Tourism in Makana is different from any other place in the country because nowhere else can you find such a rich variety of attractions in such close proximity.
Tourism in Makana is different from any other place in the country because nowhere else can you find such a rich variety of attractions in such close proximity.
Visitors can come back to our area many times and have a completely different experience with each visit.
If you are into taking it easy and lounging about, there are dozens of lodges and spas in the vicinity where you can find a quiet nook to read and be waited upon hand and foot when you feel like some pampering.
If you need to stretch out on a gorgeous beach to soak up some rays, the Ndlambe coastline, a little more than 50 kilometres from Grahamstown, has some of the most glorious beaches you’ll find anywhere on the planet.
Perhaps you feel the need to be more active, and here is where the Makana offerings look even better.
If you find hiking exhilarating there are several fascinating one-, two-, and even four-day trails within an hour’s drive from High Street.
There are routes for those who enjoy a comfortable stroll with enough time to haul out your binoculars and tick off a few fine-feathered specimens on your birding list, and there are routes for hardcore hikers who like to tramp through thick bush, march up steep sand dunes and sleep under the stars.
Of course there is a wide selection of trails for the in-betweeners – those who like a moderate walk or a pleasant dip in a mountain stream – but still at the end of the day require comfortable bathroom facilities.
Grahamstown’s rich historical heritage is one of the most extraordinary niche experiences in the country.
You can drive around, or even better, take a walking tour to see some the unusual architecture of houses and buildings constructed in the 19th century.
The architecture in these parts is unusual because when the 1820 Settlers arrived they were still trying to design their accommodations to fit in with the British landscape.
They often built their houses to face south, which would be ideal if you live in the northern hemisphere and would like to experience sunshine for as long as possible, but not if you live in the southern hemisphere.
If you enjoy game watching there are many private and public reserves to choose from.
There are of course the luxury lodges such as Kwandwe and Shamwari, but there is also excellent value for money at the Addo Elephant Park.
It is affordable, comfortable and has a good range of animals and there is no better place on earth to photograph elephants.
