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Eastern Cape

From lush tropical forests to uninhabited desert expanses, and from easy-going hammock time to adrenaline-pumping adventures, the Eastern Cape offers a wide range of topography and experiences. Compared with the more developed Western Cape, it can feel like a different country and provides opportunities to learn about Xhosa culture. Some of South Africa's finest hiking (and slackpacking) trails wind along the province's largely undeveloped coastline and through its mountainous, waterfall-filled landscapes.

Private wildlife reserves and national and regional parks abound: see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) or migrating whales and dolphins. You’ll find tranquillity and culture in the towns of the semi-arid Karoo; the imposing Drakensberg peaks and little-known valleys in the Highlands; good surfing in the Indian Ocean, coupled with amazing cultural experiences on the Wild Coast; and history throughout, including the legacy of some famous local sons – Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Steve Biko.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Eastern Cape.

  • See

    Garden Route National Park (Tsitsikamma Section)

    Cut through by dark, coffee-coloured churning rivers, deep ravines and dense forests, the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park encompasses 650 sq km between Plettenberg Bay and Humansdorp, as well a Marine Protected Area covering 80km of coastline. Elusive Cape clawless otters, after which the Otter Trail (a multiday hike) is named, inhabit this park; there are also baboons, monkeys, small antelope and furry little dassies. Birdlife is plentiful, including endangered African black oystercatchers.

  • See

    Camdeboo National Park

    Camdeboo National Park covers an area of 194 sq km and almost completely surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet. There are plenty of animals including springboks, buffaloes, Cape mountain zebras and kudus, plus over 220 bird species, but the real draws are the spectacular geological formations and great views overlooking Graaff-Reinet and the plains.

  • See

    Addo Elephant National Park

    Located 70km north of Port Elizabeth, South Africa's third-largest national park protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park, and you’d be unlucky not to see some.

  • See

    Valley of Desolation

    The park’s most popular sight, the Valley of Desolation is a hauntingly beautiful valley with outstanding views – the rugged, piled dolerite columns are set against the backdrop of the endless Karoo plains. From the nearby Toposcope viewpoint, Graaff-Reinet is also visible, nestled in a bend of the Sundays River. The valley viewpoint, 14km from town, can be reached by car on a sealed road. The Crag Lizard Trail, a 1.5km circuit walk along the cliff, starts from the parking area.

  • See

    Nelson Mandela Museum

    Set aside at least two hours for this inspiring museum right in the centre. It offers visitors a fascinating journey through the life of Nelson Mandela. There are four rooms that contain a mix of memorabilia, photographs and panels as well as videos and sound documents.

  • See

    Hluleka Nature Reserve

    Approximately midway between Coffee Bay and Port St Johns, this nature reserve is known for its spectacular coastline of rocky seashores, pristine beaches and lagoons, as well as evergreen forests and grassy hilltops. Burchell’s zebras, blesboks and blue wildebeest have all been introduced, and bird life is abundant. A 47km gravel road leads to the reserve from near Libode on R61. You need a high-clearance vehicle to get there.

  • See

    Mountain Zebra National Park

    This underrated national park, 12km west of Cradock, is on the northern slopes of the Bankberg Range (2000m), covers 280 sq km and has superb views over the Karoo. The park protects one of the rarest animals in the world: the mountain zebra ( Equus zebra). Mountain zebras, of which there are now over 800 in the park, are distinguished from other zebra species by their small stature, reddish-brown nose and dewlap (a loose fold of skin hanging beneath the throat).

  • See

    Schotia Game Reserve

    The smallest (and busiest) private reserve in the Addo area, Schotia is contiguous with Addo (accessed from the N10 south of Paterson). Aiming to evoke the bush before humans arrived, this was the first local reserve to introduce lions that hunt for themselves; their numbers have since been reduced from 18 to three, to give their prey a fighting chance.

  • See

    Silaka Nature Reserve

    This small reserve, 6km south of Port St Johns, is worth a visit if you want to soak up the stunning scenery. It runs from Second Beach past Third Beach to Sugarloaf Rock, near the estuary where the Gxwaleni River flows into the sea. Clawless otters are often seen on the beach, white-breasted cormorants clamber up onto Bird Island, and you might spot vervet monkeys and birds. You can overnight here; well-equipped self-catering chalets (from R550) overlook Third Beach.