Province · Cabo Oriental

Cabo Oriental

The Eastern Cape: Gqeberha and Addo Elephant National Park, the waves of Jeffreys Bay, the suspension bridges of Tsitsikamma and the Wild Coast.

In the photo: Valley of Desolation, Camdeboo National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Cabo Oriental

The Eastern Cape lies in the southeast of South Africa, between the Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal. The province stretches from Indian Ocean beaches to the dry plains of the Karoo, and is the land of the Xhosa people, to which Nelson Mandela belonged; he was born in the village of Mvezo.

Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, is the main city and the gateway. About 70 km away is Addo Elephant National Park, created to protect the region's remaining elephants, where herds are often seen near waterholes; it is a malaria-free safari area. To the west, Jeffreys Bay is world-famous in surfing for the Supertubes wave.

On the border with the Western Cape, the mouth of the Storms River, in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, has coastal forest trails and suspension bridges over the river. Nearby, the Bloukrans Bridge is known for bungee jumping.

To the east, the Wild Coast features cliffs, beaches and Xhosa villages with round houses, with places such as Coffee Bay and the Hole in the Wall. Inland, Graaff-Reinet is an 18th-century town beside the Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park. The provincial capital is Bhisho.

Destinations

1 destination in Cabo Oriental

1 city

Garden Route

Cities

1 cities in Cabo Oriental in the guide

Cabo Oriental

Storms River

Storms River is the village at the end of the Garden Route, already in the Eastern Cape, at the gateway to the Tsitsikamma area of the Garden Route National Park. About 15 km away is the Storms River mouth, with a suspension bridge over the sea, forest trails and the start of the Otter Trail. Near the village are the Big Tree, a yellowwood about 800 years old, and the Bloukrans Bridge, known for its bungee jump.

When to go

The province can be visited year-round. On the coast, summer (December to February) is hot and winter is mild. In Addo, the dry winter (May to September) usually makes it easier to see animals near water. Jeffreys Bay’s waves are usually bigger from June to August. The Eastern Cape is 5 hours ahead of Brasília.

Getting there

Gqeberha Airport (PLZ) receives flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, and East London (ELS) serves the eastern area. By car, Gqeberha is about 3 hours from Knysna via the Garden Route. Addo is roughly 1 hour from Gqeberha and Jeffreys Bay about 1 hour to the west; driving is the most practical way to get around.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Cabo Oriental

Is Addo a good safari option?

Yes, especially for those who want a malaria-free safari near the Garden Route. The park is known for its elephant herds and has roads for self-drive.

When to surf in Jeffreys Bay?

Waves are usually bigger in winter, from June to August. The water is cold; wear a wetsuit.

What to see in Tsitsikamma?

The mouth of the Storms River, with its suspension bridges, coastal forest trails and the sea pounding the rocks.

Where is Nelson Mandela’s birthplace?

In the Mthatha region of the Eastern Cape, where Mvezo and Qunu are located, with the museum dedicated to him.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: South African Municipal Demarcation Board / OCHA ROSEA / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.