Far less visited than the Garden Route, the Eastern Cape is a rewarding region for those wanting to get off the beaten track. From the industrial city of Port Elizabeth, 1000km of undeveloped coastline stretches east along the Wild Coast where craggy cliffs and desolate beaches are interspersed with rolling green hills dotted with traditional African villages.
To the north are 2 wonderful nature reserves, ideal for accessible, malaria-free, year-round game-viewing. Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest game reserve in south Africa, is the only place in the country where you can spot the Big Seven (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark). While 200km inland, nestled in the rugged landscapes of the Amatola Mountains, Mountain Zebra National Park provides a safe haven for the endangered Cape mountain zebra.