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Introduction
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Grahamstown - Africa's Festival Capital
The city of Grahamstown is a historic jewel, which has
well persevered buildings with outstanding architectural
features. The City sparkles with architectural gems, from
cottages to villas, from chapels to cathedrals. It’s
a city of spires and charming verandas with jacarandas
blooming.
Six national events are celebrated here each year –
and it is also called the City of Saints – with
more than 40 places of worship – and the centre
of the Frontier Country, where Khoi, Xhosa, Boer and British
people met – often with disastrous consequences.
The Eastern Cape is divided into seven different tourism
regions, each boasting some of the finest tourist destinations
in South Africa. The vast Karoo hinterland, beaches of
unsurpassed beauty, the culture, and the people, the history
and the wildlife combine to make this province an automatic
choice. |
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Featured Property in Grahamstown |
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EXCLUSIVE NEW DEVELOPMENT
Close proximity to St Andrews College, DSG, Kingswood and the Peppergrove Mall. Designed with private school parents in mind, these lock-up-and-go units are ideal for weekend visits. This secure development features red brick and stone exteriors, in keeping with local character, and the finest finishes throughout.
ZAR 1,395,000
For more informaton, please click here
Grahamstown Climate
Grahamstown Map |
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| Property listings
in the Grahamstown Area - select from the available listings
below: |
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The
city’s pride is its cultural heritage,a pride that
is evident in the care that is taken in the preservation
and enhancement of its numerous historical buildings.
The broad tree-lined streets and imposing public buildings
are the legacy of a time when Grahamstown was the cape’s
second city; the many monuments and places of worship
and the presence of Rhodes University and several excellent
schools all testify to the variety of cultures which co-exist
here.
Grahamstown is best known as the venue of the annual National
Festival of the Arts, and is generally considered to be
a cultural and Intellectual destination. With Rhodes University
and many of the country's top schools, it has a definite
air of intellectualism.
Held in June each year, it celebrates the best in South
African and imported talent and regularly attracts more
than 50 000 festinos who come to enjoy more than 500 shows
– everything from opera to jazz and comedy to drama
– as well as an endless diversity of other creative
disciplines.
But even outside of festival time, there are so many unusual
museums, like the National English Literary Museum, the
Observatory Museum and the International Library of African
Music. The city status is by virtue of the beautiful Cathedral
of St Michael and St George, which dominates the High
Street and is perhaps Grahamstown’s most prominent
landmark. It is the seat of the Bishop of Grahamstown
and has the tallest spire in South Africa.
The 1820 Setters National Monument, from its position
in the Wild Flower reserve above the Botanical Gardens,
commands sweeping views of the city and surrounding countryside.
It is home of the 1820 Foundation and best known for organising
the annual Standard Bank National Arts Festival.
Grahamstown is probably South Africa’s most intellectual
city, with Rhodes University, many of the country’s
top schools and a whole host of academically oriented
museums.
Crafters in the Eastern Cape have been fairly isolated
from the mainstream and have consequently developed some
unique products that are enjoyed for both their quality
and diversity. Being the meeting area of many cultures,
it is not surprising to find fine needlepoint work alongside
traditional Xhosa beading |
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Crafts |
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Xhosa
Dancers |
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Observatory
Museum |
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City Hall |
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The
Cathedral of St Michael &
St George |
The
Botanical Gardens
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1830 Settlers
National Monument |
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The
history of the Eastern Cape is one of confrontation and
counter-confrontation. Once considered the frontier between
the British colony at the Cape and the wilds of “Kaffraria”
– the land of the Xhosa people, it was the scene
of many bloody battles.
Colonel John Graham established Grahamstown in 1812. It
was the first town to be established by the British in
South Africa, its location being primarily chosen for
the perceived abundance of water. It remained a military
garrison and was the site of the famous 1819 attack by
Nxele (Makana) in his attempt to halt the European incursion
into Xhosa territory. A bitter battle, described as the
most significant in South African history, ensued in which
the Xhosa were finally forced to withdraw. Today the battle
area is known by the local people as Egazini, meaning
the "Place of Blood" and a commemorative monument
has been erected.
