The Eastern Cape Province, located on the southeast coast of South Africa, is immensely diverse, offering both laid-back and thrilling adventure. The vast landscape of natural wide-open spaces allows visitors to explore beautiful biodiversity, from ancient indigenous forests and deep valleys to rocky sea cliffs and the 800km (497 miles) coastline stretching from the Tsitsikamma to the subtropical Wild Coast. Quite frankly, the Eastern Cape delivers an authentic and very real South African experience and provides an opportunity to network with real people in an unspoilt, welcoming, and friendly environment. Connect with our history and traditions on authentic cultural experiences and discover why the people of the Eastern Cape will have you leaving as a friend.Â
Escape to the Eastern Cape and fall in love with the freedom and the space – it’s all yours to explore!
Natural Attractions and Scenic Beauty
The Eastern Cape ticks the box for nature lovers with astounding natural attractions, beautiful night skies, an 800-kilometre coastline and adventure activities to suit all ages. You just must get here and begin exploring.
TOP SITES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO
Add these awe-inspiring natural wonders to your bucket list!
Addo Double Zipline
Adrenalin Addo’s zip line is the highest, longest and fastest double zip line in South Africa. Twin cables – each 500 metres long – descend from an impressive departure tower perched seventy metres above Addo’s Sundays River.  The departure tower is reached via a short raft ride across the Sundays River and a 10-minute hike through Addo’s indigenous bush. Breath-taking views across Addo’s valley of citrus are the reward from up high before it’s time to get into position, get ready and just let go. A hands free zip line, this is the closest you will come to flying without wings! You will reach an average speed of about 60 km/h and some Adrenalin Addo riders will even exceed 80 km/h. The heavier you are the faster you go!
Tsitsikamma Segway
Tsitsikamma Segway Tours are focused on providing fun, safe and family friendly Guided Segway Tours. Their base is situated in Stormsriver Village at The Village Lodge. They offer 1 & 2 hour fully guided segway tours. A Segway is a 2-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered, green personal transporter. Totally fun, addictive and the perfect family adventure!
Giraffe Safari
Possibly the most distinctive animal of all, the skyscrapers of Africa dominate the treetops of the bushveld at Bellevue Forest Reserve. An exhilarating, authentic African experience is to join a giraffe tracking safari on foot in the 2500-hectare private game reserve. Giraffe are quite remarkable creatures and much more so from the perspective of being on the ground looking up! The walk lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The terrain is suitable for those of average fitness. Bookings are essential and larger groups can be accommodated by prior arrangement.
Karoo Farm Experience
Ganora Guest Farm is a working sheep farm situated just outside Nieu Bethesda in the foothills of the majestic Sneeuberg Range sixty kilometres north of Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo Heartland. The farmstead and guest cottages nestle deep in the slopes of a depression carved into the bedrock by ancient rivers in pre-historic times. The surrounding rock formations and rich fossil beds on the farm bear testimony to the events that contributed to the formation of this vast and beautiful land. They offer incredible activities from hiking and biking to multi day cookery and art classes, fossil and rock art tours, medicinal plant tours and more. An experience not to be missed or underestimated.
Kayak & Lilo Tour
This unique award-winning adventure is in the beautiful Storms River Mouth, Tsitsikamma. Start by kayaking over the pristine ocean and then go over to kayak deep into the breath-taking storms river gorge filled with marine life and ancient forests. Explore deeper in the gorge with our unique relaxing lilo’s. Ideal for the whole family with no experience required.Â
Sky Diving
Put yourself at ease jumping with our professional crew from up to 11000 feet, above the scenic Jeffreys bay coastline. The instructors have a minimum of 2000 jumps and have a passion for sharing the experience of skydiving with first timers. All that is required is that you are below 100kg, and are reasonably fit. You don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie; the instructors will be able to put you at ease. Just follow the simple instructions and all that is left to do is have fun! Up to 45 seconds freefall at 200kph, followed by a 5 minute parachute ride. As long as the conditions are good you will have a chance to steer the parachute. You instructor will take over for the landing and you can even land at the beach (if pre arranged).
Ocean Safari
Raggy Charters is a licensed boat-based Whale Watching permit holder in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), South Africa. The most amazing marine life can be found in the Algoa Bay, also known as the Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the world. African Penguins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Humpback Dolphins, Bryde’s Whales, Minke Whales, Southern Right Whales, Humpback Whales, Cape Fur Seals, various species of sharks (Great White Shark), Cape Gannets and various species of Pelagic Birds including Terns, Petrels, Skuas, Shearwaters and Albatrosses can be found in the Algoa Bay. This is a unique marine activity ideal to book on a good weather day before heading to any of the Private Safari Reserves or the Addo Elephant National Park to complete a ‘Big 7’ Safari experience in the Eastern Cape.Â
The Eastern Cape offers an incredible, diverse and very personable safari experience that can be enjoyed at any private game reserve or within the destination’s four national parks. The unique offering of a Big 7 experience is a destination differentiating factor. You can enjoy a marine safari to see the ocean’s Big 2, the Southern Right Whale and Great White Shark, and then transfer into a Big 5 Reserve to see the land-based animals that make up this ranking (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant, & Rhinoceros) and this can all be done in the space of one day.  Ensure you utilise the services of a licensed tour operator to view Great White Sharks and Southern Right Whales, amongst many other marine species such as seals, dolphins, African penguins and Orcas.
The Addo Elephant National Park is the only wildlife park in the world, home to the Big 7. The Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants, making it Africa’s most concentrated elephant reserve. There is nothing quite like getting up close to a large herd of elephants to observe them feeding, taking a bath and the overall behaviour of the family groups.
https://www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/
https://www.raggycharters.co.za/
Travellers seeking either a luxury or family-friendly Wildlife Safari will not be disappointed with the offerings in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape certainly delivers a unique selection of experiences at a range of luxurious privately owned safari lodges such as Gorah Elephant Camp, Riverbend Lodge, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Pumba Private Game Reserve, Samara, Amakhala, Mount Camdeboo, Kwantu and many more.
The luxury safari lodges exude comfort, charm, and private intimacy. Guests can enjoy the personal service where all their needs will be handled. The reserves also offer diverse Eco-systems and incredible wildlife experiences that will leave guests humbled.
Family-friendly Eastern Cape lodges offer specially designed children’s safari packages where a ranger will take care of the children whilst the parents can enjoy the longer safari drives, all in a malaria-free environment.
https://visiteasterncape.co.za/private/
https://visiteasterncape.co.za/national/
