Nelson Mandela Museum
Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, at the Museum's
opening. The museum was officially opened on the 11th of February
2000. The original plan was a simple museum on the ruins of Nelson
Mandela's old rural school. But now, thanks to donations from
abroad, the scheme has mushroomed into a series of halls, shops
and gardens designed by six architectural firms and costing R80m.
The
Nelson Mandela Museum is conceptualised as a single museum with
three interrelated components, namely:
•
The historic Bhunga building in Umtata which will serve as the
exhibition, storage, management and administration centre of the
museum;
• The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre, and a Community
Museum/Cultural Centre with tourist facilities at Qunu;
• An exhibition together with the protection and display
of the remains of the homestead where Nelson Mandela was born
at Mvezo.
Addo
Elephant Park
Endangered Elephant Sanctuary
Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape,
the conservation success story of this park is world famous. Since
its proclamation in 1931, the last eleven elephants in that region
have bred to number 170. Its 11718 ha also offers sanctuary to
the last Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino of the very scarce Kenyan
sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung-beetle
which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of animals
are frequent and an illuminated waterhole provides excellent night-time
viewing.
Two walking trails have been laid out in the park, and conducted
night drives can be arranged, offering a rare experience of nocturnal
life in the bush.
Valley of Desolation
Just a few kilometres north-west of Graaf-Reinet lies the Valley
of Desolation. The Valley of Desolation is a National Monument
within the Karoo Nature Reserve, and was formed millions of years
ago by weathering erosion. Heat and cold, drought and water caused
the rocks to crumble and brought about the bizarre rock formations.
Sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of Dolerite rise
120 metres from the valley floor. This is the product of volcanic
and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years.
Grahamstown
National Arts Festival
Come to Grahamstown and enjoy South Africa's largest Arts Festival.
Africa's largest and most colorful cultural event offers a choice
of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. Every
year for 11 days (27 JUNE - 5 JULY 2003) Grahamstown's population
almost doubles, as over 50 000 people flock to the city for a
feast of arts, crafts and sheer entertainment.
http://www.sbfest.co.za
Hole in the wall
Near Coffee Bay is a prominent rock formation with a big hole
in the middle, which has become a symbol for the Xhosa of a great
historical tragedy, the "Great Cattle Killing".It is
a unique structure with a huge detached cliff that has a giant
opening carved through its centre by the waves. The local Xhosa
call this place "izi Khaleni", which means "place
of thunder". At certain seasons and water conditions (high
tide) the waves clap is such a fashion that the concussion can
be heard throughout the valley.
Tsitsikamma
National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park is also known as "the place
of much water".
Where the booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound
rocky shores, where temperate high forest and fynbos roll down
to the sea in an unspoilt verdant carpet, where ancient rivers
carve their paths to the ocean down rocky ravines…this,
"the place of much water", is the Tsitsikamma National
Park. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea The
Tsitsikamma National Park is an 80 kilometre long coastal strip
between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River. In
the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape.
The popular Otter Trail of 48 km and the Tsitsikamma Trail of
72 km, both offer the well-trained hiker an experience of a unique
plant and animal world.
www.parks-sa.co.za/tsitsikamma
Highest
Bungee Jump in the world
Bungeeeeeeeeeeee!
Bloukranz adrenalin rush!
Throw yourself off the world's biggest bungee jump located at
Bloukrans Bridge on Storms River, in South Africa's Eastern Cape.
A 180m freefall that takes seven seconds traveling at 193kmph
- even the rebound is higher than the Victoria Falls.
www.faceadrenalin.com
Baviaanskloof
Wilderness Area
The Baviaanskloof or the "Valley of Baboons" is rapidly
assuming national conservation and heritage prominence. The Baviaanskloof
is a wilderness area situated on the eastern border of the Cape
Floral Kingdom, some two and a half hour's drive from Port Elizabeth.
The Baviaanskloof or the "Valley of Baboons" is hidden
away in the southwestern corner of the Eastern Cape Province.
The Owl House
Explore the "Camel Yard" and enter a magical world at
the Owl House.
The owl house, in Nieu-Bethesda just outside Graaf-Reinet in the
Eastern Cape, was where Helen Martins, or "Miss Helen"
as she was known to the locals, spent the latter part of her life
in the house where she was born. Regarded as an eccentric and
deeply interested in Eastern philosophy, she lived a hermit-like
existence, devoting her life to her beloved Owl statues, and "the
search for light and brightness".
Hogsback
(Eco-Destination)
Hogsback is famous for its spectacular waterfalls such as Madonna
and Child, Swallowtail and Kettle spout.The village and holiday
resort are magnificently sited on the slopes of the Amatole Mountains,
overlooking the rivers and fertile plains of the Tyume Valley
in a region dominated by three ridges said to resemble the bristles
on a hog's back. Hogsback is 30 km from Alice, which in turn is
22 km from Fort Beaufort.
www.hogsbackinfo.co.za
Jeffreys Bay - Supertubes
Experience the perfect wave in J-bay.
Probably South Africa's longest and most consistently good wave.
