DG Southern Africa & Mauritius 2020 * | Page 25

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 DG DG SAIO SAIO 2020 2020 | 23 | 23