Addo
Addo Elephant National Park
Elephants at the Addo Elephant National Park. (Photo: NMB Tourism)
Addo Elephant National Park is one of the largest national parks in South Africa and the only park in the world to be home to the Big 7 (Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Black Rhino, Lion, Great White Shark & Southern Right Whale).
This malaria free park stretches from the semi-arid karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River Valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth. Bird and St Croix Island groups are also included in the Park. These island groups are home to the world's largest breeding populations of Cape gannets and largest breeding population of endangered African penguins.
This finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to not only elephants, but a variety of wildlife including lions, buffalo, hyena, leopard, antelope as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.
Addo Elephant National Park offers a wide range of activities within the Park and various types of accomodation.
Central Reservations: 27(0)12-428 9111
Addo Elephant National Park 27(0)42-233 0556
Male lion at Addo National Elephant Park. (Photo: NMB Tourism)
Despatch
Entrance TO Despatch (Photo Heile Combrinck)
The town was originally developed in 1942 and obtained municipal status in 1945. The name of the town was derived from the brick industry as it was from a nearby railway siding that bricks were “dispatched” or rather “dispatched”.
The Friends of Despatch established this museum to give recognition to the heroes of the town, whether it be the brickmakers, sportsmen and women or famous dinosaur.
A mini model of the Stegasaurus, which was discovered in Despatch during 1903, can be seen in the museum. There also are examples of the bricks produced near the town as well as models of the red brick chimney which can still be viewesd standing tall and serene in a field on the outskirts of the town..
Given the fact that several well-known sporting heroes originated from Despatch, numerous memorabilia festoon the walls of the museum. These include jackets of two SA cricket umpires, the running gear of a Comrades Marathon winner and six Springbok rugby blazers. Names such as Danie Gerber, Rudi Koertzen, Adri Geldenhuys and Charl Matthys are famous and they all boasts from this town.
Despatch Museum: 1A Church Street, (041 933 3177).
Despatch Chimney Photo: NMB Tourism
Kirkwood
Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees
The Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees was started by the Kirkwood community in 2002 to put the spotlight on the natural heritage of the Sundays River Valley and promote tourism. Since then it has grown into the biggest weekend festival in the Eastern Cape – and one of the most popular in the country.
The Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees always has a jam-packed programme, guided by the founding pillars – the promotion of wildlife conservation, education and ecotourism. Good food plays a big part in the festival, with delicious venison dishes and other slow food meals and snacks for all tastes being made fresh all day on the festival grounds. This is in addition to tasty delicacies and fine wine from the Kyknet Lifestyle Plein including crayfish and paella from world-renowned Lambert’s Bay restaurant, Muisbosskerm.
The South African cooking tradition of potjie and braai is honoured at the Marina Sea salt Roer-my-nie potjiekos and braai challenge. .
If the over 300 shopping stalls and bargains at the white elephant sale don’t keep the visitor busy the whole day, the non-stop programme of shows, activities, expos and competitions will. Live jazz, dog-jumping, the Montego Boerboel show, the Isuzu Extreme 4x4 competition, the EP Cat show, the koedoedrolverspoeg competition are just some options.
The festival’s green agenda is supported by the continued Kirkwood wildlife auction, the biggest in the province, and the educational Walk on the Wildside tent with live owls, snakes, spiders and dung-beetles. Visit www.wildsfess.co.za for more information.
Uitenhage
Uitenhage
Uitenhage was originally the headquarters of the Eastern Cape. In 1804 the Commissioner General of the Batavian Republic, J.A. Uitenhage De Mist, instructed Captain Alberti to select a site for the new Drostdy in the Eastern Cape. As a result of the favourable climate and abundant water supply, Alberti chose a site on the banks of the Zwartkops River Valley, and it was named Uitenhage.
Uitenhage is home to Volkswagen South Africa, Goodyear and various other motor vehicle component industries. It also is an important textile and leather centre.
Groendal Wilderness Area
Bird's eye view of Groendal Wildeness Area (Photo: NMB Tourism)
Groendal Wilderness Area is the only legally-proclaimed wilderness in the Eastern Cape.and is situated within the Groot Winterhoek Mountain Range near Uitenhage. The area surrounds and protects a water catchment area of the Swartkops River (KwaZungha River) and is wild, rugged and filled with wildlife.
