Estate Living Magazine Design for living - Issue 42 June 2019 | Page 7

P R O P E R T Y
&
I N V E S T M E N T
and democracy. There are 67 spectacular works of public
art, and 67 mosaic steps leading up to a giant sculpture of
Nelson Mandela, a 470-square-metre mosaic and a 65-metre-
high flagpole (you can’t help wondering why they didn’t
make it two metres higher) – all this with spectacular views
across the bay. If you thought Port Elizabeth was named after
some British monarch, you’re wrong: check out the Donkin
Memorial, which commemorates the Elizabeth in question –
it’s kind of a sweet love story. nmbt.co.za
SUN, SAND, SEA … AND SURF!
The Eastern Cape has some of our best beaches – from fab
urban oases in East London and PE to long, lovely stretches
of sand and sea between the two, and especially north of
East London where the Sunshine Coast segues into the Wild
Coast, which has some of the best slackpacking hikes ever.
But what is a beach without surf? And if it’s surf you’re looking
for, Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay are on every serious
international surfer’s bucket list.
The coastline between PE and East London
gets roughly 320 out of 365 days of sunshine
a year and is referred to as the South African
Sunshine Coast.
And if there’s no snow, head for the impressive sand dunes of the
Alexandria Duneveld, where you start with a scenic boat cruise
on the Sundays River, and then tackle these awesome dunes on a
sandboard. Or you could hike the two-day Alexandria Trail on which
you’re likely to spot dolphins and whales, lots of birds, and maybe
even the odd bokkie. And there are loads more hikes – the iconic
Otter Trail at Tsitsikamma, and lots of great slackpacking options –
particularly along the Wild Coast.
At 217 metres, the Bloukrans River bridge is
the world’s highest bungy jump. The Alexandria Duneveld is the largest dune field
in the southern hemisphere and forms part of the
145,000-hectare Addo Elephant National Park
Want to put your 4x4 to the test? Then head to the Baviaans-
kloof Wilderness, a 192,000-hectare conservation area that’s
a World Heritage Site and home to an amazing diversity of
habitat types and species. This unspoilt mountainous terrain
offers MTB, motorbike and 4x4 enthusiasts a challenge with
its steep and stony ‘roads’ and scary drops.
If you’re road-tripping along the N6, pop into Tsitsa Falls and
try some rock jumping or kayaking, or, during the winter
months, and weather permitting, try skiing at Tiffendell Ski
GET YOUR GAME ON
A huge benefit of an Eastern Cape safari and wildlife experience
is that you can leave the malaria tablets at home – very important
if you have young children (or are pregnant or thinking of getting
pregnant). Near PE is the Greater Addo Elephant National Park
– home not just to elephants but to all the Big Five. Actually, it’s a
Big Seven reserve with the usual elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and
leopard, but also – as the expanded park includes part of Algoa Bay
R
Tsitsikamma is the perfect spot to start an adrenaline-fuelled
Eastern Cape adventure. First up, if you’ve got the courage,
is bungy jumping off the Bloukrans River bridge, followed
by tubing down the rushing waters of the Storms River as it
forces its way through steep gorges and past pristine forests
– a milder option would be the SUP boarding along more
tranquil sections of the river. Or flying from tree to tree on a
Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour. ADRENALINE RUSH Resort on the slopes of the Ben MacDhui Mountain – the highest
mountain pass in South Africa – and Lady Grey offers challenging
MTB trails along the often snow-topped mountainous landscape.