Do you have plans to visit the Heart of The Sunshine Coast in South Africa?
No? Well you’d better make them – with so much to keep you busy, you’ll never have a dull moment!
Here’s a list of what you can get up to while visiting in & Around Port Alfred:
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES:
· BIRDING:
Port Alfred and surrounding environs has some superb birding spots. 5 of the 7 biomes provides for a variety of birding habitats. Over 400 birding species have been recorded in the area over the years.
o Contact our FGASA accredited birding guide for a tour, Tim Cockroft:
§ Tel - 072 314 0069
· GAME DRIVES:
The Sunshine Coast is a malaria-free area and home to a number of game reserves (nearly all hosting the Big-5) and the only Nature Reserve hosting the Big 7 (Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark). Enjoy the various habitats, from ocean, riverine, dune bush, grassland to forests. The area has 480 recorded bird species, a birders haven!
§ 0466367904
§ 0466248199
o Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve
§ reservations@oceanareserve.com
§ 0836160605
§ reservations@oceanareserve.com
§ 0836160605
§ 0466481040
· BEACHES:
o East Beach Port Alfred: A popular family and dog friendly beach, East Beach is a sought after surfing hot spot, the site of international surfing competitions and the legendary Shaka Surf School. Long stretch of beach, excellent for walking, and popular with dog walkers and fishermen. The spectacular sand dunes are excellent for dune boarding.
o West Beach Port Alfred: West beach is a great family hang out spot, with a Waffle Zone, Beach Bar and family restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean and Kowie River. It is the preferred body boarding championship beach, with good left and right breaks. West beach is great for tanning and sand castle building, however, not recommended as a swimming beach due to the strong rip tides.
o Kellys Blue Flag Beach Port Alfred: has won various awards over the years and is recognised by international standards as a beach that offers excellent value to visitors. Factors such as safety, cleanliness, ablution facilities and lifeguard services are some of the factors considered when awarding Blue Flag status. The 400m-long beach offers ample space for beach activities and sun-seekers. Interesting rock pools to the west of Kellys keep young children occupied for hours. Surfing is a popular activity, with beach breaks that offer both right and left-hand waves.
o Shelly Bay Port Alfred: A picturesque and small bay ideal for shell collecting and interesting rock pools – this little beach is popular with families and small children and stretches all the way to Flame Lilly beach with its natural tidal pool.
o Kleinemonde Beach: Nestled between two spectacular rivers – the Kleinemonde East and West Rivers and situated 15 km east of Port Alfred. It is characterised by its shallow lagoons, ideal for small children and fur babies to frolic in. Kleinemonde East and West beaches are excellent walking spots, and the famous 2km walk to the three sisters at Riet River is spectacular. A popular fishing spot.
o Fish River Beach: Accessed from the banks of the Great Fish River, this lovely and remote beach stretches all the way west past the Light House to Riet River. A well renowned fishing beach and remote naturist beach.
· FISHING:
Rock and Surf Fishing along the Sunshine coastline offers excellent fishing opportunities. The most popular fishing spots are:
o 3 Sisters – walk west from Kleinemonde to the deep troughs at 3 Sisters
o Great Fish River – fish from the rocky outcrops east of the Great Fish River
o Kowie River Mouth – Fish off the west pier in Port Alfred
o Sharks Bay – situated between West Beach and Kellys beach – the deep troughs offer excellent fishing
o Deep Sea Fishing with BlackFish Charters: We run a purpose–built, fully SAMSA registered 32ft Butt Cat out of Port Alfred. Our target market being top-end fishing charters, catering to both local and international clientele. We have on average around 450 clients using our services per season. We pride ourselves on a good, professional service, on and off the water. Our on-board Crew are both knowledgeable and skilled fishermen who guide our clients in all aspects while on board. We are also involved with, and support a broad range of scientific research work for local and international institutions as well as servicing the local chokka industry in season. We have built a solid reputation over the years as a no-nonsense, solid fishing outfit, willing to go the extra mile for our clients as well as being the guys to chat to with regards to equipment and general advice regarding all things boat/fishing related. We belong to ORI and actively practise tag and release, while also helping educate our clientele over a broad spectrum of conservation in our seas. Our junior on–board clinic has been a great success. Selected junior anglers are given a regular opportunity to experience and learn basic boat and fishing skills as well as the importance of “clean seas” and the preservation of our unique sea life. We see this as an investment in the future of our sport. We have worked hard on our branding and have over the last 18months cemented the name of our new vessel in the area as well as having a large following on numerous social media platforms.
o River Fishing is popular along the banks of the Kowie River, popular spots being along the grassy verges behind the Tourism Office.
