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Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

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<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> Island Forest Reserve: The lush green indigenous forests of the<br />

<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> Island Forest Reserve cover 480 ha along the Alexandria<br />

coastline and offer numerous walks, including the well-known Bushbuck<br />

Hiking Trail. There are several picnic sites and barbecue areas in the reserve.<br />

Maitland Nature Reserve: This is a 127-ha indigenous coastal forest reserve in<br />

which many species of birds nest. The nature trails through the forest open up<br />

this wondrous world to hikers. The most popular route leads to the lead mines<br />

and the giant Maitland sand dunes.<br />

Ocean safaris: Since the launching of ocean safaris from the harbour, the<br />

antics of the dolphins and penguins in Port Elizabeth’s Algoa Bay have<br />

remained in the spotlight. The local environmentalist, who heads these charter<br />

trips, has an enduring passion for marine life and his talks inspire, entertain<br />

and educate visitors and locals alike. He often refers to the bay as an<br />

“ecological dream”, pointing out that it is inhabited by many attractive marine<br />

species, such as humpback- and bottlenose dolphins, marine birds and seals<br />

and the largest breeding colony of endangered <strong>African</strong> penguins on the<br />

planet, at St Croix Island Marine Reserve.<br />

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