Wild Mountain Country

Nestled in the tranquil valleys of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg, the remote mountain farms of Wartrail and New England provide the perfect antidote to the stresses of city life. Also known as ‘Wild Mountain Country’ this area offers a safe and relaxing escape in a pristine natural environment, far away from the madding crowds.

All types of farmstay accommodation are available, from camping and self-catering cottages to en-suite fully-catered guest farms. Each establishment is unique and meals range from simple fare to delicious farm style extravaganzas. Enjoy personal attention from your hosts, many of whom are descendants of the early settlers to the area. They have many wonderful stories to tell about the area’s rich history and culture …

Wild Mountain Country

Clean and invigorating is the best way to describe the climate in Wild Mountain Country and four well-marked seasons occur. In summer the days are typically hot and sunny, with regular late afternoon thunderstorms to clear the air ready for the next day. Autumn is a time to enjoy magnificent mountain colours, with the grasses and trees decorated in splendid shades of golds and reds. The days are pleasantly warm and sunny – ideal for outdoor activities.

Winter brings snow and visitors flock to nearby Tiffindell to enjoy the unique opportunity to ski in South Africa. The area is stunningly beautiful at this time of year and what could out a better smile on your face than watching your child build their very first snowman. In spring the mountains bloom with fresh green grass and wild flowers. Birding at this time of year is exceptional and the farmlands are bursting with new life in the form of lambs and calves.

Whether you want to unwind in peace, or fill your family’s lungs with fresh mountain air, Wartrail has something for every outdoor enthusiast:

1.  Take a Walk on the Wild Side
The peaks of the Wartrail area soar up to 2,800 metres and you can hike to your heart’s content in total wilderness. A new 5 day slackpacking trail, ‘The Wartrail Skywalk’, has now been introduced taking in bushman paintings, caves, rock-formations and wonderful birdlife along the way. The trail is guided by local farmers who can entertain you with local legends, show you the most secret places and will spoil you rotten with wonderful food and hospitality at the end of each day’s hike.

Families and those who simply want to relax may prefer to meander along the many trout-filled rivers, stopping to bathe in rock pools and natural mountain ‘jacuzzis’.

2. Go on the Piste
Tiffindell Ski Resort is nestled at the base of the Cape’s highest peak – Ben McDhui (3,001 metres). Here you can experience skiing or snowboarding on real snow between May and August. The region’s natural snowfalls are supplemented with snow-making machines, to give good conditions for the whole winter. Lessons, clothing and equipment are available, so there’s no excuse not to try this exhilarating sport for the first time.

3. Get Bubbly in a Mountain Jacuzzi
The area’s rivers bubble and wind their way down from the high mountain peaks. Ideal for family walks, you can enjoy swimming in natural pools and discovering waterfalls. To feel revitalised and invigorated, nothing beats a soak in a natural mountain ‘jacuzzi’. In a total mountain wilderness, with no other people around for miles, you can even get right back to nature and skinny dip if the mood takes you!

4. Try Mountain-Climbing on Horseback
If hiking the peaks sounds like too much hard work, then why not let four legs take the strain? Well schooled and sure-footed horses are available for all levels of rider to explore the mountains from the saddle.

5.  Watch the Birdie!
Birding in this area of the Southern Drakensberg is superb with over 230 species recorded. Watching the large raptors of the area (e.g. Black Eagle, Bearded Vulture) soar over the cliffs in search for food is an incredible sight. The keen ‘twitcher’ will enjoy seeking out and ticking off several rare specimens endemic to the area.

6.  Drive the Highest Pass in South Africa
The area is outstanding for the 4×4 enthusiast and there are suitable trails for all levels of driver. Nearby Naude’s Nek is the highest pass in South Africa and provides challenging driving and stunning views. Other great trails include Joubert’s Pass (the 3rd highest pass in South Africa) and Lundean’s Nek which takes you through the former Transkei to the Lesotho Telebridge Border post.

7. Catch your own Breakfast
The surrounding area has over 200kms of rivers filled with wild trout – a fly-fisherman’s paradise. Why not bring your rod and try to catch breakfast for the family.

8. Learn about San Rock Art
There are many unique and interesting Rock Art sites in the region. We have a local qualified archaeologist who conducts tours and can explain the symbolism of the paintings.

9. Put the Mountain into Mountain Biking
Mountain bike tracks abound in this farming district. Bring your own bikes and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings while cycling at your own pace. Guided tours can also be arranged throughout the surrounding areas. Your guide selects the route according to the clients’ fitness levels and technical riding skills. These tours are suitable for the leisurely family picnic mountain bikers to the adrenaline downhill junkies.

10.  Get Down on the Farm
Most of the accommodation in the area is based on working farms. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn to milk a cow, feed baby lambs or take part in a cattle drive on horseback, this is your opportunity.

11.  Ride High
Guided motorbike and quad tours at high altitude are available for all levels of rider. Enjoy the stunning scenery and test your technical ability.

12. Go Up The Creek with a Paddle
Jump into a two-man inflatable raft and enjoy a relaxing guided paddle down the scenic River Kraai. Rafting trips vary in length according to your needs and the river flow. You will travel through beautiful sandstone gorges, draped with willow trees and will have the opportunity to stop and admire the bird life, caves and bushman paintings.

13.  Do It All!
Wild Mountain Adventures offers a 5 day activity holiday which takes the slackpacking concept to a whole new level as you can experience a different mode of transport each day – hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and finally river rafting on the Kraai. This unique trail includes an optional overnight camp in a cave, visiting rock art sites, staying in farm cottages, rock pool swimming and plenty of bird watching opportunities. Each trip is tailored according to the interests, fitness levels and experience of the group so is suitable for all ages.

