Destination: East London,
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Description:
East London is a lovely coastal city in the wilder parts of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. It has a small harbour, really beautiful beaches, sought-after schools and maintains a relaxed small-town vibe. It even has two shopping malls – Vincent Park and Hemingways Mall.
My favourite place:
This has to be a toss up between two classic Slummies landmarks – the rugged expanse of the sandy Nahoon Beach and a famous drive in cafe called The Windmill, with THE best milkshakes (in the world?), ice-creams and toasted sandwiches.
Tourist Spots:
Best Beaches: Nahoon beach, Gonubie Beach, Cintsa
Best Restaurants: Two Dogs (Beacon Bay), Le Petit (Nahoon), Cafe Neo (beachfront), Fish River Sun (highway), Lavender Blue (Beacon Bay), The Heavenly Pancake House (Gonubie).
Tourist Spots: There are also so many private game reserves on the coastal road from East London to Port Elizabeth and the famous Nanaga Farm Stall where you can find a plethora of curios, as well as fresh and delicious South African snacks like biltong, nuts, chocolate treats and dried fruit.
Accommodation: We’d also like to recommend a stay at the Seaforth Guest House, a quaint bed and breakfast right near the beach in Gonubie – they also offer an on-site beauty salon. Bonus!
Day Trips:
From East London, a day trip to the following destinations is a breeze: Hogsback, Cintsa beaches, Port Alfred, Bathurst, Grahamstown and Trennery’s Hotel.
Don’t forget to do the absolutely beautiful drive along the coastline to the north of East London. Grab a picnic lunch and beach gear and explore the coastline to find the hidden treasures of Glen Gariff, Haga-Haga and Morgan’s Bay too!
Fun facts:
Nicknames: The Slum, Slondon, Slummies
Rugby team: Border Bulldogs