Eastern Cape

From Big Five safaris to beachside hotels, the malaria-free Eastern Cape offers adventure, beauty, stunning scenery, and frontier history.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

August to May

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Overview

Discover the best places to stay in the Eastern Cape. Explore malaria-free safaris, scenic coastlines, and unforgettable family-friendly lodges.

Places to stay in Eastern Cape - Surfing at Jeffreys Bay, Eastern CapeScenic diversity, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage all come together on an Eastern Cape safari holiday. This province, close to the Garden Route, offers an intoxicating blend of landscapesβ€”from lush coastal forests and golden beaches to vast arid plains and the striking Karoo semi-desert.

The malaria-free game reserves are a standout, but there’s more: the unspoiled coastline of the Wild Coast, Ciskei, and St Francis Bay features dramatic rock formations, forested dunes, and wide, sandy beaches. Inland, the panoramic Karoo landscapes bring big skies, stargazing, and frontier charm.

On Safari in the Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is one of South Africa’s prime malaria-free safari destinations, alongside the Kalahari, Waterberg, and Madikwe. Home to Addo Elephant Park and a host of private Eastern Cape game lodges, it’s an excellent choice for families, honeymooners, or friends seeking an easily accessible safari experience.

With fewer trees and gently undulating hills, game-viewing can be as rewarding as in denser bush regions. Especially in its summer climate when summer rains are as much of a factor as in the Kruger,

Choose from family-friendly lodges, romantic retreats, and exclusive-use safari villasβ€”there’s something for every style of traveller.

Places to Stay in the Eastern Cape

  • Giraffe on eastern cape safari holidaysThe Addo Elephant Park with its large and relaxed elephant herds was the first.
  • But now there are several private game reserves.
  • Inland you can explore historic towns or enjoy karoo game reserves such as Samara
  • Break your journey to the Eastern Cape with a beach stay at St Francis.
  • Or combine an Eastern Cape safari with a beach stay at Ciskei on the Wild CoastΒ  at Prana Lodge.

Why We Love It

Where to go in Eastern Cape

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Eastern Cape Game Reserves

Enjoy Big Five game drives in Eastern Cape game reserves. Family-friendly safari lodges, scenic bushveld, and easy access from the Garden Route.

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Addo Elephant Park

Addo elephant park offers close-up elephant encounters and malaria free safaris as well as horse-riding and hiking in the beautiful Zuurberg mountains.

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Port Elizabeth & St Francis Bay

Port Elizabeth & St Francis Bay – Coastal Charm Meets Adventure! They are the gateway to the Eastern Cape and offer sandy beaches, cultural tours & great links golf courses.

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The Wild Coast

A rugged ribbon of coastline where rolling hills meet the Indian Ocean, the Wild Coast is South Africa at its most elemental: remote, quietly beautiful and richly cultural. Particularly appealing to ...

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Graaff-Reinet & the Karoo

Timeless beauty in the South Africa's Karoo heartland. If you like remore places, head to Graaff-Reinet or the surrounding Great Karoo, with its dramatic scenery, frontier history and huge skies.

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On The Map

When to visit Eastern Cape

 

Summer in Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape lies in the transitional climate zone between the Summer rainfall of the north of South Africa and the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape. The rain is more evenly spread through the year. Summer tends to be warm and humid with only moderate rain. So game-viewing in the Eastern Cape is less seasonal than in other safari regions. Note: This rainfall is high along the Wild Coast, whereas the interior of the Karoo tends to dry and hot.
AVG RAINFALL 44 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 8 Hours
MAX TEMP 24 ℃ / 75 ℉
MIN TEMP 19 ℃ / 66 ℉
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Great time for game-viewing

This is a good time to visit as well as temperatures remain very pleasant and the rain is moderate. However night-time temperatures do drop off at the end of the Autumn (May).
AVG RAINFALL 55mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 7 Hours
MAX TEMP 21.5 ℃ / 71 ℉
MIN TEMP 13.5 ℃ / 57 ℉
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Winter in Eastern Cape

