Grahamstown and Surrounding Settler Towns

Not very far from Port Elizabeth, is the historic town of Grahamstown with other equal historical towns in its vicinity - Bathurst, Port Alfred and Salem.

Established in 1812 as military outpost, and later as a village and trading centre for the 1820 British Settlers, Grahamtown’s most prominent landmark is the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George which took 128 years to build.

There is also the 1820 Settlers Monument, the Methodist Commemoration Church, with its Gothic Revival facade, and the City Hall built in 1870 as a memorial to the 1820 settlers.

Other places of interest are the Albany Museum, the Settlers Wild Flower Reserve and Fort Selwyn.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

The Friendly City - Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth, situated in the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s fifth largest city and one of the leading ports. The city is vibrant and easy-going and national and international known as the “The Friendly City”. 

 The city was named in 1820 by the acting British Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Rufane Donkin, after his wife Elizabeth who died in 1818 in India. In 1820, the settlement was a small cluster of houses on the coast, protected by Fort Frederick on top of a nearby hill. Since then the city has grown to a city with a population of more than 700 000. 

The good-natured environment, the warm atmosphere of its lazy beaches and its warm, temperate climate all work together to make Port Elizabeth an engaging tourist destination. 

Port Elizabeth is ideally situated as base for coastal day drives to beautiful places such as Bluewater Bay, Schoenmakerskop, Seaview, and Van Staden’s River Mouth or inland to Groendal Wilderness Area, Addo Elephant National Park or Uitenhage Nature Reserve.

There is no shortage of things to do in and around Port Elizabeth. There is an abundance of historical sites, museums and monuments dating back to the 15th century; you can visit the Oceanarium; climb the Campanile; or snorkel and scuba in excellent diving spots. 

There are also other sea-related sports - boating, yachting, wind-surfing and angling. There are also interesting hiking trails through historic parks and nature reserves. 

Holiday accommodation is top-notch - from self-catering establishments to luxurious hotels and lodges, at prices to suit everybody.

Do not forget the many shopping malls and several fine restaurants. And, naturally the city has a good selection of wide, gently sloping beaches that are safe for swimming.

Come experience the friendliness of the Friendly City!

By Danie De Villiers - Freelance Writer

Scenic Eastern Cape

The beautiful shores of the Eastern Cape is aptly called the ‘Sunshine Coast’, so named for its long, sun-soaked days and warm seasons, is not only favored by South Africans, but also by tourists from abroad.

The reason is not only the sun-drenched beaches, but also because of its rural, mellow atmosphere, its superior swimming areas, surfing and angling opportunities and its wealth of other outdoor-related activities.

The province has plenty hiking trails, tracking beautiful mountains and valleys, and more than enough nature reserves offer great country accommodation and abundant wildlife.

The former Ciskei, once the scene of nine frontier wars between the Xhosas and the British, is now a tranquil holiday playground, world-renowned for its superb scenic landscapes, ultra-modern coastal resorts and tiny villages nestling at the feet of towering mountain ranges, such as the Katberge, Amatola, Winterberge and Hogsback.  

Beyond the Kei River mouth is the former Transkei. Here are bronze beaches of the Wild Coast - a palm-fringed paradise where monkeys play on the terraces of casino resorts and beautiful hotels.  

Danie de Villiers

Cape Town - Tourist Paradise

In 1580, Sir Francis Drake sailed round the most southern tip of Africa in his Golden Hind and was so impressed by what he saw that he called Table Mountain and the peninsula on which it stands “the Fairest Cape in the whole circumference of the earth”.

Today, more than 400 years since Drake sailed round the Cape, Cape Town is one of the world’s great holiday destinations. Cape Town, or also known as the Mother City, is a fascinating blend of the old and the new. Here, the 17th century pentagonal Castle of Good Hope rubs shoulders with towering sky-scrapers and modern shopping malls. In the Malay quarter, known as the ‘Bo-Kaap’ (Upper Cape), bulbous minarets rise high up above buildings festooned with cast-iron adornments from another world and age of long ago. Cobblestoned streets lead into cosy squares and long pedestrian malls, where street vendors sell antiques, clothing, handcrafts, African art and endless selections of stuff. 

At the Grand Parade flower vendors offer a dazzling array of indigenous flowers at giveaway prices, while other pavement vendors sell anything under the sun. In the arcades and alleyways buskers entertain passers-by with traditional songs, dances and music. 

 At the Waterfront there is a carnival atmosphere as the Atlantic Ocean gently touches the feet of strollers whilst seafood sizzles in pans of dockside bistros and restaurants. There are boat cruises and yacht trips as well as helicopter and bus rides to every corner of the peninsula. For bargain hunters there are an assortment of shops, craft markets and seaside stalls selling anything you want.

To the west and the south of the city, the coastline curves round to reveal bikini beaches and scenic mountain drives.

And the cherry on top of it all is the cable-way to the summit of Table Mountain!

Whatever you want from a holiday you name it, Cape Town has it all!

By Danie de Villiers- Freelance Writer

Traditional South African Recipe: Anchovy Eggs

This is a traditional recipe of South Africa:

Take as many hard-boiled eggs as required take off the shells and cut the eggs in half lengthwise. Take out the yolks and pound them into a paste with butter, anchovy sauce, and a little cream or milk. Fill the whites with the mixture, put them into a pre-heated oven (300 ⁰F) for a few minutes , and serve on hot buttered toast.

Enjoy!

Danie de Villiers - Freelance writer