Amathole Mountains
Get Out And About and Explore!
Holiday Happiness in Hogsback
Inspiring, Emotional and Powerful – The Steve Biko Museum
Visit the magnificent Steve Biko museum that pays tribute to the life of the great South African struggle icon in a frank, beautiful way. More than a tourist attraction, it provides interesting historical context on Biko’s life and it is also a place of learning and performance, literally coming alive with music, dance and creative interpretations of South African history.
The Museum includes an archive centre, library resource centre, commemorative garden honouring human rights activists, a community media centre and a great restaurant.
It’s just outside King William’s Town – in Ginsberg. With parking right outside and friendly staff to take you on a tour of the museum and facilities, it’s a must- do on your Eastern Cape holiday roadtrip.
Operating Hours: Mon – Tue: 07h00 – 21h30, Wed – Fri: 07h30 – 22h00, Sat: 09h00 – 23h00, Sun: 10h00 – 18h00
Call: 043 605 6700 for more info
Explore Cata
Cata lies close to the town of Keiskammahoek (about a two hour drive from East London) in the Amatola Mountains, surrounded by indigenous forest and grasslands. It’s inspiring to experience how the local community has re-organised itself after forced ‘betterment’ removals during apartheid when they had to abandon their kraals, their grazing rights, and fields
Cata Museum lies in the heart of the village and describes the community’s story – how they fought to reclaim their land, worked together to form a trust and how their lives have changed for the better through working and building together.
Stay overnight at the fabulous community-built chalets and take the 2 km guided walk along a heritage trail, with information boards en route covering the social and natural history of Cata.
Make it your mission to be part of a local rural community this holiday… Make it Cata
King William’s Town
Considered one of the most interesting towns to visit in the region, along with Grahamstown, King William’s Town began its life on the banks of the Buffalo River as a mission station in 1834. About 50km west of East London, King William’s Town is renowned for its beautiful stone buildings, many of which date back to the Frontier wars.
King William’s Town has a number of interesting museums – one of which houses the body of Huberta the hippo who walked some 1500 kilometers across KwaZulu Natal to the Eastern Cape in the early 1900’s and the Amathole Museum has the biggest collection of mammals in Africa.
AMATHOLE MUSEUM – http://www.museum.za.net/
Alice
Stutterheim
Stutterheim is the central point of the Escape Route. Nestled at the foot of the Amatola Mountains, Stutterheim is located 75km from East London on the N6 en route to Bloemfontein. The Escape Route includes the areas of Stutterheim, Thomas River, Cata and Keiskammahoek. Stutterheim boasts the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa, the Kologha Forest with a picturesque picnic spot and well sign posted scenic walks of varying lengths and difficulty. A timber boardwalk has been constructed in the forest to allow less able-bodied people to also experience the wonder of the forest.
There is an assortment of accommodation on offer on the Escape Route ranging from rustic camping to the comfort of hotel rooms. Activities in Stutterheim and the areas surrounding include trout fishing, canoeing or picnicking at Gubu Dam; bass fishing at Wriggleswade Dam; mountain biking; archery, abseiling or guided walks at Natural High, visiting the Stationary Engine Museum, visiting the Old Thomas River museum and rock art museum, and much more.
KOLOGHA FOREST WALKS – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
NATURAL HIGH (Abseiling, Kayaking, Archery) – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
CATA COMMUNITY MUSEUM – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
STATIONARY ENGINE MUSEUM – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
ROCK ART CENTER & VINTAGE VEHICLE MUSEUM – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities WRIGGLESWADE DAM – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
GUBU DAM – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
ECO MOTOR BIKES – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
FLY FISHING – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
BIRD WATCHING – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
