Seat at the Table Showcases Best of Eastern Cape

By Vanessa Obioha

South Africa Tourism held its annual Seat at the Table campaign to showcase some of its beautiful destinations recently. The campaign aimed to increase the number of tourists to pre-Covid levels by offering visitors an unforgettable experience this Easter holiday.

Known for its history and nature, the Eastern Cape was a perfect destination for the campaign. The province is the home of the Xhosa people of the southern African country and is the birthplace of many notable personalities like the late Nelson Mandela.

As the second-largest province of South Africa, the area boasts many regions that attract locals and foreigners to its natural environment such as the Wild Coast. It stretches from East London in the south to the border of KwaZulu-Natal in the north. This area is home to unspoiled beaches, rugged landscapes and tranquil rivers surrounded by majestic hills.

The Riverside Aqua Sports and Beach Bar in Port Edward is a good starting point. You can take a boat ride on the Umtamvuna River, which forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces in South Africa or bask in the tranquillity and beauty of nature. The river flows into the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by towering cliffs and plateaus. As the boat cruises from the ocean towards the R61, the Umtamvuna Bridge, the second-longest single-span bridge in the country comes into focus. The bridge allows locals to be in two provinces on the same day: the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

One of the thrills of the boat ride is the availability of standby masseuses to ease the stress of the day.

Located also in Port Edward is the Wild Coast Sun, a perfect destination for your vacation. It is a short ride from Riverside and offers world-class accommodations for nature and adventure lovers.  With many restaurants, casinos, cinemas, parks and other adventurous packages, the 4-star hotel brings adventure close to your doorstep, saving you the hassles of moving from one place to another.

But if you choose to explore your wild side, the Oribi Gorge is the best place to release your fears and indulge in the Wild Five adventures. Take the heart-racing wild swing that lets you fall over the edge of Lehrs Falls at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour, while swinging more than 100 metres away from the gorge. The zipline allows you to zip through the waterfall at a height of 160 metres above the valley floor, taking in the beauty of the sky and nature as they embrace you.  Quad biking is another adventure to indulge in. The four wheels experience gives you the best of nature thrills. But if you are feeling more like the Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, paintballing is your best choice.

Capping the three-day experience, SA Tourism under its Sho’T Left campaign, hosted guests to a cosy event at the shoreline of Wild Coast Sun. Guests revelled in the music, dance, food and culture of the Eastern Cape.

Musical performances from the music group Trompies, the heart-stopping energetic act of gospel singer Kholeka, and the groovy Amapiano sounds from Young Stunna heightened the atmosphere, evoking a spirit of camaraderie as guests mingled and danced. DJ Naves was also on the wheels of steel, keeping guests on their feet long after sunset.

To give guests an unforgettable culinary ecstasy, Celebrity chef Wandi was on ground with a three-course meal of duck and lamb dishes.

“Food is a very important element when it comes to travelling,” explained Wandi. “Today’s menu is South African-inspired and specially curated for South African heritage. We started with the duck, and the important thing about the duck is that it was bought from a local boutique farmer in Mamelodi, and this showcases what we need to be doing as consumers and supporting local businesses.

“For the main, I decided to go with an all-time favourite: lamb shank served with a potato puree. The lamb was bought from the Karoo, and this is again to showcase what the area in the Karoo, towards the north of Western Cape, has to offer.”

South Africa is one of the major tourist destinations for Nigerians with about 200 visa applications per day.  About 45,000 Nigerians visited the country during the pre-pandemic times. Although the number of Nigerian visitors has not yet reached pre-Covid levels, the tourism board is looking forward to welcoming about 26,000 Nigerians this year. With Easter just around the corner, the Eastern Cape with its rich history, natural beauty and thrilling adventures is the perfect holiday destination to remember.