As a result of this battle it was decided to settle 4
000 Britons in the area to consolidate British occupation
of the territory. After the arrival of the settlers, Grahamstown
grew rapidly to become the second largest town in South
Africa after Cape Town. As military activity moved further
east and north, education took over as its main infrastructure.
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Grahamstown
remains an important educational and cultural centre
today, with easy access to game reserves and the unspoilt
beaches of the Sunshine Coast. The surrounding area
is farmed, largely for chicory, pineapples, ostriches,
sheep and game. The city is also an important legal
centre.
Amahlati Excursions – outdoor
adventure. Hike along rugged farmland and succulent
valley bushveld. Abseil down Waterfall Cliff. Game drives
and water rafting down the Great Fish River.
Thomas Historical Nature Reserve –
game population include Cape Buffalo. White rhinoceros,
kudu and other antelope species. The Settlers Dam recreation
site is situated in the reserve and offers bass fishing,
sailing, board sailing and canoeing.
Fort Brown was established as a military
post in 1817 by Lord Charles Somerset, To counter attacks
during the Frontier Wars. The gun tower and adjoining
walls of the fort are a national monument.
The Great Fish River Reserve, situated
38km outside Grahamstown. This reserve of 43,000ha encompasses
a divergent variety of vegetation types which in turn
offer a variety of habitants specific to a great diversity
of wildlife species which are found in the reserve.
Game population include giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu,
rhinoceros, hippo and warthog.
The Addo Elephant National Park just
over an hour’s drive, is home to approximately
300 elephant, 50 Cape Buffalo, black rhino, bushbuck,
eland, red hartebeest, kudu, ostrich, duiker, grysbok
and bush-pig and over 185 species of bird have been
identified.
Quaint and charming Bathurst is the
eastern province’s own “English Village”.
Bathurst is small but full of interest – it has
national monuments, Bradshaw’s Mill, a village
pub, churches, the Pig & Whistle Hotel (the oldest
inn in S.A), Summerhill estate – home of the Big
Pineapple. Bathurst hums with activity twice a year
– during the agricultural Show (march) and the
huge Dusk till Dawn ox Braai (December)
Just outside Bathurst is the St Francis Health centre
– offering steam baths, indoor and outdoor pools,
beauty treatments and more.
Good thermals and accessible take-offs make Mountain
Drive and favourite spot for paragliding. The Eastern
Province Skydiving club is based in Grahamstown and
jumping takes place every weekend.
The Kariega Game Reserve, half an hour’s
drive, offers a 2-hour game drive, lunch at the day
centre and a cruise on the Kariega river. Hiking amongst
the game, swimming in river pools, fly-fishing and canoeing.
Esingeni Luxury Tented Camp near Alicedale
(38km away) is a birder’s paradise while a variety
of game can be seen nearby the camp.
The Valley of the Ancient Voices, only
20 minutes away, offers a 4-hour journey that spans
thousands of years. Rock Art, relics and artefacts give
clues to the myriad of animals and people that have
crossed through this place.
Koedoeskloof Private Game Reserve, at the foothills
of the Great Winterberg Mountains. Game viewing, horse
trails, bird watching, hiking and mountain biking with
accommodation available.
The world-renowned Shamwari Game Reserve,
only 66km away, has received international recognition
for both conservation and tourism. Shamwari offers you
big game adventure, including the endangered Black Rhino,
legendary ranger service and luxury accommodation.
There are a selection of hiking trails. Be sure to visit
the Oldenburgia, a 2 day trail, the Belton trail in
wonderful countryside; the Amakhala Game Reserve with
guided tours.
Grahamstown offers a wide range of accommodation and,
of course, conference and performance venues and, being
both a university town and a tourist destination, it
is also a great place for entertainment and adventure.
But above all, it is a hospitable and friendly place,
a small city with the big heart of a country town.
Click here to read more
about the Surrounding Areas
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Grahamstown |
High Street |
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Hand
made crafts |
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Addo
Elephant National Park |
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Bathurst |
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Kariega
Game Reserve |
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Shamwari
Game Reserve |
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Grahamstown |
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| Property listings
in the Grahamstown Area - select from the available listings
below: |
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| Contact
Details |
51 African Street
Grahamstown
6139
Tel: +27 (0) 46 6222 778
Fax:+27 (0) 866 568 532
 Click here to email |
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