Kim Irvine

Greater Than a Tourist – Sunshine Coast Route Eastern Cape Province South Africa 50 Travel Tips from a Local Kim Irvine Copyright © 2017 CZYK Publishing All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, including scanning and photocopying, or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or stored in a database or retrieval system without prior written permission from the publisher. Disclaimer: The publisher has put forth an effort in preparing and arranging this book. The information provided herein by the author is provided "as is". Use this information at your own risk. Consult your doctor before engaging in any medical activities. The publisher and author disclaim any liabilities for any loss of profit or commercial or personal damages resulting from the information contained in this book. Order Information: To order this title please email-or visit GreaterThanATourist.com. A bulk discount can be provided. Cover Template Creator: Lisa Rusczyk Ed. D. using Canva. Cover Creator: Image: Lock Haven, PA All rights reserved. ISBN: Kim Irvine >TOURIST BOOK DESCRIPTION Are you excited about planning your next trip? Do you want to try something new? Would you like some guidance from a local? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this Greater Than a Tourist book is for you. Greater Than A Tourist – The Sunshine Coast Route, Eastern Cape, South Africa by Kim Irvine offers the inside scoop on The Sunshine Coast, situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Most travel books tell you how to sightsee. Although there's nothing wrong with that, as a part of the Greater than a Tourist series, this book will give you tips from someone who lives at your next travel destination. In these pages, you'll discover local advice that will help you throughout your trip. Travel like a local. Slow down and get to know the people and Kim Irvine the culture of a place. By the time you finish this book, you will be eager and prepared to travel to your next destination. >TOURIST TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK DESCRIPTION TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION FROM THE PUBLISHER WELCOME TO > TOURIST INTRODUCTION 1. Stay At Storms River Restcamp 2. Crossing The Great Divide – Storms River 3. Beach Dune Safari At Oyster Bay 4. Cape St Francis Fun 5. Night-time Frog Safari – Cape St Francis 6. Surfs Up In Jefferys Bay 7. Dolphin Beach Fun – Jefferys Bay 8. Party On The Party Boat In Jefferys Bay 9. Annual Winter Festival in Jeffery Bay 10. Soak Up The Peace And Tranquility 11. Bayworld Oceanarium Kim Irvine 12. Relax And Take A Private Tour Of The City 13. Cuddle A Reptile, Meet A Meerkat Or Get Close to a Crocodile 14. Big To Small Ado Elephant Park Has It All 15. Nanaga Farmstall Wares To Wet The Appetite 16. Chicory And Dune Fields Admist Subtropical Coastal Forests 17. Kiteboarding And Beach Fishing 18. Into The Big Blue 19. A Big New Year In A Small Town 20. Boat Race Festival 21. A Little Brewery On The River 22. Cruise the Kowie River In Port Alfred 23. Wonder Down Historic Wharf Street In Port Alfred 24. Fish River Sun Indulgence 25. Mpekweni Beach Holiday Resort 26. Local Crafts, Art And Tasty Treats 27. East London Aquarium 28. See 120 000 Year Old Footprints And A Coelacanth 29. Big Game Fishing In The Warm Indian Ocean 30. Whale Watching And Dolphin Spotting >TOURIST 31. Sight See From Up Above 32. Rock Climbing And Abseiling 33. Water Sports For Everyone 34. A Lazy Day With Surf, Sea And Sand 35. Breakfast, Lunch And Supper With A View 36. Relax, Unwind And Enjoy Good Company 37. Steak Night At The Ski Boat Club 38. Jump, Aim And Fire 39. Shopping, Shows, Fun And Fair 40. Lions, Cheetahs And More 41. Snakes Alive And Venom Pits 42. Camp In The Bush Arena 43. Have You Hugged An Elephant? 44. Tea In The Trees Anyone? 45. Places To Stay 46. Free Range Children 47. Pot Holes For Africa 48. Safety Tips 49. Check The Local Events 50. What To Wear When You Get There Kim Irvine Top Reasons to Book This Trip Our Story Notes ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kim Irvine is a professional working mother who lives in the Eastern Cape of South Africa with her close family and friends. Having been born and grown up in the Eastern Cape she has explored the many unique and well documented places of the Eastern Cape Province. Her love of life, people, travel and thirst for knowledge has her and her son going on many a holiday adventure far and wide. Having travelled extensively in her twenties and thirties the experience has given Kim an insight into what it is like for a tourist in a foreign country and how confusing it can get trying to figure out the best routes to take, places to stay and things to do. Having hosted many of her European and American friends in South Africa she used both her travelling experiences and that of her foreign friends to write this book. Kim hopes to make things a little less daunting for others by offering them reference points and tips for their trip along the Sunshine Coast Route, Eastern Cape in South Africa! 1 Kim Irvine HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The Greater Than a Tourist book series was written by someone who has lived in an area for over three months. The goal of this book is to help travelers either dream or experience different locations by providing opinions from a local. The author has made suggestions based on their own experiences. Please do your own research before traveling to the area in case the suggested places are unavailable. >TOURIST FROM THE PUBLISHER Traveling can be one of the most important parts of a person’s life. The anticipation and memories that you have are some of the best. As a publisher of the Greater Than a Tourist book series, as well as the popular 50 Things to know book series, we strive to help you learn about new places, spark your imagination, and inspire you. Wherever you are and whatever you do I wish you safe, fun, and inspiring travel. Lisa Rusczyk Ed. D. CZYK Publishing Kim Irvine INTRODUCTION