This is South Africa’s newest province and was
formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of two of
the apartheid era homelands with a portion of
the original Cape Province.
The region extends from the southern borders of Kwa -Zulu
Natal through, the aptly named Wild Coast, on through
East London and down along the Sunshine Coast to south
of Port Elizabeth, or PE as it is affectionately known.
The province is home to some of this region’s most rugged
scenery and a spectacular coastline interspersed with
fantastic beaches.
Just inland from the coast, and the province’s most
populous city PE, is the internationally renowned Addo
Elephant National Park.
The provincial capital is Bisho, but in reality for the
vacationer (golfing or otherwise) all the ‘action’, with the
exception of skiing at Tiffindel (the region’s only snow
skiing resort) and during the week of Africa’s largest
cultural festival in Grahamstown, will be along the coast
with its fabulous beaches, twenty of which currently have
‘Blue Flag’ status, and its wonderful golf courses.
In golfing terms the province extends from the exclusive
Olivewood Estate and East London Golf Club, along the
Sunshine Coast past the Fish River and Royal Port Alfred
golf clubs and though PE, which is home to the PE Golf
Club (South Africa’s second oldest course) and on to
Humewood (a classic links layout) and Wedgewood.
The road network is very good and airline access to the
Eastern Cape is provided by a number of operators, all of
which offer regular services into both East London and
PE from all the major regional centres such as Durban,
Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The coastline is dotted with a number of seaside towns
such as Port Alfred, Kenton on Sea and Cannon Rocks all
of which offer the usual things that a beachside family
holiday venue should, as well as an atmosphere that
harks back to a much gentler and more traditional era.
A traveller has the option to build the vacation around
a stay at two or three selected beach venues and then
explore the nearby golf courses,
Alternatively the vacation’s itinerary take can its lead from
the courses selected as part of the golf tour of the region,
which will then allow the vacation’s other non-golfing
activities to be then built the beach and around the golf
schedule.
Whatever the final focus of the trip, the Eastern Cape is
one of the region’s ‘hidden gems’ and is an ideal holiday
destination, either as a stand-alone element, or in
combination with another region or regions.
A beautiful afternoon at Port Alfred
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SAIO
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2020
2020
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