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The Eastern Cape: South Africa's Land of Diversity and Wonder!

The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa offers vacationers a diverse portfolio of experiences. Inland, the arid Karoo region is home to some of the richest wildlife areas in all of South Africa. The coast, by contrast, is a sun-drenched spectacle of beaches, seaside towns, and aquatic activities. There are large cities where you can enjoy a thriving nightlife, or small villages that are reminiscent of a bygone era in a world less traveled. A day's itinerary in the Eastern Cape can include swimming, snorkeling, fishing, scuba diving, golf, nature pursuits, or just lying on a beach, basking in the Indian Ocean sun.

The Eastern Cape didn't get the nickname "The Sunshine Coast" for nothing. Miles of beaches line the Indian Ocean, offering vacationers a seemingly endless array of beach activities. Plettenberg Bay is one of the prettiest beaches that run along the area known as the "Garden Route". "Plet", as it is called by locals, has a great view of the Outeniqua Mountains, and is known as a great whale watching spot. The Wild Coast, a relatively undeveloped area (hence the name) north of East London, is one glorious beach after the other. This is the place to go to enjoy the sunshine without all the frenetic activity of a more peopled beach community. The warm water of the Agulhas current, wide golden beaches, and rocky shoreline support a fascinating and diverse animal kingdom. Snorkeling and swimming go hand in hand as you discover a new attraction around every corner.

The Eastern Cape is alive with a varying display of Nature's bounty. The region boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa. Home to a herd of 300 elephants, the Addo Elephant National Park allows close quarter viewing. Located in the Sundays River region of the province, the natural park is also home to countless black rhino and cape buffalo. You can take a guided tour, or head out into the park in at your own pace. You can also situate yourself in a high hide in order to view the park's avian population. The Shamwari Game Reserve is chock full of the "big five" (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos), and also has a high plant and avian concentration. This is Africa at its most raw, just Mother Nature and wide open plains teeming with flora and fauna.

Scuba diving is a major pastime off the Sunshine Coast. The ample reef system is teeming with wildlife. There are enough cave dives, wall dives, reef dives, and wreck dives to satisfy every diving appetite. Bird Island, just off the coast of Port Elizabeth has a large population of sea lions, and by extension, a large population of Great White sharks. This is a dive site aimed at experts, but novices can take pleasure boat excursions near the island and try to glimpse these magnificent fish. The Riy Bank Reef has an interesting underwater rock formation that climbs some 30 km from the ocean floor. This is a good dive for novices and experts alike who want to view the local sea life.

The home of golf legend Gary Player has some of the best golf courses in the world. South Africa in general is a golf paradise, and East Cape is particularly blessed with impressive loops. The Wild Coast Sun Golf Course has been rated one of the best in South Africa by Golf Digest Magazine. This Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout uses rolling fairways and the winds whipping offshore to increase the difficulty. The East London Golf Club is one of South Africa's oldest and proudest facilities. It has challenged many generations of golfers, serving as the host venue for the South African Open on several occasions.

A vacation in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa is perfect for those who want some fun in the sun and a chance to say a boisterous "hello" to Mother Nature. There are also enough cultural and kid friendly attractions to please the entire family. The Bayworld's Main Museum in Port Elizabeth has a wonderful mix of historical and cultural African exhibits. Head to Qunu and see the boyhood home of South African hero Nelson Mandela. Rent a surfboard and "hang 10" in St Francis's Bay, one of the top surfing destinations in South Africa. Slip into Coffee Bay, and hear the ghosts of shipwrecked sailors whisper in the wind. The Eastern Cape has all the charms to soothe the savage vacationer!