Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations
Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations
Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations
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Waters Meeting Nature Reserve: Less than 20 km east of Port Alfred, the<br />
thick valley bushveld and open grasslands offer refuge to animals such as<br />
kudu and bushbuck as well as bush pig. Bird life is varied and includes raptors<br />
and waterfowl. The Kowie Canoe Trail, on the Kowie River, stops at<br />
Horseshoe Bend where there is a hut.<br />
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE<br />
Kowie Museum: The Kowie River Heritage Collection focuses on the social<br />
and cultural history of the area. The exhibits range from shipwreck artefacts to<br />
Xhosa crafts and articles of 1820-Settler history.<br />
Railway Station: The station building was opened in 1884 and was briefly used<br />
as a pub and boarding house after the line was closed and before it<br />
was proclaimed a national monument in 1958.<br />
Settlers Church: Many generations of Settlers rest in the graveyard of this<br />
church that has been declared a national monument.<br />
SALEM<br />
Hezekiah Sephton, leader of an independent Settler Party of almost 100<br />
families, established this town along the Assegai Bosch River in 1820. One of<br />
the inhabitants, Chaplain William Shaw, named the town, Salem (“Peace”).<br />
The fine stone churches, historic cottages and village green on which cricket<br />
matches have been played since 1844 transport visitors back to the days of<br />
yesteryear and add to the town’s “old world” charm.<br />
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE<br />
The Richard Gush Monolith: A memorial to commemorate the Quaker<br />
carpenter, Richard Gush, stands opposite the church. During the Sixth<br />
Frontier War, Gush became a hero when he left the safety of the stronghold<br />
during a Xhosa raid to pacify the Xhosa impis. After the surprised Xhosas told<br />
him that they were hungry, he collected bread to be handed out to them and<br />
they departed peacefully.<br />
SOMERSET EAST<br />
Equidistant between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet at the foot of the Bosberg<br />
Mountains, lies charming Somerset East. The town is noted for its beautiful<br />
oak trees, whitewashed historic buildings (many of which are national<br />
monuments), mountain streams and waterfalls. It started life as a military farm<br />
after the “trekboer” (migrant farmer) Willem Prinsloo established some<br />
successful plantations near Bruintjieshoogte. This led to Governor Lord<br />
Charles Somerset’s decision that feed for the horses of the eastern frontier<br />
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