Looking for a different summer holiday? Try the Eastern Cape

As the weather warms up and anticipation for summer grows, many South Africans will be starting to think about where to spend their holidays.

For many, “the Cape” means the Western Cape: Cape Town, the Winelands, the coast and the familiar summer road trips that have become a tradition for holidaymakers.

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But further east, there is another version of the Cape, one that is less familiar, and perhaps all the more interesting for it.

According to South African Tourism’s December 2025 Domestic Brand Tracker, the Eastern Cape is perceived as a relatively remote and less crowded destination.

Mashoto Mokgethi, Hub Head for Domestic Tourism at South African Tourism, said that while perceptions around distance and remoteness may influence travel decisions, they can also appeal to travellers looking for a more relaxed experience.

“This suggests that there is a strong appetite for destinations that offer travellers an opportunity to relax and enjoy their holiday in a less pressured environment,” she says.

And perhaps that’s the Eastern Cape’s biggest draw: it doesn’t try to be the Western Cape.

Whether you’re looking for culture, adventure or somewhere to slow down, the province offers a different kind of summer holiday.

The Cape with a story

Much like the rest of South Africa, the Eastern Cape is filled with culture and rich history that can easily be overlooked when planning a holiday. 

In Mdantsane, award-winning tour guide and managing director of Uncuthu Tours, Siseko Yelani, is trying to change that through township tourism. 

The historic township, about 15km from East London, was established in 1963 following the forced removal of residents from Duncan Village.

Its history includes the Egerton Bus Boycott Massacre Memorial Site, which commemorates the 11 commuters killed in 1983 while protesting against a bus fare increase.

The township is also home to Sisa Dukashe Stadium, where Chippa United previously played and where Springbok Makazole Mapimpi spent part of his formative rugby career representing the Border Bulldogs.

Through his tours, Yelani offers visitors another way of seeing the Eastern Cape, one that goes beyond beaches and scenery and into the communities, history and people that give the province its character.

“’Townships’ was an apartheid-era, derogatory term for black settlements… We have changed that negative connotation into something positive… We are proud of where we come from,” he said.

The Cape where you don’t sit still

If your idea of a summer holiday involves more than a towel, a book and a few hours in the sun, the Eastern Cape has plenty to keep you moving.

At Areena Riverside Resort near KuGompo City, visitors can choose between activities including quad biking, Segway tours and canoeing along the Kwelera River.

Further along the coast, there is horse riding and mountain biking on the beach, while the Alexandria coastal dune fields near Colchester offer something considerably less conventional: sandboarding.

And then there is Addo Elephant National Park, roughly an hour from Gqeberha, where a beach-focused holiday can easily become a wildlife escape.

Travel tip: You can gain free day entry into all national parks from 7 to 13 September for the South African National Parks Week.  

For those willing to venture even further, the province also puts the Bloukrans Bungy within reach, on the border between the Eastern and Western Cape.

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The Cape where you can switch off

Of course, not every holiday needs to be an adventure.

For some travellers, summer is about long lunches, ocean views, slow mornings and watching the sun disappear without having anywhere else to be.

Cape St Francis lends itself particularly well to this kind of escape.

Anita Lennox, manager at Cape St Francis Resort, described the area as a place of beaches and open space, something that can feel increasingly valuable during the busy summer season.

She says the town has changed significantly over the past decade, with more people choosing to make it their permanent home.

“There is a certain almost weight-off-your-shoulders, relaxed feeling when you arrive in Cape St Francis.”

There are ocean-side restaurants, long stretches of coastline and boat trips that turn into sundowners as the day winds down.

The Eastern Cape may not be the first place that comes to mind when South Africans start planning their summer holidays.

Perhaps that’s exactly why it should be on the list.

Travel tip: For those looking for a reason to make the trip, SA Tourism’s Sho’t Left Travel Week, running from 7 to 13 September, will feature travel deals across the country, including the Eastern Cape.

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