Superb guide to special corner of the Eastern Cape
The way to start the review of this special book is by quoting the first sentence of the introduction by Davis HiltonBarber: “Welcome to the Sunshine Coast – home to 10 rivers, 150km of unspoilt coastline, with surrounding malaria-free Big Five game reserves.”
This book is a superb guide to the many spectacular attractions available to the visitor to this special corner of the Eastern Cape.
It will also provide a reminder of how lucky the locals and regular visitors are to have so much natural beauty within easy reach.
Gracious hospitality and a variety of affordable entertainment, augment the experience offered by this gem of Africa – the Sunshine Coast.
The book combines excerpts of the history of the area – from the stone-age San strandlopers, the Xhosa of Chief Ndlambe, and the Boer farmers to the 1820 British Settlers. Each group contributing to the rich history of the area.
Tragedies are not glossed over. The Blaauwkrantz Bridge train disaster is recounted along with informative photographs.
The towns are described; Port Alfred as a port, Bathurst features, with so much to offer in addition to the famous Pig and Whistle, SA’s oldest pub.
There is a moody photo of St John’s Church, the oldest unaltered church in SA (where the reviewer was married and his children baptised).
The town is rich in history and boasts the Big Pineapple, a modern monument to the agricultural contribution of the district.
Kenton-on-Sea is a jewel of a resort, as is Kasouga; both hamlets are superbly illustrated in photographs and text.
Chapters are dedicated to the many outstanding attractions in Port Alfred: the Royal Golf course, the internationally renowned 43 Air School, a marina, the NSRI for those in peril and biographies of personalities such as “Bugs” Wilmot and Louise Swanepoel, two of the characters who have graced the town.
In addition to the text, exquisite photos of beaches, rivers, birds, wildlife and architectural wonders raise this publication way above the dry tourist tomes flogged to bored holiday punters.
The British royal family’s involvement with the golf club adds an air of aristocratic class to a classy book.
All this and more will serve to whet the appetites of holidaymakers and encourage them to sample the array of wonders so available between the Keiskamma and Sundays’ rivers.
David Hilton-Barber’s prose is eloquent in its simplicity and purity. Any layman will comprehend it.
His research is impeccable and he communicates the facts in an interesting way; the text is easy to read.
It is a book for everyone – young, old and those inbetween. A must for the Christmas stocking.