Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

on sale include handcrafted leatherwork, pottery, basketry, shell art,
beadwork, furniture and much more. Crafters use “ugonothi” and “imbo”,
bamboo-like reeds that grow along the Wild Coast, to weave their baskets and
to make furniture.
FAUNA AND FLORA
Silaka Nature Reserve: This beautiful coastal reserve, situated south of Port
St Johns, lies in a forested valley facing the sea. A small, sandy beach is
located below the rest camp with its thatched bungalows. The reserve, a
nesting area for many species of birds, affords visitors a chance to view such
elusive bird species as the cinnamon dove, the Knysna lourie, the grey cuckoo
as well as the red-billed wood hoopoe, chorister robin and forest weaver.
Zebra, blue wildebeest and blesbok have also been introduced into the
reserve and if you are very, very lucky, you may just spot the shy blue duiker.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
Grosvenor Cannon: This cannon originally formed part of the armament of the
“Grosvenor”, one of the many ships that have been wrecked on the coast near
the town.
Huberta the Hippopotamus: One of Port St John’s most endearing visitors was
Huberta the wandering hippopotamus, the first to be seen in this area for more
than 100 years. Huberta started her wanderings at Richards Bay in KwaZulu-
Natal in 1928, arrived at Port St Johns in March 1930, stayed for six months
and steadily ate her way through the local gardens and then moved on.
Everyone in the area was sad to see her leave and even sadder when she
was killed by hunters several hundred kilometres further south, on the
Keiskamma River. Today, Huberta occupies pride of place in the Amatola
Museum (Kaffrarian Museum) in King William’s Town.
Port St Johns Museum: The museum’s main focus is on the cultural history of
the area although it also has interesting displays of fauna and molluscs.
Another interesting exhibit is a collection of beaded Xhosa “love letters." This
traditional craft was used to compose many ardent love letters at a time when
there was no written Xhosa language. The museum houses a selection of
“love letters”, as well as several other items dealing with Xhosa culture.
Town Hall: The stately Town Hall is adorned with a ship’s bell, reputedly
gambled away by the captain of the “Clan Gordon”.
NATURAL WONDERS
Blow Hole and the Gap: North of Second Beach lies the Gap, a deep gully that
has almost detached the headland from a rocky outcrop. To reach the Blow
Hole, where the incoming tide sends plumes of spray into the air, you need to
climb down the cliff with the help of a cable and wooden ladder.
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