Where the Garden Route ends, and the Wild and Sunshine Coast begins, South Africa’s Eastern Cape is lesser-known than its Western counterpart. Travellers here are rewarded with deserted beaches, safari, and laid back cities. From little Port Elizabeth and characterful East London, every surfer’s favourite hangout, Jeffreys Bay, to the rugged Wild Coast hamlets of Coffee Bay, Chintsa, and Storms River, the Eastern Cape has a plethora of places to visit. Few travellers travel to its capital, Bhisho, a small, inland, administrative centre; instead, its larger neighbour, East London, with its pretty bay-front setting between the Sunshine and Wild Coast, draws a much larger crowd. Our pick of the best places to stay in the Eastern Cape combines the best in urban, safari, and coastal stays, to suit every style and budget.
Further south, the Eastern Cape’s largest city, Port Elizabeth is a melting pot of African, Malaysian, and Portuguese cultures, culminating in a flavoursome food scene – which has to be sampled to truly experience the city. Located at the fringes of the Sunshine Coast, along Algoa Bay, it must surely one of the best urban environments with such an impressive spectrum of marine life: dolphins, whale sharks, seals, and much more can be spotted. It is also just a 30-minute drive to Addo Elephant Park, home to over 600 African Elephants, as well as lions, zebras, and black rhinos.
Sprawled across 1000 kms of the Indian Ocean’s rugged coastline, town after village attracts travellers looking for a peaceful seaside escape or in search of some of South Africa’s largest waves. Jeffrey’s Bay, the host of the annual World Surf League, boasts some of the worlds best ‘super tubes’. Between June and August is when the pros descend on this otherwise languid town, but beginners are always welcome. A true ‘surf-scene’ over the years a scattering of health cafés, bars, yoga studios, and boutique shops – all accoutrements of an increasingly trendy town, have sprung up along Jeffrey’s Bay’s main seafront.
On the other end of the scale, the tiny coastal hamlets of Chintsa, Coffee Bay, and Storms River are for the traveller truly just wanting to explore the great outdoors. From white water rafting along the Chintsa River mouth, to the windswept deserted beaches of Coffee Bay, and a long list of outdoor activities, from bungee jumping to zip lining along Storms River. Take your pick! There is no shortage of ways to enjoy the Eastern Cape’s aptly named, Wild Coast.
Alternatively, If you like rambling through the wilderness of Mother Nature, then the Eastern Cape is the place for you. Mountain Zebra National Park, roughly 200 km inland from Port Elizabeth, is a truly sublime place to be, defined by long arid plains and flat-crested mountain ranges. Addo Elephant National Park is a must-see: with over 200 elephants, numerous Cape buffalo, black rhino, and rare species of birdlife, it is a treasure trove of nature with the added bonus of being one of the few places in the country that is malaria-free all-year-round.
What Not to miss
- A 30-minute drive from East London, the Groot Winterhoek Mountains and Wilderness Area, are home to baboon, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, and much more. A great wildlife experience, within easy reach of the city.
- The Chintsa River estuary is a great spot for anglers, with a variety of kob and panfish.
- A superb wildlife experience, with some spectacular hotels nearby, Tsitsikamma National Park, close to Storms River, is a haven for bird and marine life. And for the adrenaline seeker? It can be explored by zip-line, tubing, swimming, hiking, and kayaking.
- Just a 20-minute drive from Storms River, Bloukrans River forms the border between the Western and Eastern Cape. But, the Bloukrans Bridge, is more famous for its 216 m bungee, the highest commercially operated bridge bungee in the world. Try it if you dare!
- Follow East London’s colourful Donkin Heritage Trail, passing the much-photographed, 19th-century Cora Terrace and Donkin Street Houses.
- If travelling in July, don't miss the World Surf League, when some of the world's best surfers descend upon J Bay.
- You might be in a city, but East London’s Strandloper Trail, running from Kei River to Gonubie boasts 60 km of pristine beaches, rivers, and coastal forests.
- Starting from the Storms River mouth, hike the five-day (shorter options available) Otter Trail, which follows the magnificent Garden Route coastline as far as Nature's Valley in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
- If you're a fan of hiking through wilderness, then the Eastern Cape is ideal for you. The Zebra Mountain National Park, made up of sweeping sunburnt plains in the shadow of brooding mountains, are stunning, particularly at sunset. Whereas at Addo Elephant National Park, you can find elephants, buffalo and rare species of birds.
- Traverse Coffee Bay’s Port St Johns trail, from the lush coastal forests of Silaka to the rolling hills of Mpande, across grassland, rocky shores, mangrove estuaries, nature reserves and rural villages.
- Not all about surfing, between July and December nearby Bluewater Bay, close to Jeffrey’s Bay is frequented by Southern Right and Humpback whales.
- Home to some impressive marine life, take a boat out from East London to Bird Island Marine Protected Area, comprised of Bird, Stag, and Seal Islands. Whilst there, traverse the Bushbuck Walking trail. Or venture to Cape Recife Nature Reserve, one of the best bird-watching locations in Port Elizabeth.
- If travelling in July, don't miss the World Surf League, when some of the world's best surfers descend upon J Bay.
- For followers of colonial history, towns like Graaff-Reinet and Grahamstown are quintessential South African frontier towns and have a lot to offer in terms of museums and ornate Victorian architecture. For a complete contrast, visit the traditional Xhosa villages of the Karoo.
- Mthatha, the capital of Xhosa is worth a stop as this is where you'll find the Nelson Mandela Musuem, and on the outskirts of the town lies Qunu, his birthplace.
Our collection of the best places to stay in the Eastern Cape showcase the best in budget-friendly, boutique, lodges, and all-out luxury hotels.