These is our winter months which are characterised by cold winter nights, especially away from the coast but pleasant winter days of 20-22C. Though there is not much rain during the winter, game-viewing can be quite a cold experience. However many game lodges offer safari offers to warm up the experience.
AVG RAINFALL 59 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 7 Hours
MAX TEMP 18 ℃ / 64 ℉
MIN TEMP 10 ℃ / 50 ℉
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Spring in Eastern Cape

Springtime is an attractive time to visit. Whales visit the coastal areas from July to November, peaking in number between September and October. The nights are much warmer and the days are sunny and warm but not hot. Great time for game-viewing.
AVG RAINFALL 63 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 8 Hours
MAX TEMP 21 ℃ / 69 ℉
MIN TEMP 14 ℃ / 57 ℉
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Popular tours & safaris

Water Babies Family Self-drive

Water Babies Family Self-drive

This 13 night self-drive is a classical family trip to Cape Town, the Garden Route and Eastern Cape with plenty of attractions along the way. Using premier accommodation, it's ideal for the South ...

WHEN Aug - May
DURATION 13 Nights
FROM β‚€ 6,849
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Mellow Cape Self-drive Safari

Mellow Cape Self-drive Safari

This popular and leisurely self-drive tour begins in Cape Town and meanders through the Winelands, the whale country around Hermanus, taking Route 62 to the Little Karoo and the Garden Route and ...

WHEN Aug - Apr
DURATION 13 Nights
FROM β‚€ 2,709
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Gourmet and Boutique South Africa

Gourmet and Boutique South Africa

This 12-night Gourmet & Boutique South Africa tour focuses on staying at smaller boutique lodges and enjoying both the fine wine and gourmet food that South Africa is famous for, as well as its ...

WHEN Aug - May
DURATION 12 Nights
FROM β‚€ 4,320
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Accommodation

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Kariega Settlers Drift Lodge

Kariega Settlers Drift Lodge comprises nine spacious tented suites, each with stunning views and secluded viewing decks. Gazing down from the decks overlooking the Bushman's River, it feels as if ...

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Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Kwandwe Game Reserve offers 22,000ha of pristine malaria-free wilderness with a magnificent, ecologically varied landscape resulting in a diverse range of game: elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo well as ...

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Lalibela Kichaka Lodge

Kichaka Game Lodge is an exclusive five star luxury lodge located within the Lalibela game reserve which covers five ecosystems, giving a breathtaking diversity of fauna and flora. You see a wide ...

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Kariega River Lodge

Kariega River Lodge is Kariega's superior four star game lodge with a stunning riverside setting. Perched on the banks of the Bushmans River, it offers spectacular river views from its ten ...

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Eagles Crag at Shamwari Private Game Reserve

Eagles Crag Lodge is an avant-garde masterpiece of thatch, stone and glass nestled in a secluded lush valley in the central part of the Shamwari private game reserve. This is probably the most ...

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Amakhala Bukela Lodge

Amakhala Bukela Game Lodge is situated in the malaria free Amakhala Game Reserve of the Eastern Cape. This romantic and secluded safari lodge, with only four suites, is tucked away into indigenous ...

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Download our Free Safari Planning Guide

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Experiences To Look Forward To

Addo Elephant Park Day Tours

Addo Elephant Park Day Tours

You can visit the Addo Elephant Park either as a half day safari with a pick-up from the country hotels in the Addo area, or as a full day tour either from Port Elizabeth or Addo. The expansion of ...

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Addo River Trip

Addo River Trip

Explore a different side of Addo on the Addo River Trip and view game on the riverbank while you drift down some of the most scenic parts of the Sunday’s River in a custom designed, comfortable and ...

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Zuurberg Mountains – Mountain Biking & Hiking

Zuurberg Mountains – Mountain Biking & Hiking

There are some great outdoor options in Addo Elephant Park, including mountain biking and hiking in the lovely Zuurberg Mountains. This is a remote, pristine, and lush forest section of the greater ...

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Eastern Cape | A deeper dive

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Leanne Koopman-Monk

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Leanne, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH

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