Further information regarding Wild Mountain Country can be obtained from www.wildmountainadventures.co.za or www.wartrail.co.za or call Kate Nelson on 045 971 9064

Addo Elephant Photographs – Click on the images to view the enlarged versions:

Useful Links:
Addo Elephant Park
Addo Elephant Park Lodges
South African Wildlife
South Africa Game Reserves

How I got there is another story, but I happened to ‘gatecrash’ Shamwari, in a way. We stumbled off an overnight train from Johannesburg, to find ourselves awaited by a 4×4 vehicle and escourted onto the Shamwari grounds …

I wasn’t officially supposed to be on the trip. I had come as my sister’s ‘companion’, for at the time she was a little short of choices and I was only too happy to oblige. So I had none of the finesse or sense of detachment that people who have every right to be somewhere manage to don with little effort. Mine was the mouth that gaped at the beauty of the place and oohed at the food and lay on the lawn looking up at the brilliance of the blue sky, wondering what on earth I’d done to deserve the visit.

Perhaps it helps to put Shamwari in context. It lies almost in the crook of the Addo Elephant National Park in the Sunday’s River Valley near Port Elizabeth. Shamwari is popular not only because it is easily reachable from Port Elizabeth and because it lies in a malari free zone of the beautiful Eastern Cape, but also because it provides an element of luxury that is a throwback to an era that is long gone.

The Shamwari reserve is 25 000 hectares that, because of where it lies, boasts five eco-systems that support an incredible array of very spottable game (you don’t have to go to extraordinary lengths to see them). The game reserve is also amongs the Top 100 World’s Best Hotels, was voted Africa’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve for the 11th year running in 2008, and Eagles Crag Lodge, one of the choices of accomodation, has earned a Green Leaf Environmental Standard.

The restored Edwardian Manor is Long Lee Manor, the first building or lodge you encounter after having entered at the gate to Shamwari Game Reserve. It’s also the largest of the seven lodges (there is now also a Shamwari Townhouse on the beachfront at Port Elizabeth, I believe) at Shamwari and it lies on a hill that overlooks expansive savannah plains where wildlife simply grazes – it’s another world entirely, and perhaps more so because one isn’t expecting it so close to civilisation.

Plyed with refreshing drinks and sandwiches in style we then hopped into a game vehicle and zooted off around the reserve to discover white rhino, bathing hippos, giraffe, antelope and even lion (you can see all Big 5 at Shamwari). Just a little aside, to give you a few more tasty morsels with which to convince friends or family that Shamwari is worth forking out for, the British TV series, Safari School, was filmed here – it aired in September 2008 on Animal Planet.

There are a great many Eland Antelope at Shamwari, and we saw a lot of them. The ranger entertained us to a few facts about this, the largest African bovid. Interestingly, it is also the slowest, which might explain why we saw one that had recently been killed by a lion. It can only run at 25mph, but it can also jump a surprising 10 feet from standing (it doesn’t even have to get a running start!). Another interesting fact about these buck is that their knees give off a sharp clicking noise when they walk. No-one is entirely sure why, but scientists think that it might be a form of communication.

We suddenly got a call (well, as much of a call as a ranger can get on a jeep) that lions had been spotted close by. We started up again from our entertaining conversation about Eland, and set off in the jeep only to spot two female lions lazing ahead of us on the plains. Through binoculars, it was obvious that they are covered in blood and must have just made a kill. It’s not always this obvious that a lion has just fed. Sometimes one needs to look at the size of their bellies or even their faeces to make certain.

Lunch followed shortly afterwards and with bodies that would much rather have had a snooze, some of us couldn’t refuse the offer to do a whirlwind tour of the other accommodation venues at Shamwari.

Riverdene Lodge is more of a family-friendly affair that overlooks Bushmans River and is quite beautiful, whilst Bayethe Tented Camp is just gorgeous, with tented accommodation, private decks and plunge pools with hammocks that overlook the bush – you’ll think you’ve died and landed in bush heaven. Eagles Crag, our last port of call, is definitely the most exclusive of the lodges. The focus is undeniably on luxury, and the rooms lie nestled below a dramatic cliff, which gives it a unique feel.

Whilst fleeting, I was impressed by Shamwari. Our night at Shamwari Private Game Reserve passed far too quickly, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone staying around Port Elizabeth and after a few night of luxury in the bush.

Useful Links:
Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape Game Reserves
Things to Do in Eastern Cape

This is your chance to get away from it all in a pristine mountain environment. No work, no cellphones, no traffic. Just clean air, great food and the chance to have an adventure you will never forget …

Arrival Day:
‘Base Camp’ for Wild Mountain Adventures is the beautifully preserved Victorian farmhouse, Rosstrevor and on arrival you will be warmly greeted by your guides and hosts for the trail Kate and Phil. I should also mention the enthusiastic welcome you will be given by Tinker the loving collie cross who has learned to herd people rather than sheep and prides herself in her role as lead guide and Head of Customer Hospitality!

After a chance to refresh and relax dinner is served in The Old Dairy Restaurant which is housed in a wonderful 1890s sandstone barn recently converted using natural materials found on the farm. A word of warning about Phil’s cooking: the food is delicious and the portion sizes are hearty, so don’t arrive expecting to lose weight on this adventure holiday! The good news is that throughout the trail all luggage is transported by the back up team, so you only need to carry your day bags, a camera and a sense of adventure After dinner there is a full briefing on the days to follow and a chance to get to know your guides over a relaxing drink in the bar.

Day One – Mountain Biking to Avoca
After a farmhouse breakfast the adventure begins with a mountain bike route to Avoca Cottage, home for the second night. The trail can be adjusted to accommodate varying levels of fitness and cycling experience. Entry level mountain bikes are provided for those wanting to gently pedal the quiet gravel roads whilst adrenaline junkies can bring their own bikes and ‘put the mountain into mountain biking’ by testing their skills on single track farm paths and rocky descents. A picnic lunch is provided at a riverside swimming spot, giving the chance for everyone to cool off in a natural mountain ‘jacuzzi’ that will leave you feeling clean and invigorated. Dinner will be served at Avoca and there is ample time to relax and enjoy the views of Snowdon peak – tomorrow’s hiking destination.

