Eastern Cape Escorted Tours
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ADDO ELEPHANT PARK TOUR
| Days: | Daily |
| Full day tour: | 7.5 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h45 - 09h00 |
| Entrance fees included: | Addo Elephant Park |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £49.00 to £55.00 |
Highlights:
Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black-backed jackal, and the francolin's call heralds each new dawn. Safe from the relentless persecution in the past, the grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace.
The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area. Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 420 elephants, 450 Cape Buffalo, black rhino, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.
For the first time in over 100 years, lion and spotted hyena were reintroduced to the park in 2004. But the Addo story has only just begun. Plans to expand the 148 000 hectare Addo National Elephant Park into a 360 000 hectare 'Greater Addo' park are moving forward to an exciting pace. This expansion is transforming Addo into the ultimate wildlife destination. Lunch (excluded) is enjoyed in a picnic area overlooking a busy water hole.
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PRIVATE GAME RESERVE TOUR
| Days: | Daily |
| Full day tour: | 10.5 hours |
| Departure times: | 07h45 - 08h00 |
| Entrance fees included: | Shamwari Game Reserve |
| Meals included: | Lunch |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £100.00 to £120.00 |
Highlights:
This day experience offers visitors to the Eastern Cape a complete wildlife experience. The new centre is located in the southern area of Shamwari, next to Khaya Lendaba, a traditional African Arts and Culture Village.
The Day Experience program start daily at noon. Visitors take lunch on the game viewing deck, overlooking the Bushman's River, or in the dining room, after which you will visit Khaya Lendaba. In an hour-long visit, guests experience the vibrant dancing, the dramatic history, the culture, the food, the healing methods, the rituals and the art that is found in ancient and modern African life. Khaya Lendaba not only focuses on the Xhosa tribe, found in the Eastern Cape, but also includes other prominent tribes found in Southern Africa.
In the Sangoma's (faith healer) hut, visitors learn about the role of traditional healers within African tribal life - a role still very important to the majority of African people. A visit to the kitchen hut affords the visitor the opportunity of tasting traditional foodstuffs such as marogo, mealies and beans and traditional beer. Visitors are able to try their hand at grinding corn and making soap the African way. This is followed by a game drive in an open Land Rover, under the guidance of an experienced game ranger. The program is complete by approximately 6:30pm.
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CITY TOUR
| Days: | Twice Daily |
| Half day tour: | 4 hours 10h00 - 14h00 / 14h00 - 18h00 |
| Departure times: | 09h45 / 13h45 / 10h00 / 14h00 |
| Entrance fees included: | Settlers Museum |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £30.00 to £35.00 |
Highlights:
Port Elizabeth bears the rich legacy of a city in an area which saw the first meetings of Khoisan, British, Dutch, German and Xhosa people. As the landing place of the 1820 Settlers it boasts some of the finest architectural attractions in South Africa. A historical, cultural and scenic orientation tour, showing you Port Elizabeth from its interesting origin to the present modern day splendor.
No 7 Castle Hill Museum is regarded as the oldest surviving Settler cottage in Port Elizabeth. The house, which dates back to 1827, has been painstakingly restored to reflect the history and elegant lifestyle of earlier days. This picturesque family dwelling located in Castle Hill Road, central, has yellow-wood floors and beams, a restored slate roof and is furnished in the style of the mid-Victorian period.
The Donkin Reserve was proclaimed a public open space in perpetuity by Sir Rufane Donkin. It includes a stone pyramid monument, with a touching inscription, erected by Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city was named. Running along side the reserve you will find the Donkin street houses which have been restored to the original state.
Other notable highlights include: The main educational institution of UPE, The Pier at Hobie Beach, City Centre and its historical buildings, Early Settler Museum, Fort Frederick and Settler's Park.
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TOWNSHIP TOUR
| Days: | Daily |
| Half day tour: | 4 hours 13h30 - 17h30 |
| Departure times: | 13h15 - 13h30 |
| Entrance fees included: | Community School & Arts Project |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £26.00 to £30.00 |
Highlights:
Given our history, the country remains surprisingly divided, and it is the purpose of this tour to narrow that divide. Qualified local guides will be with you explaining the social history, and answering your questions on a roller-coaster ride that brings you face-to-face with the harsh reality of our Apartheid past, and great successes of the present. For example, you will be taken to meet talented township artists at work, and visit a community-run school. Both these projects are made possible by people like yourselves supporting the Township Tour. Expert guides use the history of the origin of the separate areas in Port Elizabeth and the contact with ordinary township people to clarify the New South Africa. The tour includes aspects of Settler history, such as the Donkin Reserve, perspectives on transformation and development with particular attention being paid to PE's Black history. Focus is on the most historical townships in Port Elizabeth, including New Brighton, Kwazakhele and Zwide. Combined the townships covered has a population of 400 000 people.
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