It's ordained by ocean deities as a mecca for surf and began in
the late 60s and early 70s as a hippie hangout from whence came
the surf dynasties: Rip Curl, Billabong, Country Feeling and so
forth.
J-Bay is in Eastern Cape, an area with some of South Africa's
wildest coastline
www.wavescape.co.za/top_bar/spots/Jbaycoast.html
www.gardenroute.co.za/jbay/
Snow
Skiing
Hit the slopes at Tiffendell - the only ski resort in South Africa!
Imagine snow skiing and snow boarding in Africa! Well now you
can - at Tiffendels, the only ski resort in South Africa! Tiffindell
ski resort is situated in the Southern Drakensberg on the slopes
of the highest mountain peak in the Eastern Cape (3001m).
www.snow.co.za
Hot
Springs - Aliwal North
Aliwal North, lying on a splendid agricultural plateau on the
southern bank of the Orange river, is one of the country's most
popular inland resorts. Aliwal North is famous for its Hot springs.
The spa has large thermal pools, including two for children, as
well as saunas, a gym and a treatment block with amenities for
invalids. Water sports are popular on The Island where 27 waterfowl
species have been recorded. East of Aliwal North, the Buffelspruit
Nature Reserve supports a number of game animals.
The
Eastern Cape
Offers
800km of untouched and pristine coastline along with some of the
world's best beaches. Port Elizabeth alone has 40 km of magnificent
beaches and, with its perfect combination of warm water, calm
sea and fair breezes, it is one of the best sailing venues in
the world, and a Mecca for all beach and Watersports enthusiasts.
The Southern Beaches offer safe and sheltered swimming, body surfing,
sunbathing, boardsailing, excellent waves and surfing opportunities
as well as interesting inter-tidal sealife, while the Northern
Beaches offer vast stretches of sand and dunes ideal for long
beach walks and superb angling and swimming opportunities. The
beaches include King's Beach, Humewood Beach, Hobie Beach, Pollock
Beach, Brighton Beach, Bluewater Bay, St George's Strand and Wells
Estate. Humewood Beach is linked to Happy Valley - a walk through
garden with landscaped lawns, lily ponds and trickling fresh-water
rivers. On the south side of the city Schoenmakerskop
- a picturesque seaside village - offers scenic picnic spots,
coves, rock pools and holiday resorts with safe bathing and fishing
in tidal pools. A little further along is Sardinia Bay,
a Marine Reserve with miles of unspoilt coast-line and crystal
clear water - excellent for diving, horse riding and scenic walks
and hikes. The Swartkops River Estuary is a unique
Watersports playground - ideal for power boating, canoeing, sailing,
windsurfing and angling.
Malaria Free Big 5 Game Viewing
Visitors
get up close and personal with some Rhino without the risk of
Malaria. When coming to Africa many tourists are weary of getting
Malaria - and rightfully so. Now you can rest easy…view
the "Big Five" in a malaria free environment! The Eastern
Cape boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa.
Home to a herd of 300 elephants, the 'Addo Elephant National Park'
allows close quarter viewing. There are also black rhino, buffalo,
eland, Kudo and other antelope species. More than 170 species
of birds have been identified. Addo offers it all from night drives,
restaurants, accommodation, camping sites, and illuminated waterholes.
Shamwari, a privately owned, luxury game reserve boasts the "big
five" in a malaria free environment. Whether at the exclusive
Shamwari Game Reserve, the large Addo Elephant Park or the Mountain
Zebra National Parks, the East Cape offers unequalled game viewing
in conditions suited to the traveler. The Doubledrift Game Reserve,
on the Great Fish River, forms a combined conversation area of
44 000ha with the Sam Knott Nature Reserve and Andries Vosloo
Kudu Reserve to preserve succulent valley bushveld and the divers
habitats it provides to numerous species. These reserves have
proved to be immensely successful.Further north, along the Eastern
Cape's east cost, we find the Wild Coast untamed and beautiful,
this is the perfect holiday destination. Fishing more than anything
else, draws holiday-makers to the Wild Coast. In summer, catches
include huge reef fish such as musselcracker. In autumn, the annual
sardine run brings fighting game fish. Totally unspoilt and uncommercialised,
the Wild Coast offers a pleasant climate, mild seas and family
resorts where fresh seafood features on most menus. Southern right
whales and their calves are regularly spotted from the high dunes,
usually between May and November, and common and bottlenose dolphins
are often seen close to shore, providing a wonderful treat for
people who want more from the sea than food. Coffee Bay is easily
accessible from the N2 and is popular among surfers, anglers and
shell collectors. The lagoon offers safe bathing.
Must
see sites include:
Dwesa Nature Reserve
A blend of coastal forest, open grassland, winding rivers and
a diverse coastline. Trails through lush forests make this a rambler's
paradise. From the top of Kobole Point, there are magnificent
views across the ocean where dolphins and whales are often seen.
Self-catering accommodation is available.
Hluleka
Nature Reserve
The reserve encompasses a lagoon, rocky seashore and evergreen
forest. In this ramblers' paradise zebra, blesbok and blue wildebeest
are regularly encountered in open areas along the Hlukela River.
There are several vantage points from which to observe dolphins
and whales offshore.
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