Day Two – Hiking to Snowdown Falls
The hike to Snowdon follows a trail through an exquisitely beautiful valley, with towering mountains on all sides. First impressions are of the quiet, until your ears adapt their volume controls to the peaceful surroundings; then you realise that there is the constant music of birdsong and bubbling streams to accompany the rhythm of your steady footsteps. This ‘walk on the wild side’ follows the meandering route of the river till you reach Snowdon Falls that plummet down from the craggy peaks above. If the high altitude hike doesn’t take your breath away, then the views will. A well-deserved swim in the pools below the falls precedes a picnic lunch and the downstream journey back to Rosstrevor where your luggage has arrived as if by magic!

Day Three – Horse Riding
After a day cycling and a day hiking it’s time to rest those legs and be introduced to some lovely  horses who will willingly do the climbing for you. All of the horses are born and bred in these mountains so are surefooted and know the terrain like the back of their hoof. Kate and Phil will match riders to the most suitable mount and help novice riders with some basic instruction. The trail is adjusted according to the group’s level of experience, but includes gorgeous views, river crossings, and for the more experienced riders the opportunity to pick up the pace and enjoy a faster canter through the farmlands. Lunch is served by the river with plenty of time to relax and swim whilst horses and riders can enjoy a snooze in a huge shady sandstone cave.

Day Four – Mountain Biking and River Rafting
An early start is needed for the busiest day of the trail as boats, bikes and camping gear are loaded in readiness for a big adventure. Thank heavens Phil and Kate take most of the climbing out of the mountain biking by driving everyone to the picturesque Wartrail district. At this point the cyclists are dropped off to enjoy a twisting descent with dramatic views down to the historic Jochim river famed for cattle raiding skirmishes between the Basothos and Xhosas. At Mosheshesford three small spruits convene to form the source of the Kraai River, itself a mountain tributary of the mighty Orange.

This is our launching point for the river rafting trip and you can enjoy a relaxing lunch break whilst the back up crew gets busy unpacking the two man inflatable rafts. After a briefing and steering lesson we get paddling. The Kraai is a beautifully scenic river that flows gently through sandstone gorges The banks are draped with emerald willow branches weighed down with weaver nests that bob in the breeze. There are no hectic sections of white water, so don’t book expecting the Zambezei, but there are a few small rapids to keep everyone awake and having fun. By late afternoon we arrive at our overnight camp – a huge sandstone Halkrans next to the river. Tents are optional, but most choose to sleep around the camp fire whilst sheltered by the cave. After a hearty bush-braai, a few tots of OBS and maybe a ghost story or two, it’s time to lie back and enjoy the stars overhead.

Day Five – River Rafting and Hiking to Rock Art Cave
The dawn morning chorus stirs camp awake and after breakfast the rafts are back on the Kraai. After an hour’s paddling we pull the boats out and take a hike to an incredible San rock art site that has over 95 paintings in pristine condition. Back on the river we enjoy a few more small rapids including ‘Kate’s Corner’ and ‘Phil’s Flip’. The section before our lunch stop has outstanding birding including a Black Eagle nesting site. Returning back to Rosstrevor, a late afternoon sundowner on the rocky outcrops above the farm provides a fitting end to a true Wild Mountain Adventure.

View photographs of previous High 5 Adventure Trail Trips:

What is the deal?
• 5 day activity holiday in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg
• Hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and river rafting
• Beautiful scenery includes mountain peaks, river gorges, waterfalls, sandstone formations and caves
• Fully catered and all equipment/guiding included
• Overnight accommodation in tranquil Guest Farm B&Bs

Where is it?
• Between Barkly East and Rhodes, Eastern Cape

When is the best time to do it?
• Set departure dates for 2009/2010 summer season are:
- 29th November
- 17th January
- 14th March
• For larger groups (6-8) we can arrange a private trail any time between mid-November and mid-April.

What do we need to bring?
• Outdoor clothing, cameras, daybag. Discount available for those bringing their own mountain bikes.

Any Limitations?
• Minimum group 4 persons (but we may be able to put together singles to make up larger group)
• Maximum group 8 persons
• Max Weight 120 kgs
• No pregnant mothers
• Aged 12 to 70 years
• Booking essential

What is provided?
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Comfortable farmstay accommodation (approx 3 Star)
• Guiding and landowner fees
• All equipment (discounts available for those bringing their own MTB)
• Transportation of luggage between overnight stops

Who to Contact?
• Contact Kate on +27 (0)45 971-9064

Mountain Biking

If you are after the unusual; that exciting experience that will get the blood pumping and the exhilaration bubbling up to behind the teeth. If it’s adventure with a capital ‘A’ that takes you out in any weather on any terrain, then the Eastern Cape of South Africa is a good place to begin.

You won’t struggle to find adventure in the country’s second largest province. The Eastern Cape is one of the country’s most diverse and interesting provinces to visit – from the magnificence of the rural Wild Coast, the semi-arid plains of the Karoo, the Sunshine Coast’s effortless hours of sunshine and pearly beaches, to Big 7 game viewing or bungee jumping off one of the highest jumps in the world, there is little that will not meet your expectations …

Even the food is an adventure of sorts, if you have not yet sunk your teeth into lamb bredie, samp and beans, biltong, springbok carpaccio or braaied seafood, and, whilst going to the beach is why most visitors head to the Eastern Cape, those intent on sand boarding, diving, hiking, skydiving, river expeditions, helicopter flips, horse trails and walking the paths of the strandlopers have come to the right province.

