - | | | | together as they are, for example, on the |
| it's totally malaria free. South Africa's | | | | Garden Route. Some of the better courses are |
| first and - to date - only serious commercial | | | | to be found in or near Port Elizabeth, Port |
| ski resort is in the high-lying northern part | | | | Alfred, East London and Port Edward. A brand |
| of the Eastern Cape. OK, it's not exactly | | | | new golf course has been built at the rather |
| Chamonix or Aspen - but its is skiing in | | | | interesting town of Alicedale, which is |
| Africa. Snowboarding's big, too. | | | | experiencing a huge economic revival after |
| | | | spending years as a virtual ghost town. |
| The Eastern Cape's cultural heritage is | | | | |