The Eastern Cape with its mountains, forest and rugged coastline make it the adventure province of South Africa. With some world famous beaches, malaria frees game parks and various mountain ranges it has a lot to offer both locals and tourists alike. The Sunshine Coast Route in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa stretches from the Tsitsikamma Forests to East London or Buffalo City. The route follows the N2 Motorway from Tsitsikamma Forest to where it joins the R72 some kilometers out of Port Elizabeth following a five hundred kilometer stretch of shore line to East London. This sun drenched area of the Eastern Cape has many little sea side resorts and villages along the way that offer a host of things to do and experience in a way that is truly unique to the Eastern Cape. With a high emphasis on family and old school values the >TOURIST people are mostly warm, friendly and always ready to lend a hand. Whether you are looking to reconnect as a family, have an adventure with your loved one(s) or a single traveler there is a place for you! You may arrive in the Easter Cape a stranger but you will always leave as part of a close knit family! Kim Irvine 1. Stay At Storms River Restcamp Wooden chalets are perched all over the camp and mostly with a sea view, the ones I have stayed are almost right on the beach. At night you fall asleep to the sounds of the sea, night birds and other nocturnal animals and although I never ventured on any the reserve offers various guided night tours where one gets a whole new perspective of the reserve. There are a lot of fun things to do there and one of my favorites was the black water tubing a five hour river adventure that slides down rapids, swirls around bends and has you screaming and laughing at the same time. It is quite a strenuous ride so should one decide to try it ensures your guide is aware of any limitations you may have. Although I have never done it myself for those that love camping I believe that both the experience and facilities at the Restcamp are exceptional and makes a great place for a family looking to reconnect. >TOURIST 2. Crossing The Great Divide – Storms River The Storms River bridge was commissioned in the mid nineteen fifties to join Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and to me this is the point that clearly defines where the one province ends and the other begins. Standing on either side and looking over the dark moody Storms River allows for a unique view of the stark contrasts in not only the climate but the vegetation of the two provinces. I never miss a stop at the friendly service station, where you can fill up your vehicle, or just have a pit stop to get a beverage, sit at one of the picnic tables and enjoy the view or if you are feeling up to it take a hike on and around the truly remarkable structure. There is a nice curio shop and some really nice works of art on display for purchase and of course information on the bridge itself! Kim Irvine 3. Beach Dune Safari At Oyster Bay I was not very enthusiastic about taking a dune beach safari but I was very pleasantly surprised not only it is fun being bounced about whilst zooming up and down the beautiful beaches and dunes of Oyster bay or stop to have a picnic lunch atop one affording the most breath taking views but you get a whole new appreciation for the delicate balance of our eco system. The reserve has many endangered plant species growing within and if you lucky you get to see the African Oyster Catcher which is one of the main concerns of the reserve. If bird watching is something that interests anyone the reserve is also home to approximately one hundred and seventy different types of bird species. >TOURIST 4. Cape St Francis Fun Out of the coastal villages dotted between Storms River and Port Elizabeth Cape St Francis is one of my favorites. Not only does it have sandy beaches that stretch for miles that offer fun dune boarding, lazy sun soaks or beach horse rides but it has the Seal Point Lighthouse that was built in 1870’s where you get to relive the structures history and stories of the many shipwrecks to occur near the point. Sharing the lighthouse grounds is the Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Where you get to experience what the center is doing for these birds especially the endangered African Penguin and one of the biggest delights for the kids is as you drive in there is a giant penguin statue! Kim Irvine 5. Night-time Frog Safari – Cape St Francis Sporting gumboots, armed with a flash light and net in the inky darkness of the wetlands you get to wade through weeds on a hunt for endangered amphibians. We pottered around for quite a while before spotting our first one and it is thrilling but at the same time sad to think they were once in abundance and now dwindling due to the disappearing wetlands. The frogs are listed once caught and then gently released again. Not only is it educational but great fun combined with a good meal and hot beverage when done. And a great feeling that you may have made a little bit of difference in the fight to save our delicate eco system! >TOURIST Did you know The Sunshine Coast is named so because it gets the most sunshine in South Africa with around 320/365 days a year? Kim Irvine Top Reasons to Book This Trip  Beaches: The beaches here are the best.  Food: The food is amazing.  Local Culture: A rich heritage of tradition.  Family: As strong sense of family  Activities: Lots of adventure and activities  Trips and Guided Tours: Amazing day trips and safaris  People: Warm friendly people  Accommodation: Top quality affordable accommodation >TOURIST > TOURIST GREATER THAN A TOURIST Visit GreaterThanATourist.com http://GreaterThanATourist.com Sign up for the Greater Than a Tourist Newsletter http://eepurl.com/cxspyf Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterThanATourist Follow us on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/GreaterThanATourist Follow us on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/GreaterThanATourist