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Is the only metropolitan municipality in the province, one of only six in South Africa incorporating Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Despatch and Coega. Port Elizabeth the largest city in the district and developed into a popular holiday destination. Uitenhage is only 35km from Port Elizabeth. Nelson Mandela Bay boasts, beach, the Big Five, Xhosa culture, Sports and adventure.
The Metropole has an area of 1,952 square kilometres, and has a population of more than 969, 000 people, and 714 people per square kilometre. Although the majority of the population is African, there is a higher percentage of coloureds and whites living in this district than in most of the other districts in the province.
The largest single economy in the whole province, with the main economic sector- manufacturing providing 34% of formal employment. The District also hosts two of the six vehicle assemblers in South Africa, namely General Motors and Volkswagen. Other main industries include food processing, furniture, textiles and clothing, and light engineering. The tourism industry also plays an important role, being the strongest in Port Elizabeth famous for its beaches and being the starting point for the Garden Route. Also used as a starting point for many tourism routes to the rest of the Eastern Cape Province.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Nelson Mandela Metropole , would be 8 Day Garden Route Delight.
click
here |
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Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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Situated in the centre of the province, it covers part of the semi-arid Karoo in the west to the hills of the Transkei in the east. Chris Hani District is the second largest of the districts, and it has an area of 37, 111 square kilometres. Queenstown is the main town and it lies at the centre of the district. Other major towns are Craddock, Middleburg, Elliot and Engcobo. Classified as a rural district since most of the population is rural or semi-rural.
Chris Hani has a population of 822,891. Most of the people living in the district live in the former Transkei and Ciskei areas. Xhosa is the main language, and there are only a small percentage of coloureds and whites living this district.
The largest private sector activity is agriculture, and livestock is the predominant activity in the private Agricultural sector. Around Middleburg and Craddock as well as Karoo, farms are focusing on small stock, producing mohair, mutton and wool, the cattle trade is in Queenstown. There are also commercial black cattle farmers, and in Cofimyaba, there is some forestry present. Queenstown is the main manufacturing centre and it has a small furniture industry, dairy processing and wood products available. Although tourism is limited in Chris Hani, there is some development in farm tourism and tours operated through game farms. Another aspect of tourism is ‘stop over’ tourism when tourists pass through the Eastern Cape via the N6 and N10 national routes they can stay in farms and guesthouses. There is beautiful scenery in the district that optimally viewed at places like the Mountain Zebra National Park, situated near Craddock.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Chris Hani Metropole, would be 8 Day Wild - Mild 4x4.
click
here |
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Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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Formerly the Western district is the largest of the districts and has an area of 58, 242 square kilometres. The coastal parts of the district have temperate winter rainfall, with around 500 -700 mm of rain per year. The Tsitsikamma and Baviaans Parks lie in the west of the district close to the Western Cape. Karoo and grasslands comprised make up the mainly dry interior of commercial farms. The Sundays and Fish Rivers maintain large irrigated farming and these rivers are supplied by water from the Orange River. The only eco-system not found in the Cacadu District is the true desert. The district is one of the finest game viewing areas in South Africa. It is the place where major cultures in South Africa came into contact.
Cacadu is home to Grahamstown Rhodes University, National Arts Festival and Addo Elephant Park.The Marine protected area stretches 120 000ha across the Indian Ocean, and acts as a southern extension of the Addo Elephant Park, making the world’s first “big 7” game reserve. Cacadu is also home to the world’s highest commercial bungee jump, the first tree top canopy tour in South Africa, the highest narrow gauge bridge in the world.
More 363, 585 people live in the district, which is the second smallest population of the districts. There are only 6 people living in the rural district per square kilometre, as the people living on the coast and more inland are often 100’s of kilometres apart. This district has many coloureds living there, and Africans in the majority, and a higher number of whites living there than in other districts. The main language in the towns is Afrikaans.
