Walk in the footsteps of the Soga brothers
By Elvira Wood , PPS editor and writer
As much as the Soga family had strong links to Glasgow in Scotland , it was the Eastern Cape around Elliotdale where they made their mark . But where is Elliotdale and what is there to do and see in the area ?
Elliotdale
Elliotdale is in the Amatole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape , about 50 km south of Mthatha and 210 km northeast of East London . William Anderson Soga lived in Elliotdale until he died there in 1916 . Although there is no specific attraction in the village , there is much to see and do in a radius of about 70 km .
Nelson Mandela Youth & Heritage Centre , Qunu
Qunu , the town where former South African president , Nelson Mandela , grew up , is about 36 km north of Elliotdale . The museum attracts youth from all over the world who come and experience how Mandela grew up through structured programmes run by the centre . A community-based craft project associated with the museum – making and selling quality crafts – is located at the far end of the buildings .
Note : the museum is currently closed for renovations and it is recommended to first call to confirm whether it accepts visitors before visiting .
Collywobbles ( Mbhashe River )
The Collywobbles is a series of twists and turns in the Mbhashe River in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape . It is about 8 km southwest of Elliotdale and is one of the world ’ s most remarkable examples of meandering in a river . There are two activities one can do when visiting Collywobbles .
The first is the viewpoint where one can look over the Collywobbles Gorge .
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