The road linking Port Elizabeth and Port Alfred is littered with African game.

These parks allow you to get up close and personal to Africa's wildest animals.

Addo Elephant Park is a true adventure because when you arrive, you pay at the gate, drive off and then you are on your own. This spectacular shot was taken on an Addo Park road where this boy decided that he did not feel like a detour. He passed by without incident but had a good look inside the car.

These proud chaps perched on their thrones could be viewed

at Port Elizabeth Seaview game park. Tiger in his tree was above our heads, and above the fence. There was nothing but his good grace stopping him from hopping over and feasting on us.

The white lion had a few lady friends that took a keen interest in my 2 year old daughter, locking their gaze on her and nothing else the entire time we walked the park. When she decided to shed a bit of energy and go for a sprint, they followed suite. As a mother, you feel instinct take over and your heart jumps straight to your throat.

Port Alfred, where I lived between the ages of five and twelve, is a beautiful haven nestled Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Port Alfred has a luxury Marina with channels

lazily creeping through some of the most valuable

real estate in the country.

It boasts the most beautiful untouched beaches on the African coast shaped by the wild waters of the Indian Ocean.

Families can enjoy high sand dunes on the 'wild side' of the river mouth where some serious dune riding can be done.

Port Alfred is surrounded by African wild life attractions en route to Port Elizabeth which are also listed on our Port Elizabeth blog.

A wide river runs through it providing some of the best fishing and boating facilities on the coastline. Speedboat fun and skiing can be enjoyed on the Kowie river stretching many miles inland. River side homes have their own private jetti's at the edge ot the front lawn.

The town also includes a golf course, rugby club, school, bars & restaurants, hotels, caravan park, shops and amneties, and the pace of life is most definately slow. The key to entertainment is family fun and DIY events with nothing more than a ten minute drive away.

The town attracts many surfers due to the wide choice of surfing beaches allowing a wave on any day with the wind blowing in any particular direction, except maybe onshore. Port Alfred has produced some internationally acclaimed surfers in its time attesting to its ideal conditions for young surfers.




The most popular meeting place for fisherman is along the river banks or deep in the ocean through the Kowie River Mouth where some big fish can be caught in heavily protected waters. Commercial fishing is not a huge activity here so locals get a chance to test the waters of the deep blue sea unhindered. If you catch a big one, you'll make it into the local newspaper as my father did soon after we arrived in town.

After a hard day in the fresh air, wind and sand, the local beachfront pubs provide the catch of the day, good South African brew and a broadcast of international sporting events of the day.

This is the ultimate undiscoverd African hideaway.

SURF TALK

See our surf gallery for photos of some waves

As far as boards go, you're better off getting one when you are there. You need a range of boards from short boards to guns, as conditions change daily.

They are cheaper in SA and mostly custom made specifically for conditions along the EC coast. They cost about R2,000 each starting price for a new board and the locals will know exactly what you need. Exchange rate to £ is about 13 at the moment.

To surf PA a wetsuite should be fine, but booties may be required at some beaches as the rocks will cut you up. In winter, the waves are good but the water is cold - about 16 celcius.

The area is wild, with sharks , rocks and strong tides. Not an excursion for the faint hearted but plenty of young children can be found enjoying the surf.

Kleinmond beach has a beach and point break. The best waves can be found in winter when the wind is blowing from the west.

Kelleys beach provides winter surf when the wind is blowing for the north west and has both left and right beach break. West Pier offers a left beach break off the pier when the wind is blowing from the Southwest and East Pier can provide right breaks in winds from the north west.

There are plenty of options here, but in summer the waves mostly go on holiday!