Elephant Bacl Safari

On the backs of elephants
The Addo Elephant Park, one of the province’s main attractions, becomes a whole new ball game when done on the back of an elephant. Get into the swing of the bush on the back of a swaying elephant just outside Port Elizabeth. A couple of tour operators offer this awesome commune with these large, intelligent giants.

Check out South Africa Elephant-Back Safaris for general info, see here for actual options available or see Addo Elephant Safari Lodge for a 5* Elephant Back Safari experience.

Free falling in Grahamstown
If skydiving is your thing, then tandem skydiving with a 35 second free-fall before your parachute opens is your kind of thing. What’s more, you don’t need any experience for these nail biting tandem thrills. And the breathtaking views from 10 000 feet up are supposed to be unspeakable. Skydiving is about as thrilling as it gets. Attached to a tandem master, the fear of going it alone is lost and one can give oneself over to the joy of leaping into the sky.

Contact EP Skydivers (the Eastern Province Skydivers Club) on +27 (0)82 800-9263

Learn to Surf

Sandboarding in Jeffreys Bay or East London
In many ways like snowboarding or even skate boarding (without the wheels), sandboarding involves balancing with two feet on a rather thin board whilst sliding down a sand dune. One can build up to unbelievable speeds once you’ve been doing this for a while, so it’s understandable that sandboarding has made its way onto the list of things to do for adrenaline junkies.

The good news, for those unsure about trying sandboarding, is that if you can stand, you can sandboard. More and more places with access to vertical dunes are offering sandboarding, although East London’s Bonza Bay and Jeffrey’s Bay definitely offer this fun activity.

Contact Jay Bay Sandboarding on +27 (0)42 296-2974
or SugarShack Backpackers, East London on +27 (0)43 722-8240

4x4 the Drakensberg

Walk the Woody Cape Hiking Trail
That no-one under 16 should attempt this hiking trail should give you an indication of the level of fitness required to conquer the hike through the largest active coastal dunefields in the southern hemisphere – the Alexandria Dune Field.

The hike meanders through the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, now combined with the Addo Elephant Game Reserve. Whilst the two-day hike isn’t difficult, it does demand a high level of fitness, particularly as in the heat of summer it can get darned hot.

Contact the Matyholweni Rest Camp for bookings on +27 (0)42 233-8621

Hogsback Trail
Whilst on the subject of demanding trails, the incredible views of the Hogsback Mountains overlooking the indigenous forest below makes this trail more than worth the effort and level of fitness required to complete it. Hogsback is a magical world of mountains and forests in an area dominated by three ridges that look like the bristles on a hog’s back.

Find out more about Hogsback – where to stay, what to do, events, etc.

Try Quad-biking

Kayaking on the Kromme River
Kayaking trips on some of the local estuaries, like the Kromme River in Cape St Francis or the Kowie River in Port Alfred is another way to experience exhilaration of a slightly more sedate kind, although you need to be reasonably fit to tackle a trip out to sea to swim amongst dolphins and whales. Kayaking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and a wonderful way to experience and explore rivers. Certainly you get the unspoilt version of the rivers in this way.

Contact Kromme River Expeditions on +27 (0)84 506-6396

Skiing at Tiffindell

Snow skiing at Tiffindell
From sandboarding to snow boarding, all within one province sounds pretty idyllic, and it’s also do-able. The snow park at Tiffindell offers snow for about three months of the year. Tiffindell lies in the southern Drakensberg on the slopes of Ben Mc Dhui, the highest mountain peak in the Cape.

Of course the resort does enlist the help of some particularly good snowmaking systems, and you cannot compare this to the peaks of Europe, but for a country known for its sunny skies and hot climate, Tiffendell is a welcome surprise and offers a workout nonetheless with bum boarding, skiing, snow boarding and even mountain boarding, horse riding, fly fishing and 4×4 trails in summer.

Find out more about Tiffindell Ski Resort

Useful Links:
For more extreme adventure options (and the less extreme)  see the following:
Extreme Sports in the Eastern Cape
Sports & Leisure in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape Hiking Trails

If the above options are too extreme or “not your thing”, see Things to Do in the Eastern Cape where you will find many options ranging from water sports (learn to surf, canoeing etc), hiking trails, horse riding, cruises, scenic flights … and plenty more options to keep you you busy for days on end … Enjoy! And don’t forget, book your accommodation in the Eastern Cape via SA-Venues.com – No commissions, no service fees, nudda – you Deal Direct and Save!

Elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park – Photograph Courtesy of South African Tourism.

Oliver Foundation

The Oliver Foundation has a mission. To work with local communities to help build a sustainable future for people and the environment. The UK-based organisation made a commitment in 2007 to focus its support in the Eastern Cape. It works predominantly in rural areas, bringing about change by developing and supporting programmes that have a social, environmental, educational and economic impact on those it effects.

And with good reason. Over seven million South Africans live in dire circumstances,  surviving on less than R5 a day. 26% of the country’s poverty stricken households are based in the Eastern Cape. As a result of a lack of proper education, unemployment rates are believed to be as high as 70% …

The Oliver Foundation supports projects that create opportunities for disadvantaged, vulnerable young people who need empowerment and the tools to help them reach their potential. These programmes don’t just focus on education and empowerment, but also instil a sense of pride and respect in the individuals involved, so that they build self confidence and a sense of responsibility.

Oliver Foundation

The programmes supported by the Oliver Foundation are thus not only community based but developed in consultation with locals so that mutual goals in the area are taken into account. Very often the foundation is the link between small organisations who need support – funds, good business practices, accountability etc. – and the business community with the means to supply this.

An example of the kind of work the Oliver Foundation does is their Kids to School project, which raises funds to send those children who can’t afford the school fees or uniforms to school. Many children’s parents, or as is often the case their grandparents, cannot pay the fees, meaning that children often do not go to school at all. In 2007 alone, the foundation sent 61 children from the townships to school, with a uniform a ruck sack and stationery.

