Amathole Mountains

Framed with a canopy of woodland forest and lush green surroundings the Amathole Mountains tell many tales of the local Xhosa culture and ancient African history. An outdoor adventurer’s ideal destination, this route stretches from Adelaide in the West to Stutterheim in the East. Delight in a variety of angling, hiking and mountain biking excursions, as well as abseiling, archery and water sports, with the Amathole Mountains standing as a clear beacon on the horizon.

Get Out And About and Explore!

Holiday Happiness in Hogsback

Do a bit of soul searching this holiday. Take a roadtrip to Hogsback and spend some time there discovering the true soul of the Eastern Cape.Walk through the indigenous forests to numerous beautiful waterfalls. More strenuous walks include the 3 “Hogs” or Gaika’s Kop mountains and world class climbing includes the bolted routes at Madonna and Child waterfall, Robinson Falls and Hog 1. There’s something for everyone in Hogsback – abseiling, mountain biking, horse riding and an arts and crafts route, including the Labyrinth and Eco Shrine. (From East London, take the N2 to King William’s Town, the R63 to Alice and then left onto the R345 and up beautiful Hogsback Pass that leads to the town.)

Inspiring, Emotional and Powerful – The Steve Biko Museum

Visit the magnificent Steve Biko museum that pays tribute to the life of the great South African struggle icon in a frank, beautiful way. More than a tourist attraction, it provides interesting historical context on Biko’s life and it is also a place of learning and performance, literally coming alive with music, dance and creative interpretations of South African history.

The Museum includes an archive centre, library resource centre, commemorative garden honouring human rights activists, a community media centre and a great restaurant.

It’s just outside King William’s Town – in Ginsberg. With parking right outside and friendly staff to take you on a tour of the museum and facilities, it’s a must- do on your Eastern Cape holiday roadtrip.

Operating Hours: Mon – Tue: 07h00 – 21h30, Wed – Fri: 07h30 – 22h00, Sat: 09h00 – 23h00, Sun: 10h00 – 18h00
Call: 043 605 6700 for more info

Explore Cata

Cata lies close to the town of Keiskammahoek (about a two hour drive from East London) in the Amatola Mountains, surrounded by indigenous forest and grasslands. It’s inspiring to experience how the local community has re-organised itself after forced ‘betterment’ removals during apartheid when they had to abandon their kraals, their grazing rights, and fields

Cata Museum lies in the heart of the village and describes the community’s story – how they fought to reclaim their land, worked together to form a trust and how their lives have changed for the better through working and building together.

Stay overnight at the fabulous community-built chalets and take the 2 km guided walk along a heritage trail, with information boards en route covering the social and natural history of Cata.

Make it your mission to be part of a local rural community this holiday… Make it Cata

www.cata.org.za

King William’s Town

Considered one of the most interesting towns to visit in the region, along with Grahamstown, King William’s Town began its life on the banks of the Buffalo River as a mission station in 1834. About 50km west of East London, King William’s Town is renowned for its beautiful stone buildings, many of which date back to the Frontier wars.
King William’s Town has a number of interesting museums – one of which houses the body of Huberta the hippo who walked some 1500 kilometers across KwaZulu Natal to the Eastern Cape in the early 1900’s and the Amathole Museum has the biggest collection of mammals in Africa.

AMATHOLE MUSEUMhttp://www.museum.za.net/

Alice

Alice is situated about 20kms to the East of Fort Beaufort . Here you will find the Martello Tower – a historic, small defensive fort built around 1840 and the only one in the world not built along the coast. It is also the site of the University of Fort Hare, the alma mater of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and many other leading political figures. You will take the Alice route to Great Fish River Nature Reserve, one of the many Eastern Cape provincial nature reserves, offering the great outdoors at its panoramic finest.

Stutterheim

Stutterheim is the central point of the Escape Route. Nestled at the foot of the Amatola Mountains, Stutterheim is located 75km from East London on the N6 en route to Bloemfontein. The Escape Route includes the areas of Stutterheim, Thomas River, Cata and Keiskammahoek. Stutterheim boasts the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa, the Kologha Forest with a picturesque picnic spot and well sign posted scenic walks of varying lengths and difficulty. A timber boardwalk has been constructed in the forest to allow less able-bodied people to also experience the wonder of the forest.

There is an assortment of accommodation on offer on the Escape Route ranging from rustic camping to the comfort of hotel rooms. Activities in Stutterheim and the areas surrounding include trout fishing, canoeing or picnicking at Gubu Dam; bass fishing at Wriggleswade Dam; mountain biking; archery, abseiling or guided walks at Natural High, visiting the Stationary Engine Museum, visiting the Old Thomas River museum and rock art museum, and much more.

KOLOGHA FOREST WALKShttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
NATURAL HIGH (Abseiling, Kayaking, Archery) – http://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
CATA COMMUNITY MUSEUMhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
STATIONARY ENGINE MUSEUMhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
ROCK ART CENTER & VINTAGE VEHICLE MUSEUMhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities                                                                              WRIGGLESWADE DAMhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
GUBU DAMhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
ECO MOTOR BIKEShttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
FLY FISHINGhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities
BIRD WATCHINGhttp://stutterheimtourism.co.za/activities