The Eastern Cape is a literal paradise on earth and one of South Africa’s most notoriously laid back and beautiful provinces. Stretching from Plettenberg Bay in the west, through the rugged and stunning Wild Coast, to the border with Kwazulu Natal in the northwest. One of its main attractions is the Indian Ocean, which unlike its Western Cape counterpart is warm and mild.
The major cities in the Eastern Cape include its capital Bisho, the windy city Port Elizabeth, surfer’s paradise East London, the university town of Grahamstown and Uitenhage. Grahamstown is renowned as an academic centre in South Africa, with the world-renowned Rhodes University and a number of excellent schools. Uitenhage is primarily focused on the automotive manufacturing industry and exports an impressive amount of cars each year.
Tourism is one of the top currency earners when it comes to the coastal towns, with visitors both local and foreign flooding in to the Garden Route and the Sunshine Coast. In fact, their popularity as holiday destinations due to superb beaches and a mild climate has ensured that towns like Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Port Alfred and Jeffreys Bay have developed tremendously in recent years. Many South Africans choose to invest in holiday homes in these areas and spend quality time away from the madness of inner city life.
Another important industry in the Eastern Cape is agriculture, with fruit being a significant crop, as well as coffee and tea. The major activity in the somewhat dry Karoo is sheep farming and there are some excellent breeders operating in the area. Other agricultural activities practiced in the area include cattle ranching and the cultivation of maize and sorghum.
The Tsitsikamma National Park on the Eastern Cape’s southern border is home to a wealth of indigenous forest. The region’s summer rainfall and moderate climate make it perfect for forestry and the national park has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the country. St Francis Bay is another of the area’s magnificent coastal towns and there is plenty of history to be found in Grahamstown and Graaff-Reinet. There really is a little bit of everything on offer in the Eastern Cape. |