To find out more about The Oliver Foundation visit:
Website at http://www.theoliverfoundation.com/ or
Donate to this cause at http://www.justgiving.com/oliverfoundation/donate/ (via Just Giving).

Useful Links:
Eastern Cape Attractions
Eastern Cape Things to Do
Eastern Cape Accommodation

Keiskamma River Mouth in Hamburg, Eastern Cape - By and © Lauren Goulding (South Africa)

Mazeppa Bay, Transkei, Wild Coast – Submitted by and © Lauren Goulding (South Africa).

Quatermain's Camp

Now this is a stay with a difference. Whilst many establishments might promise a similar experience to Quatermain’s Camp, seldom is it that a venue, particularly game reserves where five star luxury has practically lost its allure it’s so commonplace, really delivers beyond expectation. But by all accounts, Quatermain’s Camp in the Amakhala Game Reserve, just 45 minutes from Port Elizabeth yet in a part of the country that is truly remote, does just that.

Riaan and Julie have wowed their visitors with a campsite that manages to combine the simplicity of a bygone era – 1920s authentic expedition style – with a true ‘big 5′ bush experience in a natural, unpretentious way that still manages to dish up the delicacies and creature comforts whilst remaining enveloped by, and in awe of, the natural world.

“Thank you both for a wonderful stay. It is marvellous to see people with a dream making it a reality. The camp design is fantastic and the tents are great fun. We feel very lucky to have been able to have seen so much in such a short time – especially the “romantic” lions and the brown hyena.” – Cindy de Villiers, Wellington

Game Drive

A stay at Quartermain’s Camp manages to capture, probably due to the unchecked energy and passion of its owners who are both experienced rangers, a sense of wonder of the wildlife that surrounds you. Not only are you virtually assured of seeing elephant, white and black rhino, leopard, buffalo and lion, hyena, cheetah, zebra and giraffe, but you will also be delighted with smaller – though no less important – creatures, birds and plants.

Twice daily game drives, big 5 walks where one’s insignificance in the face of the African bush is really experienced, guided bush walks in the ’soft game’ area around the camp, and birding safaris with Riaan, who is also a specialist bird guide, all combine to bring you closer to nature. And in reaching out to nature, one can only reach into one’s self as well.

For additional information see:

• Quatermain’s Camp
• Guest Reviews & Comments
• Rates & Bookings
• Amakhala Game Reserve

Addo Elephant Park

For hundreds of years, the Eastern Cape has been the ancestral stronghold of the Xhosa people and while in many ways it has become westernised, remnants of this tribal history remain in the people and some of the unspoilt areas of the province.

On entering the Eastern Cape on the N2 highway one crosses the Bloukrans Bridge, the boundary between the Eastern and Western Cape. The very first attraction one is greeted with is the world’s highest commercial bungee jump, at 216 meters. This is a good indication of what is to come.

The Eastern Cape is an exhilarating experience for visitors from the bustling port cities of Port Elizabeth and East London with the blue flag beaches of the Eastern Cape such as Kings Beach, to the rural tranquility of the Transkei. Despite the cosmopolitan feeling in some of the urban centres, there is always an element of the untamed, just below the surface.

Luckily accessing it is easy, with excellent game reserves like the Addo Elephant Park within easy driving distance of Port Elizabeth. This 360 000 ha park contains five of the seven natural biomes in South Africa and is home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world.

Also close to Port Elizabeth lies the town of Jeffreys Bay. For most of the year it is a sleepy seaside village but in the spring it erupts into a frenzy of extreme sports, playing host to the international Billabong Surf competition and offering some of the best waves in the country for surfers.

Wild Coast

East London, while a smaller city, is well equipped for travelers with a host of accommodation options and many things to see and do. The museum here is worth a visit for those interested in the history of the region. Venturing out of East London and heading up the east coast, one crosses the Kei River mouth into a seemingly different world. Endless green hills dotted with tribal kraals and countless aloes are the hallmark of the Transkei, a former homeland.

The capital of this area is Umtata, a relatively large city and is an ideal base from which to explore the aptly named Wild Coast. And wild it is. Towns like Port St Johns seem to barely keep the surrounding lush, sub tropical rainforests at bay and the sighting of Zambezi and shark speices in the waters of this coastline is common.

The famous wild coast offers endless activity options, with five star hotels, luxury self-catering accommodation, guesthouses and even fully-serviced campsites on offer for those that want to rough it.

The activities are all nature-oriented, with hiking, snorkeling, swimming and other water sports being popular choices, along with tours of genuine Xhosa cultural villages where one can sample local food, beer and take part in village life. The Wild Coast offers a true escape and simply relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere, is something that all visitors cannot seem to help doing.

Useful Links:
For further information or to make a booking for your Eastern Cape holiday, please visit:

• Eastern Cape Attractions
• Things to Do in Eastern Cape
• Eastern Cape Accommodation
• Eastern Cape Hotels

Bayworld

Now known as Bayworld, which means you get to see the Oceanarium, the snake park, and no 7 Castle Hill as part of the same visit, the country’s third oldest museum boasts a 15 metre Southern Right whale skeleton, a life-size reconstruction of the giant dinosaur Algoasaurus (it’s not a recently discovered species, but a take on Algoa Bay!), and a bronze cannon that dates back to 1640 that was recovered from a Portuguese galleon shipwrecked off the coast near Port Elizabeth.

If that isn’t enough reason to visit the Port Elizabeth Museum, which effortlessly combines cultural and natural history in displays of dinosaurs, bird and marine life, costume and local history, Xhosa beadwork and a curiosity corner, then perhaps the maritime history hall will do the trick. Fully rigged models of sailing ships of an era long gone by, together with the ships’ artefacts, never fail to impress; whilst models and skeletons of whales, sharks and dolphins give one a still life view of the live animals on display in the Oceanarium, which offers close encounters with local marine wildlife. And the snake park is a veritable feast of reptiles that include tortoises, juvenile crocodiles, geckos, terrapins and snakes.

