* '''Shamwari Game Reserve''', ph: ''+27'' (0)42 203 1111 [http://www.shamwari.com] The most well-known and luxurious of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape .
* '''Shamwari Game Reserve''', ph: ''+27'' (0)42 203 1111 [http://www.shamwari.com] The most well-known and luxurious of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape .
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* '''Schotia Safaris Game Reserve''', ph: ''+27'' (0)42 235 1436, [http://www.schotia.com] Huge stock of game with free roaming lions. One gets the safari feeling here without paying through the nose. It's well worth doing a Game drive, meal and drink R600pp; or staying overnight, with evening and morning drive, meals and drinks for R1200pppn. They also offer free transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport return, and will often pick up guests from accommodation from [[Port Elizabeth|PE]].
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* '''Schotia Safaris Game Reserve''', ph: ''+27'' (0)42 235 1436, [http://www.schotia.com] Huge stock of game with free roaming lions. One gets the safari feeling here without paying through the nose. It's well worth doing a Game drive, meal and drink R600pp; or staying overnight, with evening and morning drive, meals and drinks for R1200pppn. They also offer free transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport return, and will often pick up guests from accommodation from [[Port Elizabeth|PE]].
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* '''[[Tsitsikamma National Park]]''' (''Book through the Parks Board'') phone: ''+27'' (0)21 423 8005. Wonderful coastal scenery with great hikes and walks, nice accommodation, between [[Plettenberg Bay]] and [[Humansdorp]] including the famous '''Otter Trail'''.
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==Get in==
==Get in==
Revision as of 15:33, 3 February 2007
The Eastern Cape's Wildcoast is a rough piece of nature.
The Eastern Cape province includes the former "homelands" of Transkei and Ciskei. With a long coastline on the Indian Ocean it offers great beaches as well as several very interesting National Parks. Its population is mainly Xhosa and the province is home to several of South Africa`s most important persons in the fight against Apartheid (e.g. Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko and Oliver Tambo). It`s still a poor province especially in the former homelands but beautiful and not so touristy .
Cintsa - backpackers haven with two famous hostels and a great atmosphere.
Jeffreys Bay - The surfer's paradise and host of various famous surfing contests.
Paradise Beach - between Jeffreys Bay ands St Francis Bay - a secret, unspoiled paradise in summer for a stunning 10km long beach with not a soul on it. Airfield for flying freeks and motor glider flips. Cheap, simple, clean B&B R200 pppn Fritz +21 42 2920 235, evenings. It is beautiful and great for a walk and a swim or just lying on the beach.
Port Alfred - at the Kowie River mouth (great fishing) with miles of unspoilt, deserted beaches.
St Francis Bay - village of thatched roof houses, very upmarket, a new Jack Nicklaus golf course. St Francis Golf Club also a great place with a big heart for beginners.
Shamwari Game Reserve, ph: +27 (0)42 203 1111 [4] The most well-known and luxurious of the private game reserves in the Eastern Cape .
Schotia Safaris Game Reserve, ph: +27 (0)42 235 1436, [5] Huge stock of game with free roaming lions. One gets the safari feeling here without paying through the nose. It's well worth doing a Game drive, meal and drink R600pp; or staying overnight, with evening and morning drive, meals and drinks for R1200pppn. They also offer free transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport return, and will often pick up guests from accommodation from PE.
Get in
By car
The main motorway in the province is the N2. It runs along the coast from Cape Town via the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth and further on to East London, the Transkei and Durban. The road condition is mainly excellent except in the Transkei. Do not travel this road at night as the potholes can be deep - (so deep the giraffe's head is sticking out) and there are often stray animals ie cows, goats wandering around which often cause accidents
By Plane
Port Elizabeth and East London are the main national airports both with several flights daily to other South African destinations, but no international flights.
Definitely the best option if you are more than two as several regions and some of the National Parks aren`t accessible by public transport. Road Conditions are mainly good but get informed before you start. Car rental is available in larger cities and along the popular resorts of the Garden Route.
Be carefully of wild animals, especially monkeys, on the road. Be especially carefull if driving at night.
By bus
The main companies cross the Eastern Cape on their way from Cape Town to Durban. There are other main routes from Port Elizabeth and East London to Johannesburg.
The Baz Bus transverse the province on its Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - Durban run making PE a compulsory overnight stop.
Minibus services are available for local transport between neighboring towns (and also on several longer distances)
By Train
With the limited range of railways this isn`t a real option for touring the province.
See
Port Elizabeth: the provincial capital and major transportation hub
When in Jeffreys BayorParadise Beach, try the beach restaurants near Marina Martinque called Tapas - cheap or the Whale Skipper slightly more expensive.Wherever try the calamari.
St Francis - go out to the port and have Cajun Calamari at the Porthole for lunch, sit in the sun, enjoy the food and watch the fishermen at work. What a pleasure
Drink
Sleep
The Garden Route is a major tourist destination with a broad range of accommodation in all ranges as is Port Elizabeth. East of East London and more inland accommodation is a little bit more limited but their will always be an option.
