Eastern Cape Travel

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The Eastern Cape, a land of undulating hills, expansive sandy beaches, majestic mountain ranges and emerald green forests, is the second-largest of the nine provinces by surface area. The region boasts a remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the dry, desolate Great Karoo; to the lush forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley; the fertile Langkloof, renowned for its rich apple harvests; and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region at Elliot.

The Eastern Cape’s main feature is its spectacular coastline lapped by the Indian Ocean. With its long stretches of pristine sandy beaches, rocky coves, secluded lagoons and towering cliffs, the coastline provides the province with an unsurpassed natural tourist attraction. The graceful curve of Algoa Bay provides an ideal setting for the port of Port Elizabeth. East London offers equally favourable harbour facilities. The province is serviced by three airports situated in Port Elizabeth, East London and Mthatha.

Province profile

• Grahamstown, the City of the Saints, is a historical, educational and religious centre and venue for the annual National Arts Festival.
• The pachyderms of the Addo Elephant National Park are popular with tourists.
• The Eastern Cape has been selected as the national pilot for the implementation of biofuels, through the mass planting of canola.
• Ostrich exports are flourishing and the provincial Department of Agriculture has been hailed for the support it is giving this industry.
• The province is the hub of South Africa’s automotive industry.
• The Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), 20 km east of the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage metropoles, was the first IDZ to be earmarked, and is one of the biggest initiatives ever undertaken in South Africa.
• The province boasts long stretches of beautiful beaches.

The Eastern Cape has almost seven million people living on 169 580 km2 of land. The majority of the people speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English. The architecture of many of its cities and towns reflects the rich heritage of its people. Important towns in the province include Bhisho, the capital; Uitenhage, which has important motor vehicle-manufacturing and related industries; King William's Town, rich in early settler and military history; Grahamstown, also known as the City of Saints because of its more than 40 churches; Graaff-Reinet, with its interesting collection of historic buildings; Cradock, the hub of the Central Karoo; Stutterheim, the forestry centre of the province; Aliwal North, famous for its hot sulphur springs; and Port St Johns, the largest town on the Wild Coast.

Places to see in South Africa

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