The Bayworld complex is one of the top ten things to do in Port Elizabeth along Marine Drive on the beachfront at Humewood. Don’t forget No 7 Castle Hill Museum – amongst the oldest of the original settler buildings, it is an insight into domestic life during that time.

Useful Links:
For destination information see:
Port Elizabeth Attractions
St Georges Park
Donkin Heritage Trail
Port Elizabeth Hotels
Port Elizabeth Accommodation

Wild Coast

When driving towards the Transkei, particularly between East London and the Kei River crossing, it almost seems as if you are entering another country. This, you can tell, is wild, untamed country. Whereas en route to Transkei you will travel through towns and cities much like any other in South Africa, when you get there these bastions of civilization are few and far between, with miles and miles of lush, unspoilt green fields and countless aloes lining the hills and valleys of this beautiful area instead.

Having been an independent homeland, the traditional Xhosa stronghold for many years the Transkei retains a sense of difference and otherness, despite its reintegration into South Africa. Still dotted here and there with traditional Xhosa rondavel kraals perched precariously on the slopes of the perpetually misty mountains and herdsman still to be seen watching the herds of cattle that symbolize wealth here, the Transkei can seem like a land lost in time.

Right on the border, and fast becoming a millionaire’s playground, is the town of Cintsa. More westernised than most of the Transkei, the town is being rapidly developed and offers a slightly less wild experience than the rest of the area.

Mthatha (formerly Umtata), the capital city of the area, is the only true city, with most of the towns being small. The architecture and layout of these towns speak of their roots as early colonial settlements. Many still bear names from that era; Butterworth and Queenstown to name two.

Coffee Bay

This area was also the birthplace of many of the country’s political struggle heroes – Nelson Mandela and current president Thabo Mbeki, as well as other iconic figures, such as former Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The true attraction for most tourists lies on the coast however – in the heart of Pondoland and truly deserving of the name “the Wild Coast”. This coast line, easily accessible if one flies to Mthatha and drives down the narrow road leading to the sea, is lined with lush forests.

Coffee Bay and Port St Johns have become tourist magnets, although anyone expecting hustle and bustle will be sorely disappointed. In this part of the world you are more likely to end up sitting on the deck of one the many excellent bed and breakfasts in Port St Johns, watching the Zambezi sharks trawl the coastline or spending time hiking, canoeing, surfing (if you are brave enough to risk those sharks) and soaking up the laid back, tropical atmosphere.

Visits to traditional Xhosa villages are on offer; as are museums and trips to sites such as Idutywa, the village where Thabo Mbeki was born. For the most part, expect relaxation, utter, hedonistic laziness, and possibly the ultimate break from the modern rat race.

Tastes of traditional cuisine are on offer in most towns, however, from past experience, no matter how the moment takes you; avoid eating white mielies boiled in a paint can on the beach. Food poisoning is not a pleasant way to spend your holiday.

Useful Links:
See more destination info at:
Transkei on Wikipedia
Wild Coast Attractions
Wild Coast Accommodation

Jeffreys Bay

The town of Jeffrey’s Bay, located just South of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, is undoubtedly South Africa’s surfing capital. Stories about the formation of the town abound, many claiming it was found by a shipwrecked captain. Some say the town was founded by surfers, but the real story is that a certain Captain Jeffrey, while sailing his cargo ship along the coast in the mid 1800’s, decided that the place was the ideal location for a holiday home.

He did just that in 1850, and for years – living alongside the local people – he was the only colonial resident. More residents did move in though, and the local hotel, a landmark, was built in its original form, from timber and corrugated iron, around this time. The original hotel was demolished and rebuilt in 1968, and still exists as such today.

The town of those days, from the reports of locals, consisted of a few families – nothing like the bustling town of today, however, the relaxed, small town atmosphere prevails Many remnants of the old town remain, to document the early history of the town. One such attraction is the Surf Museum, located above the Rip Curl store in the middle of town. Photographs, articles and memorabilia from some of the surfers who have been drawn to the area are displayed here, and give some insight into why and how the town gained this laid back air.

Jeffreys Bay

In fact, one of the attractions the town is most famous for is the annual Billabong Pro surfing competition, held in July / August each year, where locals, visitors and foreign surfers compete on the famous waves for top honours. As far as festivals go, another one worth attending, and happening around the same time is the Shell Festival, dedicated to another passion of locals. In fact, no matter when you visit Jeffrey’s Bay, the shell museum will give insight into some of the more exotic species of marine life to be found in the area.

When all the surfing, sun, excellent waves and laid back atmosphere become too much, there are many other attractions in and around the town to vist.

In the suburb of Marina Martinique for example, you can visit the shark aquarium, and get close enough to rescued sharks to reach out and touch them if you wanted to (not advisable, given that some of the specimens on display are over two meters long) Trained guides will teach you more about these creatures, but be sure to time your visit to coincide with feeding, for a show.

Another quite unique activity in the Marina Martinique area is the sand boarding school, located past the residential development, at the beach. Here you can rent a sand board and take lessons from seasoned professionals in this exciting, high adrenaline sport.

Water sports also abound in Jeffrey’s Bay, particularly during the tourist season when swimming and surfing share the water with jetskis and boats for hire. Accommodation and food in the town are as varied and interesting as the people – from upmarket guesthouses or dinner at the Savoy hotel, to campsites, backpackers and excellent takeaway seafood, there’s something for everyone.

