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.

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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. The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset.
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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.
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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. A day or two at Addo is a highlight of any visit to this part of the Eastern Cape, not only for the elephants but for the lions, zebras, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas and myriad birds. The park is one of few that boasts the ‘Big Seven’, thanks to sightings of great white sharks and southern right whales (in season) in Algoa Bay. Look out, too, for the rare flightless dung beetle, endemic to Addo. There's excellent accommodation inside the park.
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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. Within the reserve there are seven beautiful two-bedroom self-catering chalets (from R530) which overlook the ocean and a small secluded cove with a sandy beach.
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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. Its full-day Addo–Schotia tour (R2500 including lunch, dinner and return transfer from Port Elizabeth) is a good way to see the area; the late-afternoon Schotia tour (R1500) includes a bonfire and dinner in the lapa (South African English for an outdoor entertainment area). Tour operators and accommodation around Addo also offer Schotia excursions. The reserve has various lodges and tented camps, and offers packages including accommodation and several wildlife drives.
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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. The overgrown 2km pathway (wear long trousers) from Second Beach to Third Beach, which is cleaner, quieter and normally untroubled by sharks, leaves from near Lodge on the Beach. Alternatively, follow the hilly road.
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Amakhala Game Reserve
This reserve roughly 70km from PE is well worth a stay: it's beautiful, tranquil and easily accessible, and it supports a large diversity of fauna, including four lions, six cheetahs, a few rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, zebras and plenty of antelope species. The landscape is another highlight, with 75 sq km of rolling hills, bushveld and savannah. There are 11 different accommodation options, ranging from three-star venues to five-star lodges, all in scenic surrounds. Amakhala was created by a group of local landowners, descendants of the 1820 Settlers, who combined their properties. Amakhala also offers conservation activities and volunteering opportunities.
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Dwesa Nature Reserve
One of South Africa's most remote and beautiful reserves, Dwesa Nature Reserve blends lush forests, winding rivers, open grassland and rugged coastline, with walking trails and wildlife including buffaloes, zebras, antelope, warthogs, and crocodiles in the rivers. Some 290 bird species have been identified, including the rare Narina trogon and mangrove kingfisher. Community-run activities include guided nature walks and boat trips over the Mbashe River. There is self-catering accommodation (one-/two-bedroom chalets R320/650) and camping (R240) in Dwesa near the beach, accessed via a 47km gravel road from Willowvale. You need a high-clearance vehicle to get here.
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Donkin Reserve
This pleasant hilltop park is a good place to get your bearings, particularly if you climb to the top of the lighthouse. The pyramid is a memorial to Elizabeth Donkin, wife of Sir Rufane Donkin, governor of the Cape Colony in the 1820s – who named PE after his beloved spouse. A heritage trail leads between the park's monuments and artworks, which narrate important periods of the city's history, and form part of the wider Route 67 trail through the centre. Ask at the tourist office here for more information.