The Eastern Cape Travel Guide

The Eastern Cape, lying on the south-eastern South African coast, is a province of great natural beauty and scenic diversity, particularly the rocky cliffs, forceful seas and dense green bush of the stretch known as the Wild Coast.

The province's varied climate and landscapes range from the dry and barren Great Karoo to the flourishing forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley, the fruitful Langkloof, renowned for its rich apple harvests, and the mountainous Drakensberg region and the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. You can choose between sweeping sand, river mouths, rocks and covers and the coastline is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. With the spectacular cost line and sunshine all year round, surfers ride the perfect waves, anglers reel in the fish, making the coast the province’s main tourist attraction.

The majority of the people speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English.

Port Elizabeth is the largest city in the Eastern Cape and has the most important harbour. Other major towns include Bisho, the capital; Uitenhage, which has important motor vehicle manufacturing and related industries. King William's Town is rich in early settler and military history and Grahamstown are also known as the City of Saints because of its more than 40 churches. Then there is Mthatha, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Stutterheim, Aliwal North to name a few and Port St Johns with is the largest town on the Wild Coast.

Fact Sheet: The Eastern Cape
Population	6 919 071 (2006)
Capital	Bisho
Area	168 966 square kilometres
Population density	41 people per square kilometre
Gross regional product	R88-billion (2003)
Share of total GDP	8.1%