Useful Links:
More destination info at:
Jeffreys Bay Accommodation
Jeffreys Bay Tourism Info
Jeffreys Bay Shell Festival
The Sunshine Coast
Billabong Pro Website

Grahamstown Festival

It was opening night and adrenalin and lack of sleep were fueling an unhealthy intensity in the house we were staying in. We had arrived in Grahamstown after a ten hour drive which ended with the actors in the back seat trading more elbow jabs and knees to the midsection than in a Thai kickboxing match. We were in Grahamstown, a small town in the Eastern Cape, for the National Arts Festival, a highlight on South African arts circuit occuring at the end of June/ beginning of July every year.

The first thing to know about Grahamstown is that it is absolutely freezing, which only seemed to give the theatrical types more reason for hysteria and mayhem, little dramatic dynamos generating their own internal sources of heat. For the rest of us proper winter clothing is essential. Stretched over about 10 days, the festival is a melting pot of the most brilliant, creative and utterly strange things the country has to offer. At the central market, which serves as the hub for the daytime activities, you’ll be accosted by everything from half-naked hypnotists and hardselling Hare Krishnas to actors evangelising about why their particular play will change your life. The market is also home to a cornucopia of traders selling everything from didjeridoos to cures for arthritis, so it’s a pefect place for unusual gifts.

Grahamstown Festival

The theatre experience is divided between the Main programme and the Fringe programme. The Main programme features the cream of South African theatre and is a sure-fire way to get down to some serious theatrical appreciation. The only way to describe the Fringe experience is to liken it to shopping in a antique curio shop. There are hundreds of strange and bizarre little theatre trinkets to choose from. Some of them are unique and valuable while others are useless junk. Like antique shopping, however, the only way to find out which is which is to browse thoroughly. Whether comic, tragic or just plain incomprehensible, the Fringe programme is the place where old theatre conventions are broken and new theatre trends are made. Whatever the merits of the plays, young talent is inexorably drawn to experimental nature of fringe theatre and it can be a showcase for the raw passion that is theatre’s lifeblood. You have been both encouraged and warned!

Food is an important commidity wherever you go, but no more so than when the temperatures drop toward zero. Hearty, hot food is a lifesaver at the festival and one of the best places to enjoy it is at the Long Table. The Long Table is a bit of an institution at the Festival, situated in an old hall and filled with, yes, long tables, the restaurant looks more like a soup kitchen than a place of fine dining. The food, however, is great and it’s a wonderful place drink wine and rub shoulders with the actors and theatre types. Ensure you have a colourful scarf nonchalantly thrown around your neck and a fedora positioned low on your head and you’ll fit right in.

The Grahamstown Festival is a must-see. It combines a comfortable, folky, community atmosphere with the excitement of creative passion and cutting-edge theatrical innovation. Make sure you give it a visit!

Useful Links:
Grahamstown National Arts Festival
More Information and dates: Grahamstown National Arts Festival
Overnight: Grahamstown accommodation
Eastern Cape Accommodation
Eastern Cape Hotels
Eastern Cape Events

RiverBend Lodge

The first in our feature on “Family-friendly Game Lodges” is the 5-Star RiverBend Lodge in the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. Children of all ages are welcome at River Bend. Various activities are on offer including a playroom where hours of fun can be had.

The team at RiverBend are geared towards every need and children will be taken on walks with their guide, baking biscuits with the chef or doing mini treatments with the Beauty Therapist. There is also a dedicated channel on their television network on which children are able to choose from a selection of videos to be played.

When you need some time to yourselves and your children will not be joining you on a game drive or for dinner, RiverBend have trained child minders to take care of your precious ones whilst you relax and enjoy the beauty of the Addo Elephant Park.

For full details about RiverBend Lodge please see:
RiverBend Lodge Information and Photographs
Current Rates and Special Offers (They have a fabulous special on now valid to end September 2008).

Related Pages:
Eastern Cape Accommodation
Eastern Cape Family-friendly Venues
Eastern Cape Game Reserves

Cape St Francis

Lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean with three kilometres of pristine beach, Cape St Francis, with it’s historic Seal Point Lighthouse, is a tranquil Eco-destination.

This pristine beach, the mild temperature and the longest sunshine hours on the South African Coast make this an ideal, year round Wedding Destination.

The venue and location at Cape St Francis Resort are bound to make your special day memorable. Cape St Francis Resort offers a wide range of accommodation options for the couple as well as family and guests.

A variety of menus are offered for the reception as well as breakfast the next morning. Please contact the resort for more details on : +27 (0)42 298-0054 or visit: Cape St Francis Resort.

Wedding Links:
Cape St Francis Accommodation
Eastern Cape Wedding Venues
South Africa Wedding Venues

Shamwari Wedding

If your dream wedding includes a luxury honeymoon to one of Africa’s finest, luxury, Big 5 game reserves, then why not extend the dream and get married in the wild? At the award-winning luxurious Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa, all aspects of the wedding, from the ceremony to the reception, are arranged for you.

Weddings at Shamwari Game Reserve are small, intimate and very special.

The professional reservations and events team organise everything for you: the venue and all the arrangements including the Minister, flowers, wedding cake, champagne, photography and wedding video.

The Shamwari Wedding Package Includes:

• Minister: You will receive a copy of the marriage certificate on the day of the ceremony once he gets it back from the Home Affairs Office
• Flowers: Bridal bouquet, button hole for the groom, 2 arrangements for the ceremony and a room arrangement. Rose petal confetti is also included
• Photographer: Includes 36 developed photographs presented in a Henzo wedding album delivered the following day with their negatives and a disk with digital photographs.
• Wedding Cake: A one tier wedding cake of your choice, e.g. chocolate mousse, cheese cake, carrot cake or traditional fruit cake. The cake is decorated with fresh flowers fitting in with the theme of your wedding.
• Spa Treatment: Back, neck and shoulder massage for bride & groom as well as a French Manicure for the bride
• Champagne: A bottle in the room on arrival, after the ceremony and a bottle in the room on the wedding night
• Wedding drive: A sole use game drive with a sun downer stop including snacks and drinks after the wedding ceremony. The photographer accompanies the couple on this drive and these photographs are included in the package.
• Private Dinner: On return to the lodge, the couple will find their room decorated with rose petals and candles. They will be given a private dinner either in their room or in a private area at the lodge. The dining table will also be decorated according to the theme of the wedding.
• Witnesses: If the wedding couple is alone then the Shamwari staff will sign as witnesses.

