From the Tsitsikamma National Park in the south to Port Edward in the north, the Eastern Cape has a 800km coastline, a combination of pristine beach and indigenous forest known as the “Sunshine Coast”.  This is the home of the Xhosa nation, of whose royal family former president Nelson Mandela is the most famous descendant.  The Eastern Cape's two major cities are Port Elizabeth and East London, both commercial centres with excellent tourism facilities and warm-water beaches.  Smaller towns include Port Alfred with its 30km of navigable river, the university town of Grahamstown where the country's premier cultural event, the Grahamstown Festival, takes place every July, and Bathurst with its English country ambience.  The province has nearly a million hectares of malaria-free game-viewing.  The Addo Elephant National Park is home to elephant, black rhino, buffalo and numerous antelope.  Mountain Zebra National Park is well know for Cape mountain zebra. The proclamation of the park in 1937 saved these animals from extinction, and currently their population stands at 300. Jeffrey's Bay is one of the world's best surfing sites.  The Transkei region has the Wild Coast, a beautiful, untouched coastline whose often stormy seas have caused many shipwrecks.

Tsitsikamma, a Khoisan word meaning “place of many waters”, is an area of indigenous forest, including the giant Outeniqua Yellowwood, rugged coastline and scenic hiking trails.  The Tsitsikamma National Park is Africa's oldest marine reserve, and plays a vital role in the preservation and conservation of marine flora and fauna. 

Tsitsikamma National Park is situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region known as the Garden Route.  The Park incorporates 80 km of rocky coastline with spectacular sea and landscapes, a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys covered in mountain fynbos and temperate high forests with deep river gorges leading down to the Indian Ocean, where breakers pound rocky shores beneath 180 m high cliffs.

St. Francis Bay, a thatched Cape village nestling at the mouth of the Kromme River, is a one-hour drive via the N2 from both Port Elizabeth and Plettenberg Bay. It has its own airstrip and golf-course.  A 4 km stretch of sandy beach offers safe bathing and ideal surfing.  The Kromme River, which is navigable for 14 km, has a canal system incorporating a boat harbour and accommodates water-skiing, board-sailing, yachting and fishing.  Jeffreys Bay, situated on the Sunshine Coast, has developed from a small fishing village into a growing coastal resort.  Known for its surfing, it has wide expanses of beaches and many interesting rock pools.  Every tide brings in a treasure-trove of shells, many of which are displayed in the Kritzinger Shell Museum situated on the beach-front.  Jeffreys Bay is bordered by two lagoons at Kabeljous and Aston Bay.  It is also the home of a thriving handcraft industry, particularly leatherwear and clothing.  The Noorsekloof Nature Reserve is a haven for the area's flora and fauna. 

Addo Elephant National Park, 72 km from Port Elizabeth via the R35, is the only reserve where the Addo elephant is still found.  In addition to over 180 elephants the 12 126 ha park is also a home to buffalo, kudu, black rhino, bush-pig, bush-buck, ostriches, lions and an abundance of bird-life.  The best time to view the elephants is towards mid-morning when they generally make their way to the water-hole. There is also a special hide overlooking the dam for bird-watching.  Other facilities in the park include rondavels and fully equipped family cottages, a swimming-pool for residents and a fully licensed à la carte restaurant.  The reserve is open through-out the year.

