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When I mention rural Eastern Cape cultural tours, people immediately think that its a budget, dirty,difficult conditions, sleep on the floor, no en suite bathroom experience.
As you can see the Eastern Cape lodging we use is quaint, local, full of local flavour and local architecture design.....its the hearfelt warmth of genuine hospitality that makes these tours memorable,
Our the Eastern Cape lodging gives you a real experience of the area, a personal contact with local people, a memorable heart to heart connection, different from the big hotels...people to people, seeing scenery that many visitors to South Africa, do not get to experience.....
This tour can be done in reverse order, and works well this way, especially if you plan to continue on to the Garden Route, and Cape Town. The Garden Route is only about 3 to 4 hr drive from where we end the tour, if done in the reverse order.
Day 1 Meet guests in East London Airport and drive to Alice,check in at Mak&Mak guest house...We can pick you up in Port Elizabeth as well.
If we have time , we will show you parts of historic East London, visit a township, and a local soup kitchen.These actvites depend on what time you arrive into East London.
We will visit the Art Gallery in Fort Hare University popular for its breathtaking art collection.The art work here is done by African artists.It depicts life in the Townships and rural areas, as welll as life during the struggle.
You will have time to walk through the campus, and if you have a partcularinterest, we can arrange a meeting with a local University academic for a short discussion.As this univeristy hosts the African National Congress Archives, which you can see as well. Depending on the time, other activites can include : A local village visit, Doing bead work with local Village women, Experiencing a bake bread/village visit/drink tea actvity. We can arrange a visit to a local traditional healer.
In addition, we can take you higher up into the mountains where there is a small town/area that is rumoured to be the inspiration for Tolkin for hisLord of the Rings series....its a laid back scenic area with a nice large garden area, with rivers, waterfalls..various artists make there home in this area.
It has quite a number of walking trails, and the birding in the area can be productive. We can arrange traditional Xhosa dancing or singers. You will taste Traditional food and we can arrange for some historians, to come by and join you for a dinner/discussion evening.
Overnight at Mak&Mak guest house.
Day 2: This morning after breakfast, we will finish what we ddi not get to the previous day, and leave for King Williams Town.
On the way ,we will stop at the King's Palace.This is the King of the Xhosa's living in the region.
This is where we will be staying for the nite, so we will do a early check in
We will then visit Steve Biko's home and Steve Biko Garden of Rememberance where his grave is.Steve Biko died in the hands of theSouth African Police while on the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed in South Africa.
On the way we will stop by to see the a local creche( day care center) started by Steve biko and his wife.
As well there is a medical clinic that we can visit as well, that was also started by him as well.
Our visit to the Amatole Museum popular for its natural history and also the last resting place for "HUBERTA" the Hippo who known worldwide for her wonderings in the 1930's, will give you more insight in to the lifestyle/culture of the locals...
This town also has a large variety of church buildings with varied archetectural styles,and we can meander pass some of them, coupled with the older buildings that have been preserved, it gives you a moment to step back in time.
We will eat lunch in a local restaurant in town In the afternoon we will mix with village people in their shopping area and the taxi rank.They only shop here on the outskirts oftown.They don't want to go deep in to the town. Thereafter we will leave back for the Kings place to walk amongst the local villlages, meeting locals, observing village life
Basket weaveing on our Eastern Cape tours Day 3: After breakfast we leave for the Wild Coast via Kei Mouth where we will cross the river Kei on a pontoon to the Ex.Transkei homeland where you will experience the real Xhosa way of living in its best. We will meander along the rural roads stopping where and when we like...
On the way we will able to visit and walk in the village that hosts Nelson Mandelas home, Qunu,where he grew up.
If we have time we will visit the Nelson Mandela museum and then proceed on the scenic route to Coffee bay where we will overnight.
Coffee Bay is a sleepy little place on the Indian Ocean, surrounded by rolling hills, dotted with local huts/local gardens...its a place where time slows way down.
Day 4 Today is a free day and after breakfast you can choose from many different actvities ie walking in the local hills among the local gardens, walk to hole in the wall, 4x4 drives tovillages,sangomas(traditional doctors),walking trails,fishing , laying on the beach, the water is the warmer Indian ocean, river kayaking,visit a craft center, etc
Day 5 After breakfast We will drive to the Umtata airport,to drop you of. If you need it we can transfer you up to the Kwa Zulu area, or to the local town where you can pickup a car to continue on with your self drive, or if I have prearranged for you to meet another guide, transfer you to your meeting point.
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