Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

Bass-fishing, sail-boating and board-sailing can be enjoyed at the Rooikrantz
Dam.
FAUNA AND FLORA
Botanical Gardens: King William’s Town is justifiably proud of its botanical
gardens and its nature reserve where many species of indigenous flora grow
unhindered.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
Amatole Museum: The Amatole Museum, formerly the Kaffrarian Museum,
was founded in 1884 by the local naturalist society. The second largest
collection of mammals in South Africa, 40 000 in total, can be seen here. One
of the most interesting exhibits is Huberta, the legendary hippopotamus, who
made a journey of over 800 km from the Richards Bay area in KwaZulu-Natal
to Port St Johns where she stayed for about six months. Travelling
southwards, she was eventually shot by hunters on the banks of the
Keiskamma River. Huberta had been on the road from 1928 until 1930. The
museum also houses exhibits on the history of the German population and the
indigenous Xhosa people.
British Kaffrarian Savings Bank: The British Kaffrarian Savings Bank has
housed the local financial institution since the nineteenth century.
Canons: The four muzzle-loading cannons at the base of the Queen Victoria
Memorial, unveiled in 1800, were added years after the memorial was built.
Engineers Lane: A trip down Engineers Lane includes a visit to the old military
hospital and blacksmith shop housed in the former Royal Engineers Officers’
Mess.
Fort Murray: The fort was built on the banks of the Buffalo River, in 1848, after
the Seventh Frontier War.
Grey Hospital: The hospital was built in 1859 by the then Governor of the
Cape, Sir George Grey.
Old cannon: The old cannon on the Old Military Reserve was presented to the
town by Maj. Gen. Frederick Eardley-Wilmot, in memory of his brother, who
was killed during the Eighth Frontier War.
Old Residency: The former home of the Governor, Sir Harry Smith, was built
in 1826.
South African Missionary Museum: The museum was established in the
former Methodist Church that dates back to 1855. Exhibits focus on the
eventful missionary history of the area.
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