Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

CULTURAL/COMMUNITY TOURISM
Kouga Cultural Centre: A unique new, landmark “African” building, designed to
symbolise the birth of the African Renaissance, was recently erected in
Humansdorp. The main objective of the centre is to provide the local
community and the visitor with an opportunity to experience and participate in
the diverse cultures of the people of the Kouga Region. Activities presented at
the centre strive to unite people from different backgrounds by recognising
their cultural differences and diversity. The centre will preserve the art, culture
and customs, areas of historical interest, monuments and museums of the
people of the region. A one-stop information and business centre will be part
of this multi-purpose community centre.
FAUNA AND FLORA
Fynbos Flora: This Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the six botanical kingdoms of
the world is widely recognised and universally admired. South Africans refer to
this unique and characteristic group of plants as fynbos. Fynbos is found in
great profusion in certain areas of the Eastern Cape but especially in the
Humansdorp area. Insignificant in size, rarely exceeding 4 m in height,
these wonderful plants are evergreen, highly drought-resistant and usually
make an excellent recovery after veld fires. As they usually occupy very
localised areas, you may find that a walk of a few hundred metres up a
mountain slope or some other area will reveal a few dozen species, of which
at least one will be in bloom at almost any time of the year. Up to 121 species
have been counted in an area of just 100 square metres.
Humansdorp Park: The park is probably the only garden in the world that is
laid out in the form of the Union Jack.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
Humansdorp Museum: The museum houses a collection of farming
implements and household items that add to the elegance of this charming
building.
Watermill: NPH Rademeyer built this old watermill in Humansdorp in 1874.
The War Memorial: The memorial was built as a tribute to the inhabitants of
the town who lost their lives in the two World Wars.
JEFFREY’S BAY
In 1849, the St Helena whaler, JA Jeffrey, established a harbour at this spot
because it was ideally situated midway between the Gamtoos and Kromme
Rivers and the estuaries of the Kabeljous and Seekoei Rivers. Jeffrey’s fresh
produce business thrived until 1905, when a narrow-gauge railway was built
and it ceased to be the only provider of produce to the Langkloof.
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