The Eastern Cape: Places to Explore

A tiny settlement west of Grahamstown, Alicedale was once an important railway town. The demise of the steam train, however, sent Alicedale into decline, turning it into a virtual ghost town populated by... Read more

Bulungula is a tiny community near the mouth of the Bulungula River, about a 25-km (16-mi) walk from Coffee Bay's Hole-in-the-Wall. There are no shops, no banks, and no post office. There isn't even a... Read more

This lovely, quiet little seaside town a half-hour's drive from East London is a winner. A nice long beach, pretty rock pools, and a beautiful lagoon on which to paddle make this a coastal paradise. Not... Read more

The village of Coffee Bay is a bit run-down, but the beaches and the scenery are great. (The surf is fantastic, but don't head out alone if you don't know what you're doing.)... You can do a fabulous 37-km... Read more

The gateway to the Wild Coast, East London was built around the mouth of the Buffalo River, which forms South Africa's only river port. Although fairly urban, East London is still close to the rural heartland... Read more

Although billed as a city, Grahamstown looks more like an English village than anything else—if you discount that alter ego of most South African towns, the desperately poor contiguous shanty townships... Read more

Mthatha is poor and run-down. Most people don't stay here beyond making a travel connection elsewhere. However, if you're traveling on your own and have some free time, be sure to make a detour to see... Read more

Port Elizabeth, or PE, may not have the range of attractions found in Cape Town or on the Garden Route, but it's a pleasant town that's worthy of a few days' exploration. There are some beautiful beaches... Read more