· ARTS & CULTURE
The first people to inhabit the Eastern Cape were the KoiSan. The first explorer to land in the area was Portuguese explorer, Bartholomew Diaz who erected a cross at Kwaaihoek in 1488 whilst searching for a trading route to the East. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a trading station in the Cape, and began trading with the Koisan. Land ownership issues arose In 1779, and a series of bloody Frontier wars lasting 100 years between the Xhosa moving South into what is now known as the Eastern Cape, and the Dutch / British who were moving up from the Cape of Good Hope arose. In 1795, the British seized ownership of the Cape Colony.
Between 1803 – 1915 the war between Britain and France almost bankrupted Britain, and as a way of easing the financial burden of the British Empire, as well as a means of providing a barrier between the fighting in Southern Africa, the government offered land to Settlers in various colonies. In 1820, the first 4,000 British Settlers arrived in the Cape and were transported by Ox Wagon to Bathurst in the Eastern Cape where they were allocated land. The reality was that the Settlers soon found themselves in the middle of a struggle between Xhosa and British Soldiers and had to cope with drought, floods, crop failure and cattle raids with no support from the British, and all this, in the midst of the bloody Frontier Wars. A number of well-preserved buildings and monuments exist, mainly in Port Alfred and Bathurst, testament to the early years of the 1820 Settlers.
PORT ALFRED: One of the many difficulties faced by the 1820 Settlers was accessibility to the outside world. In 1821, the first ship entered the Kowie River, and the settlement of Port Alfred was born. (The town was originally named Port Francis, and endured several name changes over the years, finally being named Port Alfred in honour of Prince Albert who was visiting the colony at the time).
Wharf Street, the first commercial street in Port Alfred dating back to 1821, now a tourist hub, still has beautifully preserved buildings dating back to that time. Back in 1841, the potential of the river mouth as a port was realized, and in 1843 work commenced on the west and east piers at the new mouth of the Kowie River. From 1863 up to 100 vessels called in annuall, but sadly, the harbour fell into disuse in the 1890’s when the railway line was established between Port Alfred and Grahamstown. The construction of the line was part of the massive expansion of the Cape Colony’s railway system. The steam engines “Kowie” and “Port Alfrerd” were imported in 1882. The Kowie Museum, now housed in the old Railway Station Building in Port Alfred has a magnificent display on the Railway system.
The Port Alfred Hospital shows little signs of its original purpose, being the largest mental institution in the district by 1841. The caves behind the hospital grounds show evidence showing of convicts, constructing the piers, were housed behind unstable dynamite stores.
For 42 Years, the two halves of the town were linked by a pontoon. Then, in 1906, the foundation stone for the Putt Bridge linking East and West was laid. The original bridge was demolished and a new bridge constructed in 1989, allowing for 2 lanes of traffic. The famous Nico Malan Bridge spanning the Kowie River on the picturesque R-72 route was constructed in1970.
In 1907 friends W Stow, V Vroom, G Holloway and Dr Jones Phillipson chipped in twenty pounds each and established what is now known as the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club, one of only 5 “Royals” in Africa.
With the outbreak of WW11, the R.A.F. Airforce Base home to 43 Squadron was completed in 1942. Today this facility has grown into 43 Air School, an internationally acclaimed flying school.
The Sarel Hayward Dam was constructed in1986 to alleviate the fresh water problems, but as the town has grown more solutions have needed to be sought to meet the demands of the growing community. In 1989 the scenic and iconic Royal Alfred Marina and small boat harbour was built by visionary, Justin de Wet Steyn.
There is an excellent Heritage Map with detailed information and a self-guided tour of historical sites available from the Tourism Office or Download a copy.
Please see next blog continued...
