Top Ten Things to Do in the Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape in South Africa is awash with things to do and is a fantastic holiday destination for any type of traveller. Here you will find our top ten things to do in the Eastern Cape. There are of course plenty more activities in the Eastern Cape so why not check out our top ten activities and then explore the rest of the site to plan your Eastern Cape trip.

Visit Addo Elephant National Park

South Africa’s Eastern Cape is home to the world famous Addo Elephant National Park. If you are in the area, Addo is well worth a visit and it’s not just elephants you can spot. This National Park is home to several animal species including all the major African animals you would expect to see on a safari as well as a few you may not such as the protected Addo flightless dung beetle. A great day out for all the family and plenty of wildlife to be spotted. Read more about Addo Elephant National Park.

Big 7 Tour

The Eastern Cape is the only place in Africa where you can spot the Big 7 all in the confines of one National Park. Traditionally keen animal spotters have headed to the Eastern Cape to spot the Big 5 – the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, however in 2010 the South African Government added a couple more creatures to the list in the form of the Great White Shark and the Southern Right Whale. Heading out on a Big 7 Tour is the perfect way to spot all of these once in a lifetime creatures and you are guaranteed to have an awesome day out. Read more about an eastern Cape Big 7 Tour.

Township Tour

A definite highlight on any visit to South Africa’s Eastern Cape is a township tour. The Rainbow Nation is a diverse country and visitors to South Africa’s Eastern Cape may well find it hard to believe they are in an African country at all when confronted with western conveniences and luxury in abundance. However, behind the scenes a different experience is available for anyone wanting to explore another side of the Eastern Cape. Townships are home to the majority of South Africans and they are interesting, colourful and vibrant places, where visitors can experience a taste of modern South African culture. A visit to a township can be an enjoyable and eye opening experience and is something worth experiencing. Read more about an Eastern Cape Township Tour.

Take a Hike

The Eastern Cape, South Africa is home to some outstanding hiking trails. Stunning and rugged scenery and picturesque trails that carry you across mountain paths and down toward river mouths flowing into the sea are the norm in the Eastern Cape. The Tsitsikamma area on the border of the Garden Route and Eastern Cape has some incredible hiking trails that are most definitely worth trying including the Dolphin Trail, the Tsitsikamma Mountain Trail and the Otter Trail.

Swing in the Treetops

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a monkey, swinging through the trees with the wind whistling around your ears? Head off on a Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour and experience exactly this in the beautiful surroundings of the Eastern Cape’s Tsitsikamma Forest. This is a great day out for all the family and involves getting harnessed up, climbing onto a series of platforms high up in the tress and launching yourself off them, moving from tree to tree – a truly unique way to explore the beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest. Read more about Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours.

Ride a Horse on the Wild Coast

The Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape is a real delight and an area that is well worth exploring. From glorious unspoilt beaches to traditional tribal lands, the Wild Coast is a hidden gem of the Eastern Cape. One truly unique and exciting way to explore the Eastern Cape’s stunning Wild Coast is on horseback on a thrilling eco adventure with Wild Coast Horseback Adventures. With striking natural landscapes, diverse African wildlife and endless stretches of pristine coastline, a Wild Coast Horseback Adventure offers visitors to South Africa’s Wild Coast the perfect chance to get back to nature and enjoy all this beautiful region has to offer. Read more about horse riding on the wild coast.

Go on a Malaria-Free Safari

No visit to the African continent would be complete without embarking on a safari and the Eastern Cape in South Africa is the ultimate safari destination, with many of South Africa’s top safari resorts located here. So if you are in search of lions and leopards and elephants and want to avoid heading into a malaria zone, the Eastern Cape is the place for your safari. There is a wide range of accommodation available from super-luxury safari resorts to more basic bush style camps and the wildlife is superb. Read more about Eastern Cape safaris.

Life’s a Beach

With hundreds of kilometres of pristine coastline, there are plenty of beaches to choose from in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. From the wide sandy beaches of Port Elizabeth where you can laze the days away in the sunshine, to the rocky outcrops in other parts of the Eastern Cape that are good for finding creatures in the rock pools, a day or two at an Eastern Cape beach has to be a top ten!

Baviaanskloof – get back to nature

The Baviaanskloof wilderness is the ultimate eco-tourism destination and provides plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten track with stunning scenery, great mountain hiking, camping and kayaking. It is a real favourite with bird watchers, plant enthusiasts and wildlife photographers because of the diversity of the area. For anyone looking to get back to nature, experience a relaxed pace of life and explore some of the most stunning scenery the Eastern Cape and indeed South Africa has to offer, the Baviaanskloof is the place to go. Read more about the Baviaanskloof.

Go Whale watching

These amazing creatures are a highlight on any trip to the Eastern Cape. Spotted at various times of the year splashing about in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean whales are a welcome visitor to our shores and a boat trip out to see these majestic mammals in their own environment really is an experience of a lifetime. Read more about whale watching in the Eastern Cape.