Ranked as the third largest economy of all the districts, agriculture dominates the districts economy, with small-stock farming in the interior. Cacadu is the centre of the wool and mohair industry in the Eastern Cape. Cattle and dairy farming is strong around Grahamstown, Cookhouse, Alexandria and Humansdorp. There is citrus farming from the Sundays and Fish Rivers. From St. Francis there is a small fishing industry cantered on rock lobster. Well developed in Cacadu – tourism has routes established in the district. Popular tourism attractions include Jeffrey’s Bay and Port Alfred.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for The Cacadu Metropole, would be 8 Day Garden Route Delight.
click
here |
|
Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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Named after the legendary Amathole Mountains, the Amatole District contains the most popular local municipality in the country, the Buffalo City Local Municipality. This Municipality, which includes East London, King William’s Town and Mdantsane, adds to the incredible diversity of this district.
The Amatole Mountains that lie northwest of King William’s Town give the district its name. The well-watered coastal strip gives way to the Transkei hills.
For Eco-Tourism, this district is bliss, boasting a range of bird species that is more abundant than that of the whole of the United States of America. Amatole has a variety of game parks and nature reserves for example, Doubledrift Game Reserve, DwesaCwebe Game Reserve, Mpofu Game Reserve and Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve.
For historical education, no district stands out like the Amatole District, home to Fort Hare University, the first black South African university. A number of worldly recognized political leaders like Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki studied at local schools and universities. The district is also home to the birthplace of the Black Consciousness leader, Steve Biko.
Amatole has the second highest economy in the province. The private sector dominated by manufacturing, the motor industry, food processing, textiles and clothing are the chief manufacturing areas. Agriculture plays a small role in the formal employment providing only 8% of formal employment. Agriculture in the ex-homelands is mainly small-scale crop farming and open grazed livestock, and the farming is more for subsistence than for commercial sale. The coastal belt south of East London is where the main Pineapple farming industry is, as well as citrus, horticulture and livestock are farmed. The motor industry, food processing, textiles and clothing are the chief manufacturing areas.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for The Amatoli District, would be 8 Day Wild - Mild 4x4.
click
here |
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Situated in the northeastern part of the Eastern Cape and divided into two local municipalities, namely the Umzimvubu Municipality which forms the provincial boundary with KwaZulu-Natal, and the Umzimkhulu Municipality an island of the Eastern Cape Province within KwaZulu-Natal. The Alfred Nzo district is on the border of Lesotho and KwaZulu Natal. The main centre is Kokstad, and the Alfred Nzo District is the smallest district with an area of 7952 square meters. Other towns in the district are Maluti, UMzimkulu, Mount Ayliff, Matatiele and Mount Frere. The land is high as all the land is above 1000 meters. The weather can bring heavy rains and it can get very cold with chances of snow in the winter. The district has a relatively small population of 544,107 people and a relatively high density of 69 people per square meter. The population is mainly African but there are a few white and coloured inhabitants. The first language is Xhosa, but the use of Sesotho and Zulu is significant in Matatiele and Umzimkulu.
The Alfred Nzo district has a small formal economy compared to the rest of the province. Agriculture is the principal private sector and provides 12% of formal employment. Forestry is the best formal agricultural sector with widespread plantations in Umzimkulu and some around Maluti. There is also livestock farming, which includes cattle, sheep and goats. Subsistence farming is important but farmers have to contend with winter frosts and snow in most of the area.
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This District covers most of the former Tanskei. Umtata is the main centre, and covers most of the Wild Coast and Pondoland. The district has a sub-tropical coastal belt, especially from Port St. Johns northwards, where there are game reserves that have indigenous forests. The hills beyond the coast rise to high levels of up to 1,500 meters beyond Umtata, there are many rivers with an average of 700mm of rainfall per year. Pondoland, being nearly the most fertile areas in South Africa, has warm temperatures and good soils, other major towns in the district are Mqanduli, Port St. Johns, Qumbu, Lusikisiki and Bizana.
The District has the second highest population of all the districts with more than 1,504,411 inhabitants, and has a high population density of 90 people per square kilometre. The Oliver Tambo District has an area of 15,535 square kilometres. There are very few coloured and white inhabitants and the population is 99% Africans. The first language is Xhosa but Zulu is used in some areas of the district.
