Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

The Sundays River Valley, home to the elephants of the Greater Addo
Elephant National Park and also renowned for its citrus and roses, can be
reached either from the interchange at St George’s Strand, east of Port
Elizabeth, or from the Paterson intersection on National Road N10. Visit the
old-world, small towns of Addo, site of the annual Rose Festival (billed as one
of the best of its kind in the world) and Kirkwood where Sir Percy Fitzpatrick,
the acclaimed author of "Jock of the Bushveld", lies buried. Explore the
Zuurberg Mountains on foot, on horseback or with your 4x4 and visit the
nearby Sundays River to fish or to enjoy other forms of water sport.
KAROO HEARTLAND ROUTE (SYMBOL: KAROO KOPPIE/HILLOCK)
The Karoo Heartland Route starts at Port Elizabeth, traverses the vast central
plateau of South Africa with its wide open spaces and picturesque small towns
and villages and passes many interesting spots such as the house of Olive
Schreiner, author of “The Story of an African Farm,” in Cradock, and the Owl
House in the village of Nieu-Bethesda, to wonder at the exotic sculptures of
artist Helen Martins. The Karoo Nature Reserve and Mountain Zebra National
Park are also in this area.
THE R63 BLUE CRANE ROUTE (SYMBOL: BLUE CRANE)
This route stretches from Graaff-Reinet to the small town of Pearston and on
to Somerset East, the picturesque town at the foot of the Bosberg Mountain
Range, close to the Bosberg Mountain Reserve.
THE MOUNTAIN ZEBRA/WAPADSBERG ROUTE
From Graaff-Reinet the route winds through mountain scenery with sweeping
views past the Mountain Zebra National Park to Cradock, 35 km further.
THE MOHAIR ROUTE (SYMBOL: KAROO KOPPIE/HILLOCK)
The R75 Mohair Route starts in historic Graaff-Reinet, centre for mohair
(the silky fleece of the angora goat)-farming, crosses the Sundays River to
Jansenville, the country’s third largest mohair-producing district and ends
at Uitenhage, passing the Greater Addo Elephant National Park and the
renowned Groendal Wilderness area. Sid Fourie House in Jansenville has
interesting historical papers, books and pictures on view. Uitenhage, a major
motor-manufacturing centre, boasts a display of all the old Volkswagen Beetle
vehicles in its Drostdy Museum. Cuyler Manor Museum is the venue for the
annual Prickly Pear Festival held in February each year and also gives live
demonstrations of shearing and other old-time farming activities.
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