Top Eastern Cape Outdoor Adventures: A Detailed Guide

South Africa’s Eastern Cape is very, very underrated, you know? Often, people only think of Kruger or Cape Town, but is that the Eastern Cape offers, honestly, a mix of landscapes and adventures that rivals any other region in the country. We are talking coastline and dense forests, along with vast, open savannas, that, honestly, offers like something for everyone, is that not true? If you are someone who’s very, very keen on getting outdoors and you are seeing some off the beaten track, then so this region could be perfect, really. We have spent a good bit of time there to find you the absolute top picks. So get ready, for some unforgettable experience.

Surfing at Jeffreys Bay

So, I mean, let’s kick off this very cool journey with Jeffreys Bay, is that it? You have probably, or even, you have definitely heard of this place because, you know, it’s virtually known around the whole wide globe as one of the best surfing destinations. Basically, I have spent a bit of time catching waves all over, very, very different destinations, and I am here to tell you, that this spot truly stands out. What sets it apart is really its very, very consistent and seriously perfect right-hand point breaks, in fact. Waves like Supertubes is really a surfer’s dream; very long rides and just the most insane barrels that give you that proper adrenaline kick. If you are, I mean, very much a beginner, do not worry, Jeffreys Bay caters for everyone – like your grandma, virtually! There are quite a few surf schools that provide instructions and gear hire, so that anyone, pretty much, can give it a try. In fact, very early on, I have taken a lesson myself and I got the hang of it surprisingly fast.

Very other than just surfing, the vibe here is, well, something else. So the town itself, which I feel, is, again, quite often missed out when talking about surfing spots, is pretty chilled. You have so many shops, cafes, and all these very, very cool spots, offering like a very, very vibrant surf culture. When I was here last, there were all these, well, surf contests running which give you a feel for this passion the people here feel. Jeffreys Bay is also very scenic with stretches of beautiful beach – that’s also key for the non-surfers to spend some time soaking up some sun. You know, you can also visit the surf outlets to buy boards. Or some swag.

I do have a tip that’s quite cool – that is if you are planning on surfing Supertubes, honestly, be prepared for a crowd. It is extremely popular – so you will want to get up fairly early or just go late in the afternoon to bag a spot.

Read our full review: Surfing at Jeffreys Bay Full Review and Details

Hiking the Otter Trail

After hanging ten in Jeffrey’s Bay we will go next for like something a bit more challenging, yeah? Let us talk, about the Otter Trail. As a matter of fact, many have called it South Africa’s like top hike! A long time ago it was given this very specific name – after all of the Cape Clawless Otters that have been seen there, so to speak. To start off, it is a five-day trail that extends right through the Tsitsikamma National Park with like a scenic coastal stretch you won’t see anywhere else – roughly 42 kilometers. So prepare yourself and your legs! That you will also be walking every terrain type available.

Why this trail, of many other hundreds, is special is something very, very easy to pin down actually! Just ask about anywhere! Every day on the Otter Trail brings its challenges that is for certain. There are tons of stream crossings. Now remember: plan these very, very carefully with regards to like low tide, I would personally check them more than just once. What might just seem like a creek could be too much at some very specific high tide levels. Beyond the streams and of course some hard walking, you will get this constant view of amazing seascapes and also you’ll get a really cool close up of all this crazy plant life on earth.

Now I was on the Otter Trail like 6 months or maybe 7 months ago and there’s like two stand out moments that just were great: the first morning I had while having coffee these very cute dolphins just cruised along next to us, almost like posing; now late one afternoon these very funny otters – must have been a group, because like 7 of them jumped in our path, like the welcoming committee or something.

The key tip: there’s like only some handful of hikers let in a day, meaning this experience requires like advanced booking. Get in quick.

Read our full review: Hiking the Otter Trail Full Review and Details

Addo Elephant National Park Safari

We have already seen the beach, the trails now how does wildlife grabs you? Because the next activity will be pretty awesome for this type of thrill, as a matter of fact! That said you must absolutely hit Addo Elephant National Park – where, again, another insane memory happened to me! Addo is very famous, right? Well it’s famous like almost globally as it’s a special park with quite a large population of elephants. In the beginning, many, many years ago, there was like not a lot elephants, which gave this location a pretty desperate label. Nowadays Addo park it’s like, well, pretty full. Elephants! Very good.

There is this option I liked when you tour Addo: grab your own car – no tour bus! What it gives you is this flexibility to travel at your own speed. Because a guided tour’s good but what they do, in reality, is zip. One time I’ve found these really cool elephants and ended up parked close to them, I kid you not, an hour watching them interact. But Addo ain’t just got like elephants, right? The park, you know, it houses like the Big Five with these prides of lions with some very black rhinos. Be on the look for various of zebra species with some buck. And all these random birds!

For that special, let’s say ‘up close’ type view try book an early morning drive. Most of the time you’re gonna beat those very other loud safari cruisers in there, but there is, that too it’s almost, the opportunity for you and these animals out early looking for breakfast too. So keep in quiet and peep this stuff up. As for me I just could hang watching them eat for all hours really.

Don’t go to Addo without at the very least two camera lens and one with great magnification power to get you very far into what happens, honestly.

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Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour

After seeing a bunch of animal scenes let’s crank it up, very much so! Ever wished for being like, honest to God, that Tarzan in those books? Good, but that should mean, I am suggesting this Tsitsikamma Canopy trip we went to. Right in those insane forests within Tsitsikamma exists what one can just simply do; like zipline trip within those great canopies over the place! After a lot of lines I am recommending.

I will mention this bit so do not make yourself uncomfortable: one doesn’t need tons of stamina with like these very easy-ish treks through those thick woods when being directed to those stations. When I say stations that’s about like, oh I forget something, it’s about 10! And that’s how many very zipline hops in each way when on this circuit of trees. As a matter of fact all this offers is unique to have with nature very, very close with those trees right to your face! Plus they offer, in a way, all this interesting education stuff through all this from those people working there.

My favorite spot in it: all the jumps there is across the Storms very long River Gorge, basically. You almost like just see the canyon in itself passing really, very slowly with your feet basically in thin air.

Be there to respect this canopy session thing okay; which for us translated to: wear stuff good to use and prepare because it always looks damp but be there with something long to go warm and something which is robust so the nature do damage what you got.

Read our full review: Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour Full Review and Details

Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area Exploration

And now this one is like this absolute jewel of Eastern Cape so I could tell, almost! To explain Baviaanskloof it may translate to ‘Valley of Baboons’ sort of as they wander here now, yeah. More, the Baviaanskloof zone this one is, is enormous covering many kilometers, basically almost about five zones within just the heart of those. They’re with insane geography things plus loads biodiversity within. The result becomes really nice, right?

How could just people spend their very time in there? Basically think to grab on 4X4 so the time’s good going between trails from this tough scenery you see, basically. However people even like taking camping trips there to like completely be in Baviaanskloof; so you do have your stars above.

So do get into those sights there like, right, you must see that Leopard path is like where if being so darn cool to see it the wild you must be looking carefully. Next there’s many ancient stuff painted very way deep where that path starts as that ancient stuff must be something to look on yourself I could vouch too almost! You could be very into history too? Nice – some of those farms where people put buildings on were like the place where many historic stuff must’ve happened, even the UK and all that. Just all too cool you hear what I say?

Don’t very try take Baviaanskloof if, like, your car’s quite cheap! Because the whole place will stress the very best ride to smithereens with all the sand so the thing it takes, always do 4×4 in this region so you avoid stories that I’ve heard.

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