Introduction

South Africa’s ‘wild’ province, the Eastern Cape features expanses of untouched beach, bush and forest. This is Nelson Mandela’s home province, and an area with some enticing attractions – pristine beaches, abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery.

Overview of Eastern Cape

There’s so much to see and do in the Eastern Cape, which is blessed with rich natural beauty and wildlife.

Its natural diversity is impressive: the Eastern Cape incorporates parts of all seven ecological zones that occur in South Africa. It also features all three of the country’s biodiversity regions, which is further enhanced by its 820km of untamed coastline.

This ensures an assortment of plant and animal species, including the Big Five, abundant birdlife and rich marine life (including 27 species of whales and dolphins).

The province offers something for everyone: for the adrenaline addict there’s tubing down the Storm’s River Gorge, skydiving in Grahamstown and learning to fly in Port Alfred; outdoor enthusiasts can try spot the Big Seven (the Big Five plus southern right whales and great white sharks) or enjoy pristine beaches. There’s even snow skiing – in winter the Ben McDhui Mountain turns into a winter wonderland offering great skiing opportunities.

This is a province steeped in history – it is the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and a number of other great political activists – and was one of the centres at the forefront of the fight for democracy in South Africa.