Soak
up the sun on the beach Visit
Calgary Transport Museum See
cycads at Queens Park East
London Aquarium Surf
at Nahoon Reef Gawp
at the Coelacanth Go
shopping for Xhosa art See
the Nahoon Fossil Print Visit
Ikwenkwezi Game Reserve Khayalabantu
Cultural Village Thornvalley
Python Park for kids Hike
the Amatola Trail
East London, or Buffalo city is the gateway to South Africa's
Eastern Cape Sunshine Coast. Its mild
climate, warm hospitality, excellent cuisine and unhurried
lifestyle make it the ideal destination for relaxing
holidays. The city's numerous tourist attractions and sound
infrastructure offer ample opportunity for recreational activities.
East London also provides close access to the unspoilt
nature of the Wild Coast and the traditional Xhosa
culture of the Amatola region. The city is easy to reach on the coastal
national N2 road, and the airport runs flights between
Johannesburg, Durban and
Cape
Town
International
Airports.
Historically the East London area was a densely populated wild
life territory but game numbers dwindled due to hunting during
the early 1900's. Increased conservation efforts in the past
few decades have seen more farmers turning to game farming
as a form of income, and the re-introduction of
formerly
indigenous
species have created numerous new game parks and reserves.
The city's rich history can be experienced
by visiting some of the old buildings, museums and national
monuments that still
stand today. Calgary Transport Museum houses
a fine collection of horse-drawn carts,
wagons and gypsy caravans, while Fort Glamorgan,
founded in 1848, provided quarters for local the troops. The
German Settler's
Museum commemorates
the 1858/9 arrival of more than 2 000 German men, women and
children, who helped expand the settlement. The famous Steve
Biko Statue (EL) and Walter Rubusana Grave (EL), pay
tribute to personalities from the Apartheid struggle era.
Going back much further in time, the Nahoon Fossil
Prints,
on Nahoon beach are the oldest homo sapien footprints
known to science - 200 000 years old!
In 1938, a specimen of the Coelacanth, or 'Old
Fourlegs', previously
thought to be extinct for 70 million years, was discovered
at Chalumna Mouth, 40 kms south of East London. The rediscovery
of the species is seen as the
most important biological find of the 20th century and
today it can be viewed in the East London Museum.
If you've come for the sun and sea, East London's beaches are
rated among the best in the world. The famous Nahoon
Reef,
is
renowned for its surfing and consistent wave conditions, and
the area's wide open stretches of coastline, sheltered lagoons
and majestic
cliffs are an angling,
snorkeling and scuba diving paradise. The warm Indian Ocean
currents are home to reef fish such as mussel cracker,
and game fish like marlin and yellowtail during
the annual Sardine Run. Also attracted to the area is a selection
of sharks,
including the great white, tiger and dusky sharks.
The city itself hosts some wonderful attractions to keep visitors
busy during their stay. Modern shopping centers like
Vincent Park and Beacon Bay offer a selection of retailers
including cinemas, excellent restaurants, coffee shops and
pubs, all under one roof. Hemingways Casino has
gaming, and a variety of shops and fast food outlets within
one
entertainment complex. Craft, curio and specialty
shops can
be found along the beachfront
and at The Lock Street Gaol - an historic monument with its
original gallows still in working order.
Colourful traditional
local Xhosa arts and crafts, including clothing
and beadwork, can
be purchased at a number of village
craft centers, such as the Ilitha Women's Project in Berlin.
Buy something unique to take home as a gift!
If you've worked up an appetite after a day's retail therapy,
a number of fine restaurants on the East London Esplanade
offer delicious steaks or seafood - dine al fresco while you
enjoy a glass of top local wine on a warm summers evening.
Exotic
African dishes like crocodile, buffalo and venison can be enjoyed
at Le Petit Restaurant in Nahoon. For the more adventurous
palate, traditional Xhosa dishes are served at Emzini
African
Restaurant
and Jazz Cafe at the Hemingways.
East London's accommodation facilities rate
amongst the best, having won numerous awards over the years.
Stay in style
at your choice
of at least eight accredited luxury hotels,
or, a wide selection of apartments, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts
and
cottages that cater to every budget and need. Buffalo
City also has four backpacker hostels which
form part of a national network of budget accommodation facilities.
For adrenaline junkies and those with an adventurous spirit,
Buffalo City offers a wide range of outdoor activities including
game viewing horse trails, mountain
bike trails through unparalleled
scenic beauty, 4x4 trails along challenging coastal and mountain
routes, and abseiling at selected
river mouth cliffs. Micro-lighting and paragliding opportunities are available through local clubs if you want
to get a birds-eye view of the beautiful coastal landscape.
East London is an exceptional South African coastal
holiday destination. The combination of warm seas, beautiful beaches, shopping
and entertainment and the attraction of pristine nature and
Big Five game lodges - all within easy reach, make Buffalo
City a must on any traveler's itinerary.
Soak
up the sun on the beach
Freestate 
