RCI.co.za
14
WINTER | 2014
Port Elizabeth. Here lives not just the big five, but
the big seven – which means elephant, buffalo,
lion, leopard and rhino, along with southern right
whales and great white sharks all live within the
massive park’s boundaries. Elephant viewing at
Addo is considered the best in South Africa, and
comparable to that in Kenya. The national park
also has the country’s biggest
coastal dune field, part of
which can be seen if you hike
the Alexandria Trail. Close to
the town of Alexandria is the
village of Bathurst, renowned
for its resident artists, giant
pineapple and the oldest pub
in South Africa: The Pig and
Whistle.
From Port Elizabeth you can go
whale and dolphin watching
with a fully-registered operator,
Raggie Charters, and up to four
different whale species have
already been sighted in a single
trip. On the excursion, you’ll
also see endangered African
penguins and possibly huge
schools of bottlenose dolphins
too.
West of Port Elizabeth, the
coastline is wild and beautiful
with creamy sand beaches
and world-renowned surfing
venues at
Jeffrey’s Bay and
Cape St Francis
, where the longest single wave
in the world can be seen under ideal conditions.
This stretch of coastline is nirvana for walkers and
watersports lovers too.
Further along at Tsitsikamma is the
Garden Route
National Park
(previously known as Tsitsikamma
National Park), which was the first marine park
to be declared in the whole of Africa. It protects a
magnificent section of coastal forest and a rugged
wild coastline where whales, dolphins and Cape
clawless otters can be seen. There are plenty of
adventure sports to try out in the park too – from
blackwater tubing to abseiling – though non-
adrenaline pastimes are also there to be enjoyed,
such as sailing up the coke-coloured Storms River,
The Garden Route: a
sanctuary to birds and
animals and a playground
to tourists
THE GARDEN
ROUTE NATIONAL
PARK IS
THE FIRST
MARINE PARK IN
AFRICA
Photo: Thinkstock
