In the heart of South Africa’s Frontier Country tourist route of the Eastern Cape Province, lies the historic town of Grahamstown. At the mention of Grahamstown, for most South Africans two things spring to mind, the first being Rhodes University and the second is the National Arts Festival.
In 1812, Grahamstown was founded by Colonel John Graham as a military base for the protection of the British Settlers against the Xhosa who conducted regular raids and looting forays against the settlers. These attacks eventually led many of the settlers to move to the town and, as a result, Grahamstown became the second largest town in the Cape Colony at that time.
Grahamstown is known by a number of other names such as “The city of Saints” because of the many places of worship including the glorious Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George, also “The city of Settlers” which resulted from the wars that took place with the Xhosa’s. Due to the excellent academic seats of learning like Rhodes University and approximately 100 schools, colleges and other educational establishments it has also been called “ The City of Schools”.
Recently, Grahamstown has developed into the Festival Capital of South Africa by hosting no less than 15 festivals a year including the immensely popular National Arts Festival held in July when for about 11 days approximately half a million Art and Music enthusiasts from all around the country converge on the town.
Grahamstown has some beautifully impressive historic buildings and monuments as well as lovely Victorian residences. Take time walking around the historic centre, the Observatory Museum is well worth a visit to see the Victorian Camera Obscura which mirrors the town reflection onto a circular table. There is only one other Victorian Camera Obscura in the world and that is in Bath, England.
There are many other interesting places to see in the area such as excellent bird watching opportunities, Game Parks etc. For the more adventurous there are opportunities for skydiving, hunting, game viewing, fly-fishing, hang-gliding, abseiling, river rafting and mountaineering.
Accommodation in the area includes top class hotels, world class Game Lodges, Bed and Breakfast establishments and Guest Houses.
