Is the Eastern Cape malaria free?

Yes. The whole province, including Addo and the private reserves around it, is a malaria free area, which is why it is often recommended for families travelling with young children.

What is the Wild Coast?

The stretch of coastline between East London and the KwaZulu-Natal border: green hills running straight into the sea, river mouths, and very little development. It is best known for hiking and for the Hole in the Wall.

What is spekboomveld?

The thicket vegetation of the Eastern Cape, dominated by spekboom (Portulacaria afra). It is one of the nine South African biomes, called Albany Thicket, and it is the habitat this platform is named after.

When is the best time to visit?

The coast is pleasant most of the year and warmest from November to March. For game viewing around Addo, the drier winter months make animals easier to find.

Around Eastern Cape

Explore areas in the Eastern Cape

Town

Addo

10+ places

Town

Nieu Bethesda

9 places

Town

Graaff-Reinet

7 places

Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

4 places

Suburb

Sundays River Valley

4 places

Town

Port Elizabeth

3 places

Reserve

Amakhala Game Reserve

2 places

Suburb

Walmer

2 places

Town

Aberdeen

1 place

Town

Baviaanskloof

1 place

Town

Hankey

1 place

Town

Paterson

1 place

Town

Rhodes

1 place

Town

St Francis Bay

1 place

Accommodation in the Eastern Cape

40+ results in the Eastern Cape

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Cycads On Sea

St Francis Bay

Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Surfing, Kitesurfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,460 per night

Forest Hall Guest House

Walmer, Port Elizabeth

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Surfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 1,050 per night

Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 3,100 per night

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Vineyards, Safaris

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 2,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · 7 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Hankey

Fynbos biome · 10 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 485 per night

Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes

Rhodes

Grassland biome · 6 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 600 per night

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)

Garden Route National Park

Forest biome · 1 bird recorded · Snorkelling, Diving

From R 457 per night

Mountain Zebra National Park

Grassland biome · Black wildebeest, Springbok · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 449 per night

Langebos Huts

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Hiking

From R 2,093 per night

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · 18 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Spotted hyena · Game drives

From R 1,490 per night

Camdeboo Rest Camp

Camdeboo National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok, Springbok

From R 345 per night

Nyathi Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Leopard, Lion

From R 2,901 per night

Matyholweni Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Bushbuck, Warthog

From R 2,426 per night

Addo Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Photography

From R 461 per night

Doornberg Guest Farm

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,100 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

The Eastern Cape is the province South Africans drive through and visitors overlook, which is most of its appeal. It holds the Wild Coast, the Karoo towns of Graaff-Reinet and Nieu Bethesda, the Addo elephant country, and the thicket that gives this platform its name.

That thicket is spekboom: a small succulent that regrows on land grazed bare and stores a great deal of carbon while it does. Restoration projects across the province are replanting it, and a number of the stays here fund exactly that work.

It is also malaria free, which makes it the practical choice for a first safari with children. The coast is warm, the interior is dry and high, and the distances between the two are shorter than they look on a map.

Is the Eastern Cape malaria free?: Yes. The whole province, including Addo and the private reserves around it, is a malaria free area, which is why it is often recommended for families travelling with young children.
What is the Wild Coast?: The stretch of coastline between East London and the KwaZulu-Natal border: green hills running straight into the sea, river mouths, and very little development. It is best known for hiking and for the Hole in the Wall.