Despite being one of the poorest provinces in South Africa, the Eastern Cape is one of South Africa's most spectacular provinces. The birthplace of several of the country's most celebrated leaders, Eastern Cape is not only arguably our most symbolic province, it is also a marvel that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves. So, to celebrate the beauty and charm of this special place, we looked at a few reasons you should be in love with it:
Wildlife
The Eastern Cape is home to a diverse collection of wildlife, including the big-five viewing in a malaria-free environment. Wildlife attractions include Addo Elephant National Park, which offers sanctuary to in excess of 170 elephants, 400 Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino, and The Tsitsikamma National Park, which is an 80 km long coastal strip where visitors can find an almost untouched natural landscape.
Stunning beaches
The Eastern Cape is strewn with some of the most secluded and untouched beaches in all of South Africa. Its stretch of beaches includes a section with around 800 km of untouched and pristine coastline. For those of us who are a little tired of the clutter of popular Durban and Cape Town beaches, Eastern Cape offers several alternative options that's make your chilling at the beach that much more relaxing.
Seclusion
There are thousands of square kilometres of open space around the Eastern Cape. For city folk like myself, there are few better places to go and enjoy some downtime than its peaceful, quiet and tranquil surrounds. Its collection of world-class lodges and resorts are generally located amidst untouched natural landscapes. There isn't much noise in the Eastern Cape, and that's definitely something worth celebrating.