Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY
Museum Complex: Prepare to spend many fascinating hours in this
magnificent complex. Within the complex is the Port Elizabeth Museum that
houses one of the largest marine mammal collections in the world, a nationally
important herpetological collection and the life-sized models of prehistoric
mammals such as Algoa Bay’s own 14-m-long dinosaur. The museum also
exhibits a valuable reference collection of fish otoliths (ear bones) and squid
beaks that were part of the stomach contents of marine predators. Another
significant exhibit depicts the stages of development of life on earth since
some 300 million years ago.
ART AND CRAFTS
King George VI Art Gallery: The gallery houses a permanent collection of 19 th
and 20 th century British art as well as collections of Oriental, South African
and other art. The gallery often presents lectures, films and concerts
pertaining to these collections and is considered one of the best art galleries in
South Africa.
Wezandla Gallery and Craft Centre: The centre was set up to ensure the
survival and preservation of African, and specifically, local Xhosa culture. It
also hosts live cultural evenings that feature African dancing and are catered
for with traditional African food. Wezandla sells superior examples of crafts
made by local and other African artists. A good local “buy” to take home is a
long-stemmed, wooden Xhosa tobacco pipe. These pipes, traditionally
smoked by mature Xhosa women, represent two art forms: carving and
beadwork and are quite unlike European pipes.
CULTURAL/COMMUNITY TOURISM
“Khaya Lendaba”: South Africa’s only
centre for traditional healing and the
training of sangomas (African herbalists
and traditional healers) is located in the
Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The
house was built by Credo Mutwa, the
renowned South African sangoma, artist
and oral historian. Daily tours are
conducted around the village (decorated
with Mutwa’s spectacular sculptures) and
visitors are introduced to local culture and African herbalism and may spend
some time with the traditional healer. Traditional dishes and beer are also on
offer.
Township tours: Various accredited tour guides and operators offer visitors the
opportunity to meet the local inhabitants, learn about their different cultures
and get a feel of life in the townships. The tours expose visitors to the full
spectrum of life in Port Elizabeth’s townships and include club and “shebeen”
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