The Oliver Tambo District has a small formal economy compared to the rest of the province. In the district, agriculture is the major private sector activity and contributes 8% of formal employment. The chief formal agriculture enterprise is forestry, using the large forests to the north and west of Umtata. There are also a number of small commercial farmers in the area and they concentrate on mixed farming of livestock and crops of mostly maize, some farmers have invested in irrigation, with the most popular crops being cabbage and potatoes.Manufacturing plays a small role. The largest manufacturing sectors are food-processing, furniture and wood products and they all based in Umtata.
The tourism centres on the breath taking Wild Coast, which is a host to many resorts and nature reserves. Port St. Johns is developing as a tourism destination and the Pondoland coast is one of the most spectacular eco-tourism destinations in South Africa. There are plans in the pipeline for nature and marine reserve. The Nelson Mandela Museum, in Umatata and Qunu, houses the history of the struggle against apartheid and the life of Nelson Mandela.
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Named after the Xhosa name for the mighty Drakensberg Range, the Ukhahlamba District Municipality lies in the north of the Eastern Cape and forms a border to the Free State. The district dominated by the Drakensberg Mountains, bordered by Lesotho in the East, and by the Limpopo Province in the North West. The main features of the district are the Orange River, The Gariep Dam and the Southern Drakensberg mountains. The district shares borders with the Chris Hani, Oliver Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts. The main town in the district is Aliwal North, and other major towns are Burgersdorp, Barkley East, Maclear and Mount Fletcher.
The district has an area of 26, 518 square kilometres with a population estimated to be 327, 868, which is the lowest population rate of all the districts. The population density of 14 people per square kilometre is low with most of the population situated in Sterkspruit and Mount Fletcher. The majority of inhabitants living in Ukhahlamba are African, with a very low percentage of whites and coloureds living in the district. Xhosa is the main language with Sesotho used in areas close to Lesotho. The Ukhahlamba District consists of the following municipalities; Eludini Local Municipality, Gariep Local Municipality, Maletswai Local Municipality and the Sengu Local Municipality.
Agriculture predominates in Ukhahlamba and provides 29% of the districts formal employment. The most significant farming occupation is livestock, and small-stock farming in the Karoo areas produce wool, mohair and mutton. Cattle farming are also present in the areas as well as goat and sheep farming. Along the Orange River is the main place for maize growing with wheat farming going on in the foothills of the Drakensberg. Ukhahlamba also has large forestry plantations in the areas around Maclear, Ugie and Mount Fletcher. Manufacturing also contributes to 5% of employment in the Ukhahlamba District. Food processing is the most important industry in manufacturing and is centred in Aliwal North, as well as limited furniture production that take place.
Tourism in the district centres on three areas, namely the Southern Drakensberg providing ample tourism adventures and eco-tourism; the ‘friendly N6’ where people can enjoy ‘stop over’ tourism; and Aliwal North hosts a spa.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for The Ukhahlamba District, would be 20 Day Romancing South Africa.
click
here |
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The Eastern Cape boasts a remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the lush, evergreen Tsitsikamma Forest to the rugged Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, the southern slopes of the Drakensberg and the arid Great Karoo. Endless sweeps of rocky coves and sandy beaches, towering mountain ranges and verdant forests give it the name “land of rolling hills”. The main feature of the Eastern Cape is its astonishing coastline,which is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts; surfers ride the perfect waves, anglers reel in king-size catches, and board sailors revel in the challenge of the wind. Fine leisure resorts and splendid facilities ensure that there is something for every one!
Whether you are in the mood for an informal seaside escape, an encounter with the Big Five on safari, or a choice of scintillating city diversions and rich natural tourist attractions, you are sure to find what you are looking for in the Eastern Cape.
REGIONS OF THE EASTERN CAPE:
The Alfred Nzo District
The Amatole District (East London)
The Cacadu District (Graaf Reinet)
Chris Hani District (Queenstown)
Nelson Mandela Metropole (Port Elizabeth
Oliver Tambo District (Umtata)
Ukhahlamba District (Barkley East)
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Eastern Cape - General Information, would be 22 Day A World in One Country .
click
here |
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