There are a number of trails snaking through the wilderness area, but only one is adequately marked for public use namely the Blindekloof Trail. It takes walkers through a ravine forest to a memorable sight called the Crystal Cavern Pool. The vegetation is predominantly fynbos with a great diversity of individual species.
There is not a wide range of mammal species within Groendal, but hikers may see baboon, common duiker, Cape Grysbok, bushbuck, grey rhebok and mountain reedbuck. Birdlife within the Groendal Wilderness Area is fairly diverse, with approximately 180 species having been recorded..
Contact the Reserve Manager on +27(0)41 992 5418 for more information.
VWSA AutoPavilion
The AutoPavilion - VWSA’s ultra-modern expo and heritage centre is a most popular tourist attraction in the region. It is unique as it is the only automobile discovery centre on the continent and only the fifth worldwide.
Volkswagen of South Africa's high-tech, interactive expo and heritage centre takes you on a full-throttle journey from concept to classic, laser to legend, with the cars that defined the past and inspire the future.
Featuring state of the art technology and unprecedented interactivity, the AutoPavilion proudly showcases the evolution of the VW brand from the very first Beetle to the contemporary passenger and sports cars of today. Travel the world in an interactive "movie studio" Beetle complete with green screen technology, rub shoulders with icons of yesteryear such as Herbie or South Africa's oldest kombi, or simply watch in amazement as a car (sliced by a laser) folds in half. WIth amazing special effects and stunning interactive displays, the AutoPavilion provides the ultimate in edutainment.
It is situated at Volkswagen of South Africa’s factory main entrance in Algoa Road, Uitenhage, some 35 km from P.E. just off the Graaff Reinet highway. Opening times are: Weekdays 08:30 to 16:00. First Saturday of each month from 10:00 to 13:00 only. Closed all other week-ends and public holidays.
Free guided factory tours lasting one hour starts every weekday morning at 09:00 but must be booked well in advance and can only accommodate 40 people - no children under 12 are allowed in the factory. This tour also ends in the AutoPavilion at no charge
where children (and cameras) are welcome. There are also vending machines and the building is wheel chair compliant.(Source & photos: VWSA AutoPavilion)
Springs
The Springs (Photo: Clive Botha)
Named after the abundant flow of pure, sparkling, spring water that gushes out of the earth, the Springs is situated in a rugged nature reserve on the outskirts of Uitenhage. There are numerous hiking trails through the reserve.
Uitenhage Aerodrome
Uitenhage Aerodrome (Photo: Uitenhage Time to Invest)
Uitenhage aerodrome is well situated to take advantage of aviation and industrial developments in the region, as well as tourism and recreational opportunities. The aerodrome is home to a small number of light aircraft.
Owing to the prevalence of favourable thermal conditions in the area, it has a very active gliding club and thriving microlight section. It is ideal as it is situated outside the coastal mist zone and offers safe visual flying conditions
It has the only aerobatic box or zone between Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Margate. It also is the closest airfield to the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
Uitenhage heritage sites
Langa Memorial
The Langa Memorial was erected to mark the spot where 20 people died during the Apartheid years when police opened fire on a crowd or mourners on their way to a banned funeral. Uitenhage holds a special place in the history of resistance to Apartheid. An international outcry followed this 1985 shooting incident. The Langa Memorial is in Maduna Road, Uitenhage.
George V Memorial
The Langa Memorial was erected to mark the spot where 20 people died during the Apartheid years when police opened fire on a crowd or mourners
Anglo-Boer War Memorial
Located at Market Square the memorial was unveiled in 1904 to commemorate Uitenhage citizens who died in the Anglo-Boer War.
Uitenhage Museums
Uitenhage boasts three museums, namely the Old Railway Museum, Drostdy Museum and Cuyler Manor Farm Museum. The former Uitenhage station is reputed to be one of the oldest railway stations in South Africa. The Drostdy was erected during General Jacob Glen Cuyler’s tenure of office as a Landdrost of Uitenhage. The Uitenhage Africana Museum is housed here. Cuyler Manor Farm Museum was the homested of Genl. Cuyler. As a living museum, demonstrations of traditional activities such as soap and candle making, baking and weaving can be arranged. (Tel. 041 992 2063)