Port Elizabeth, known as the “Friendly City”, is situated along the shores of Algoa Bay.  The city offers a diverse selection of attractions, including eco-attractions, scenic nature trails, historic heritage, cultural experiences and water-sport activities.  The Campanile, completed in 1923 to commemorate the landing of the 1820 Settlers, has a magnificent view of the harbour from the top, reached by climbing a 204-step staircase.  The City Hall and Market Square, in Main Street, built between 1858-62, was proclaimed a national monument in 1973.  Fort Frederick, Belmont Terrace, was built by the British forces in 1799 and is now a national monument.  It is reputed to be the oldest stone building in the Eastern Cape and has an interesting array of cannons.  No 7 Castle Hill Museum, in Castle Hill Road, is housed in one of the oldest surviving Settler cottages, dating back to 1827.  King George VI Art Gallery, St. George's Park, has permanent exhibitions of South African, British and Oriental art, and regular temporary exhibitions and lectures on art.  The Horse Memorial, corner Cape and Russell Roads, is dedicated to the horses killed during the Boer War.  St George's Park, the city's oldest park, contains the Prince Alfred Guard Memorial, the Pearson Conservatory (with a collection of rare orchids), sports fields and a swimming-pool.  Settlers Park, a 54-hectare area of indigenous flora close to the city centre, abounds with bird-life.  Situated in Beach Road, Humewood, the Museum has four sections, the Costume, History, Marine and Bird Halls.  Videos are shown on snake-handling.  The Tropical House, part of the Snake Park, has birds, fish and reptiles in lush tropical surroundings.  In the Nocturnal House, nocturnal animals and birds may be seen under simulated moonlight.  The Oceanarium, well known for its performing dolphins and seals, holds shows daily after which the seals are fed.  Reptile demonstrations daily in season.

The coastal route passes through the holiday village of Kenton-on-Sea, which is situated between two tidal rivers and has unspoilt beaches.  Attractions include arts and crafts, whale and dolphin watching, watersports and superb birding.  Nearby is the Dias Cross, a replica of the one erected at this spot by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488.  The original is in the library at Wits University.  Port Alfred is situated on the coast midway between Port Elizabeth and East London.  It has developed along the banks of the Kowie River, which is navigable for 28 km, and offers boating, water-skiing, cruising, angling and bird-watching, and has a canoe trail.  Long stretches of unspoilt beaches with safe swimming, surfing and scuba-diving are features of this seaside resort. The Kowie History Museum is worth a visit with its attractive displays and 1820 Settler index, and there are crafts, antiques and restaurants in the business centre. Port Alfred's beautiful 18-hole golf-course welcomes visitors.  Horse-rides, hikes and mountain bikes are available and there is a luxury health centre just out of town.  The Royal Alfred Marina is a fine example of waterfront living, and the small craft harbour is available for river and sea-going boats. 

The village of Bathurst, 15 km from Port Alfred on the Grahamstown road, has many Settler buildings.  The Pig and Whistle Hotel, built in 1831, is one of the oldest inns in South Africa.  The 1821 Bradshaw's Mill, home of the wool industry in South Africa, has a working reconstructed water-wheel.  The Bathurst Agricultural Museum houses over 1 200 items, and The Big Pineapple offers farm tours, an ethnic village and a pub in a converted 1820 Settler barn.  Salem, a quaint village, south-west of Grahamstown on the R343, started as a school in 1822.  The Old Methodist Church, the village green and recently restored Settlers' houses are interesting features.

Grahamstown, is home to the annual Grahamstown Arts Festival, which offers both local and international talent in more than 500 shows.  The town, established in 1812 as a military outpost, had less than 12 houses when the British Settlers arrived in 1820.  The many historic Georgian and military-style buildings which followed, reflect their architectural style. Rhodes University stands on the site of the old Drostdy.  Behind the University on Gunfire Hill is Fort Selwyn, part of a series of signal towers which stretched as far as the Fish River.  Also on this hill is the 1820 Settlers' Monument, which hosts the annual National Festival of Arts.  The Albany and 1820 Settlers' Memorial Museums have many 1820 Settler exhibits.  The Old Provost dates back to 1836 and was for a time a prison.  The Cathedral of St Michael and St George, with its 46 m spire, is the oldest Anglican church in S.A.  The nearby Thomas Baines Nature Reserve has game including white rhino, buffalo and zebra. 

