Eastern Cape Province - Self drive tour of major sites

• By: Editor
• On: 14/Oct/2008
• In: South Africa Travel Tips

Driving in South Africa is on the left hand side. Public roads are also very well developed and are also well sign posted – so no worries!

If you enjoy the sights and sounds of the Big 5 of the Animal Kingdom, namely Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo, then you are in for a treat in the Eastern Cape. There are many national parks and game reserves in the region.

The Addo National Park and the Mountain Zebra National Park are places where you can see all of these animals and much more. These parks are located on the N2 Highway.

There are also some magnificent game reserves in the Eastern Cape. Shamwari is perhaps the best game reserve in the region and has won many awards for its uniqueness. The park has been responsible for increased breeding of the Big 5 through its re-introduction programmes. Other game reserves in the area are the Kwantu Game Reserve, with its exotic wildlife and majestic scenery and the Kwandwe Game Reserve. 

Molweni Private Game Reserve is located in a wilderness area of the Eastern Cape and is also worth visiting. There are many activities to enjoy including safaris, mountain climbing and hiking. Take the N2 highway from Port Elizabeth to King Williams Town, then take the R63 left to Adelaide, and follow the signs for Molweni.

The Eastern Cape is home to South Africa’s only ski resort. Tiffindell is located near the townland of Rhodes, and positioned in the Drakensberg Mountain Range in the northeastern region of the Province. It's on the points of Ben McDhui, which at 3,000 metres is the highest mountain peak in the Cape. The ski resort at Tiffindell was established in 1993. You can rent accommodation here, and enjoy the gradients, which are perfect for hiking and skiing!  

A visit to Drakensberg National Park is also a must, and in this area you can book accommodation, as well as view the thousands of fascinating rock paintings by Bushmen in the sandstone caves, many of which are thousands of years old.

You could also take a trip to the major cities in the Eastern Cape, including Port Elizabeth.  There's so much to do here, from museums to historical attractions, and fabulous beaches at Algoa Bay. Algoa Bay boasts nearly 40km of golden sandy beaches lapped by the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Attractions in Port Elizabeth include the Bayworld Aquarium, as well as historical attractions such as Market Square, Donkin Reserve, and St George’s Park.

No trip to the Port Elizabeth area would be complete without a visit to Jeffrey’s Bay! This is a surfer's paradise, just 70 km from Port Elizabeth on the N2 west. Also known as "J-Bay" this beach area hosts surfing competitions each year and is noted for its perfect surfing waves. The long golden golden beaches here are also a magnet for those wishing to get away from it all and enjoy the sun!

Other areas worth visiting in the Eastern Cape Province are East London and Buffalo City. You can enjoy the beaches here, in particular Bonza Bay, Orient Beach and Nahoon Reef. There are many museums in the area as well, and the best is the East London Museum. Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve, Mpotshane Private Game Reserve and The Lion Park East London  are game reserves which are highly recommended.

Tsitsikamma National Park in the western region of the Eastern Cape is an area of natural beauty and a coastal reserve on the Garden Route (the Garden Route stretches from Tsitikamma in the north down to Mossel Bay in the south). Translated from its name as being a "place of much water" it encompasses almost 80km of coastline and is lapped by the waters of the Indian Ocean. You can enjoy many activites such as whale watching and fishing. Road access is via the N2.

Another attraction in the Eastern Cape is Ailwal North, which lies on a plateau in a fertile farmland on the Orange River, on the Southern Bank. There are two hot mineral spings in the here.

Heading north from East London, the road which runs parallel to the Wild Coast leads you on a stunning tour of an area of natural scenic beauty, with forests, hills, and steep cliffs, which at the bottom play host to majestic white sand beaches. This is an area that is largely unexplored and it's well worth pursuing fishing and watersports along the Wild coast Trail of the Eastern Province.

Find out more about the Eastern Cape.

So, if you're based in the Eastern Cape Province, and want to take a self drive tour of the area, why not book car hire South Africa through Nova Car Hire.

If you need any assistance booking car hire or have any questions or comments, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Leave your message in the box below and we'll get back to you.