Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

The Kouga region is synonymous with the twin valleys of the Langkloof and
Gamtoos and the massive Baviaanskloof Wilderness area lying beyond it. The
Gamtoos River Valley includes the towns of Loerie, Hankey (Africa’s largest
sundial can be seen at the entrance to the town) and Patensie, and is the
gateway to this wilderness area. Other attractions in this area include the
superbly beautiful Van Staden’s Flower Reserve, Loerie Geelhout Nature
Reserve and the Loerie and Kouga Dams.
The “Sunshine Coast” stretches from the forests of the Tsitsikamma in the
west, home to South Africa’s first national marine park, along kilometres of
warm, sandy beaches to East London in the east. This is also the location of
the unique Alexandria dune fields and the heart of South Africa’s chicory
industry. And, last but not least, South Africa’s only “Big Seven” nature
reserve, the Greater Addo Elephant National Park in the Sundays River
Valley, is in the region. The Sundays River Valley also supports a vibrant
citrus industry and produces some of the finest quality lemons in the world.
The Tsitsikamma area can only
be described as lush and lovely
beyond words! This is a place
of rocky mountain peaks, lonely
beaches and coastal rain
forests with towering
yellowwood trees where you
may just be lucky enough to
stumble upon the shy little
duiker silently making his way
through the undergrowth, while
Cape clawless otters scour the
river for food and the elusive
Knysna loerie perches on a
branch high in the air. The area
is protected within the borders
of the Tsitsikamma National
Park with its renowned Otter,
Tsitsikamma and Dolphin Hiking
Trails and the Storms River
Gorge, a prime ecotourism
destination. The only Khoisan
village of its kind is situated in
The park and offers guided
heritage tours, self-catering
Khoi-hut accommodation,
Khoisan cuisine and
entertainment.
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