Is there any place in the world that you can photograph elephants crossing your path in the morning, ride the waves with professional surfers in the afternoon, and finish your evening with Springbok Carpaccio at a classy restaurant? Only in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Planning a vacation to the Port Elizabeth area can be a bit overwhelming for first time tourists. We’ve gathered some of the very best attractions together in one place to help you narrow down your choices.
- Jeffrey’s Bay
Consistently perfect waves have made this South African bay one of surfing’s Meccas, according to the book of the same name. As one of the five most famous surfing destinations in the world, they are honored to host the Billabong Pro ASP World Tour every July. If you aren’t interested in braving the waves, there is also an abundance of seashells to collect and at certain times of the year, migrating whales. The seafood, in particular the calamari, is exceptional and fresh here as well. We recommend the seaside café called Kitchen Windows for fresh flavorful food with stunning ocean views. - Red Location Museum
One of the best places to learn about Apartheid and the struggle for freedom is the Red Location Museum. This unique collection of displays makes a break from traditional museums by inviting the visitor to view history as they would have experienced it. The floor space is broken into various “memory boxes” which each tell the story of a single life or particular group that existed during Apartheid. The award-winning building is an exhibit in and of itself; situated in a seemingly difficult location that was an important site during the Struggle. 
Addo Elephant National Park
Just a few miles inland from Jeffrey’s Bay you will find one of the largest nature preserves in South Africa. This park is home to many native African species including: elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, and one of the rarest sub-species of black rhinos. Tourists can travel the roadways on their own, or take guided horseback tours deeper into the sanctuary. Be sure to bring your camera, however, because you never know when the lions will be laying on the side of the road, or a crocodile will snatch prey from the riverside right before your eyes. The South African National Parks even have a monthly contest for the best public sighting photograph submitted at their website sanparks.org.
And now that we’ve whet your appetite for an exotic vacation (or honeymoon!), check out the many South Africa timeshare exchanges available across this amazing country.
Our Guest Blogger’s Bio:
Heather Johnson is a writer for the leading online honeymoon planning resource. Learn all about the best honeymoon destinations today!
(Photo credits: Jeffrey’s Bay – wikitravel.org, Addo – sanparks.org)