Optional extras that can be arranged (additional charge) include additional photographs or videoing, African dancers, DJ and any additional requirements i.e. décor, flowers & hiring of equipment, Hair and make up.

For assistance with arranging your wedding and to receive a quote, contact Shamwari Reservations on: +27 42 203-1111 or send a direct enquiry at: Shamwari Game Reserve.

About Shamwari Game Reserve:

Shamwari Wedding

Shamwari Game Reserve has received numerous international awards, including the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for five consecutive years. It is situated in verdant bush along the Bushmans River, halfway between Port Elizabeth (45 minutes drive outside the city) and Grahamstown, a pleasant drive from Cape Town, forming a natural extension to the famous Garden Route.

Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life and is the realisation of one man’s dream, and the success of many people’s passion. Steeped in Settler history, and dating back to the time when a multitude of game roamed wild and free, the 20 000 hectare reserve boasts five eco-systems, thus enabling the support of many forms of plant, animal and bird life.

Useful Links:
The Lodges at Shamwari Game Reserve
Shamwari Game Reserve
South Africa Wedding Guide
South Africa Wedding Venues

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is the coastal route between St Francis Bay and East London in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The Sunshine Coast incorporates more then a million hectares of malaria free game reserve, and, this is one route that deserves its name. Stretching from Port Elizabeth in the west to East London in the east, it boasts hundreds of kilometres of shining beaches that bask in sunshine. Port Elizabeth, offering diverse leisure options from water-sports to township tours, from vibrant nightlife to nature trails, is an excellent base from which to explore the coastline and the interior.

Port Elizabeth is fondly referred to as “The Friendly City”. The city offers a diverse selection of attractions as a family-fun vacation destination including eco-attractions, scenic nature trails, wildlife and cultural experiences, as well as 40 km of breathtaking coastline and beaches …
More about Port Elizabeth »

Sunshine Coast

East London: South Africa’s only river port city is set on the broad Buffalo River and one of the most attractive stretches of the Eastern Cape seaboard. East London’s sweeping white beaches extend for miles, unpolluted, uncrowded, unspoilt. Swimming, sailing, water-skiing, boardsailing and boating …
About East London »

Jeffreys Bay: Jeffreys Bay, or “J-Bay” as it is known to the locals, brings to mind surfing, sunshine and beautiful beaches – and you’d be right. Home to the Billabong Surfing Festival every July and rated among the ten best surfing spots in the world, surfers from across the globe come to enjoy the rolling surf …
About Jeffreys Bay »

Cape St Francis: Cape St Francis, named after the patron saint of sailors, is worth a visit for many reasons, not least of all its famed Seal Point Light House, built in 1873, and one of the highest stone and masonry lighthouses in the country – and it is the most southern point in the Eastern Cape …
About Cape St Francis »

Port Alfred: Port Alfred, with its stretches of sandy beach that extend for miles, lies on the banks of the Kowie River. Port Alfred was established by a group of English settlers in the early 1800s and, although now an active commercial and residential town, it has retained most of its English fishing village …
More about Port Alfred »

St Francis Bay: Just 90 km west of Port Elizabeth, St Francis Bay is the millionaire’s playground of the Eastern Cape and one of the best kept secrets of the Garden Route. 50% of the town is built around a series of man-made canals and waterways – South Africa’s answer to ‘little Venice’. With 8km of river and …
About St Francis Bay »

Kenton On Sea: When you think of Kenton on Sea, you invoke a vision of beaches as far as the eye can see, unspoilt by time and consumerism, where two rivers meet and run into the Indian Ocean. Midway between Port Elizabeth and East London, Kenton On Sea is where the sun is rumoured …
About Kenton On Sea »

Useful Links:
Visit the Sunshine Coast
The Eastern Cape
South Africa Travel

Lalibela for Kids

Since opening, Lalibela were aware that there is a huge demand for families wanting a safari holiday in a malaria-free area. Lalibela’s location makes it ideal for adults travelling with children who are wanting to combine a family safari with the Garden Route and Cape Town.

Over the last 12 months Lalibela have looked at various programmes catering for families and have come up with a children’s programme which optimizes the safari experience with quality family time.

Each family is different and children require varying degrees of attention, which is why the emphasis at Lalibela is to be as flexible as possible to ensure memorable family holidays.

In the early morning Lalibela’s child minders come on duty so that parents can leave for their morning game drive. The children are given a chance to wake up, get dressed and be ready for the day. Parents are welcome to stay behind and accompany their children on the kiddies game drive.

Lalibela for Kids

Breakfast is served and then it is time for the activities of the morning – with a snack in hand, they’re off with their game ranger in their own special vehicle on a short game drive taking care to avoid any close encounters with dangerous game. After the adults game drive and brunch, there is time for the family to spend together – there’s the playground with jungle gym and sandpit or many games to play.

Before the adults go out on their afternoon game drive, high tea is served for both adults and children. After heading out on their afternoon game drive, the children return to the lodge for an early dinner before getting creative with some arts and crafts activities. Time before bed is spent listening to exciting stories of Africa, its people and the wildlife. During all this time the children are looked after by accomplished child minders while their parents enjoy their evening game drive and dinner back at the lodge.

Contact Lalibela Game Reserve on:
Telephone: +27 (0)41 581 – 8170
Or Visit: Lalibela Game Reserve

Useful Links:
Eastern Cape Game Reserves
South Africa Game Lodges
South Africa