King William's Town, one of the oldest border towns, was originally the site of a mission station built in 1826.  Fort Beaufort, a military post, played a large part in the defending of the eastern frontier.  Hogsback lies at the western end of the deeply forested Amatola mountains at the foot of the three Hogsback peaks.  The region is rich in bird-life.  Hog emblems emblazoned on trees and rocks indicate the many trails.  The Katberg, another well-known holiday resort, has impressive mountain scenery.  Rhodes, situated deep in the southern Drakensberg is home to Tiffendell Ski and Alpine Resort, which was established in 1993.  Tiffendell is located on the slopes of Ben McDhui peak (3001m), and is the only ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa.  The natural snow is supplemented by a snowmaking system that guarantees on average 95 days of skiing each year. 

Graaff-Reinet, the fourth oldest town in South Africa, lies in the foothills of the Sneeuberg Mountains in the Karoo Nature Reserve.  It has many examples of Cape Dutch architecture. Reinet House, the old parsonage, was built in 1812.  The gabled Old Mission Church now houses the Hester Rupert Art Collection.  The Drostdy Hof is a street of 19th century cottages.  The Valley of Desolation, in the western section of the Reserve, is 10 km north-west of Graaff-Reinet off the road to Murraysburg, and shows the effect of erosion over millions of years.

East London, strategically situated as the main city in the heart of the Sunshine Coast and Wild Coast routes, offers ample opportunity for recreational activity.  Excellent sports facilities make East London an inviting sporting destination.  East London Golf Course is one of the country's finest.  The Aquarium, on the Esplanade, has seals, penguins, turtles, and many varieties of fish.  The Ann Bryant Art Gallery, Corner Oxford Street & St. Lukes Road, has a fine collection of modern and older works by South African and overseas artists.  The Queen's Park Zoo,  in Park Avenue, is situated in an attractively laid out park with many trees and shrubs.  The zoo is well planned to enable the visitor to see all the animals, birds and reptiles.  The Museum, in Oxford Street, is home to the famous coelacanth.  The museum also houses excellent displays of Xhosa-kraal and tribal items, insect collections, historical items of the early British and German settlers of the Border area, fossils and the history of East London, with special interest in the shipwrecks along the coast.  The Gately House Museum, 1 Park Gate Road, was the home of John Gately, regarded as the “father of East London”.  The house was built in 1878.  The museum has a fine collection of Victoriana and early 20th century domestic items.  The German Settlers' Memorial, Esplanade, designed and sculptured by Lippy Lipschitz, comprises three granite figures erected to commemorate the landing of 2 315 German men, women and children in East London in 1857.  Orient Beach, named after a Russian ship, the Orient, which was wrecked here in 1907, is the closest beach to the city centre.  The beach offers safe bathing and there is a large tidal pool, children's playground, changing facilities, a restaurant and a theatre.  Eastern Beach, another beautiful beach where the surfing is excellent and the general public use it as a fine swimming beach.  Nahoon Beach is 8 km from the city centre, on the south bank of the Nahoon River.  Excellent angling and surfing.

The Strandloper Hiking Trail is a three-day, 65 km trail along the beach between Kei Mouth and East London.  It retraces the footsteps of the strandlopers, the early inhabitants of this stretch of coast.  The Wild Coast, stretching from Gonubie to Port Edward, is filled with pristine beaches, subtropical vegetation, abundant bird-life, rolling hills and good fishing throughout the year.  Coffee Bay is easily accessible from the N2 and is popular among surfers, anglers and shell collectors.  South of Coffee Bay, the Hole in the Wall is a prominent landmark, with the waves continuously crashing through a huge hole in the cliff.  Port St Johns is situated on the banks of the Umzimvubu River.  Dwesa Nature Reserve is a blend of coastal forest, open grassland and meandering rivers.  Hluleka Nature Reserve contains zebra, blesbok and blue wildebeest and offers several vantage points to observe dolphins and whales.  The Wild Coast Hiking Trail, an extensive trail of 280 km, is broken up into several five-day trails.  It offers dramatic scenery and encounters with Xhosa people, whose lifestyles have remained unchanged for centuries. The Wild Coast also offers many exciting snorkeling and scuba-diving sites, where relics from the numerous old shipwrecks can be found.