EAST OF THE NORM

Tired of visiting the same old tourist attractions in every town you pass through? Here are some unexpected ways to enjoy your vacation if you find yourself in East London.

Visiting monuments, museums, and acclaimed restaurants seem to be people’s default setting when exploring new destinations. While there is merit in this habit, it doesn’t inspire much excitement. When I return from a trip, on the other hand, I want to have a quiver full of jaw-dropping, adventurous stories ready to draw out during dinner parties, rather than an Instagram account filled with clichéd images of all of the tourist hot spots that everyone else has.

East London is the perfect spot to put unconventional tourism into practice. Situated between the Nahoon River in the north and the Buffalo River in the south, East London is the second largest city in the Eastern Cape, so there is a vast array of options available for travellers.

The key for any avant-garde traveller is to find a way to spice up the ordinary. At the end of the day, tourist attractions have a draw for a reason – they are worth seeing. East London is known for its incredible beaches, such as Bonza Bay Beach and Orient Beach, so you don’t want to miss out on the chance to visit at least one of them.

If you are not one to just laze away the day in the sun, there are plenty of ways to transform an ordinary beach day into an extraordinary experience of sun, sand, and memorable moments. Dive into unknown territory and give surfing a try at Nahoon Beach with Learn2Surf. Private and group

beginner lessons are available and all equipment is provided. For more information, visit www.learn2surf.co.za. To book a lesson, whatsapp or SMS +27 83 414 0567.

If you are a romantic at heart, create your very own Mills & Boon moment, and go horseback-riding on the beach. Nothing beats the feeling of the sea breeze on your skin as you gallop off into the sunset. There are various companies offering this incredible experience in East London, one of which is Wild Coast Horseback Adventures. For more information, visit www.wildcoasthorsebackadventures.com.

The Buffalo River is another one of East London’s attractions. As this is one of the few navigable rivers in South Africa, East London was actually established around it in order to ferry soldiers from the coast to where all of the action was happening further inland during the infamous Frontier Wars. Ballyhoo Cruises offers a one-hour cruise down this historical river. For more information, visit www.ballyhoocruises.co.za.

For an even closer look into East London’s history, pop into Glamorgan Prison. Fort Glamorgan was established in 1848 along the Buffalo River, and was used as a troop barracks and to guard the supply line to King Williams Town. Named after the Earl of Glamorgan, Fort Glamorgan stands within the Glamorgan prison grounds. You’ll need permission from the Department of