Our last tour through South Africa (winter 2025/2025) also took us along the so-called Sunshine Coast between East London and Port Elizabeth. We planned a few stops here, as our last trip through this region had been many years ago. It was all the better that we now had enough time and could let ourselves go.
The Sunshine Coast in South Africa offers not only gorgeously beautiful beaches and charming holiday resorts, but also a variety of activities, cozy cafés and restaurants, and great accommodations. In the following article, we will introduce you to the Sunshine Coast in more detail and tell you what you can discover and do there. Enjoy browsing!
- Sunshine Coast in South Africa – Overview Map
- 1. East London
- 2. Port Alfred
- 3. Bathurst
- 4. Kenton On Sea
- 5. Cannon Rocks
- 6. Grahamstown
- 7. Pumba Private Game Reserve
- 8. Addo Elephant Park
- 9. Colchester Dunes
- 10. Port Elizabeth
- 11. Jeffreys Bay
- 12. St. Francis Bay
- Conclusion on the Sunshine Coast in South Africa
Sunshine Coast in South Africa – Overview Map
On the following map, we have marked all the worthwhile stops along the Sunshine Coast in South Africa for you. If we have missed one, please let us know in the comments.
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1. East London
East London was used as a British military post from 1836 onwards and was given the name “East London” by the British High Commissioner Sir Harry Smith in 1848. The colonial past is still present in some corners of the city, such as the town hall, which was built in the Victorian style, Gately House, and the German Settler’s Memorial.
While in 1891 only about 6,900 people lived in this city, just 100 years later, there were already around 34,600. Today, approximately 267,000 people live in this port and industrial city on the Indian Ocean, and just under half a million if you include the townships. There are a few great destinations around East London, such as Hogsback in the Amatola Mountains or Kei Mouth and Morgan’s Bay.
We personally didn’t like East London at all, and we also believe that you can skip a longer stop without feeling guilty. The city’s industrial charm is omnipresent, and there’s not really much to see within the center. The city beaches aren’t exactly among the most beautiful in the region, either.
We can still recommend East London for an overnight stay, as you can find very affordable accommodations and good restaurants there. We paid just €34 per night for our apartment. The next morning, we continued on toward Port Alfred and Bathurst.
Great accommodations in East London
- Lavender BnB*
- Fish Eagle Manor*
- Hotel Olivewood*
- Sixteen On Latimer*
- Coral Tree Boutique Guesthouse*
2. Port Alfred
From East London, we continued on the R72 to Port Alfred, where we were last in 2016. The drive from East London only took about one hour and 45 minutes. Port Alfred is a small holiday community on the Indian Ocean and awaited us with a gigantic marina, beautiful sandy beaches, artificial islands and canals, as well as some cool spots.
The city’s approximately 20,000 residents live almost exclusively from tourism, which is evident everywhere. Boat owners, in particular, get their money’s worth here, as they can not only navigate the Kowie River but also head directly out to sea.
Mild and subtropical climate
Port Alfred’s mild, subtropical climate, endless sandy beaches, and pleasant water temperatures also speak for themselves. While you’ll search in vain for warm water temperatures for swimming around Cape Town and along the Garden Route, you’ll more likely find them in Port Alfred. Here on the Indian Ocean, you can expect water temperatures between 18°C and 23°C, depending on the season.
The area is also very popular with divers, as there are extensive reefs to explore along the Sunshine Coast. If you’re looking for something active on the water, you can also canoe or boat down the Kowie River. SUP, fishing, wakeboarding, tubing, and surfing are also offered in Port Alfred. Click here to go to the provider.
Great accommodations in Port Alfred:
- Royal St. Andrews Hotel*
- The Lookout Guest House*
- Sheilan House*
- Kowie River Guest House*
- The Spinning Reel Beach Cottages*
- Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve*
3. Bathurst
The small community of Bathurst is only 15 minutes from Port Alfred and a half-hour drive from Grahamstown. The town was founded by European settlers in 1820 and named after Lord Henry Bathurst. Pineapple cultivation followed, and over 25 farms were established. Even today, Bathurst is the center of one of the largest pineapple-growing areas. At the Bathurst Agricultural Museum or the Bradshaws’ Mill Museum you can learn more about Bathurst from the 1800s onwards.
Along the main street you will find some quaint pubs and cafes (e.g. The Lucky Bean Cafe Bathurst), as well as a few smaller shops and galleries. We visited, among other things, the “Big Pineapple” to learn more about pineapple cultivation. The approximately 17-meter-tall pineapple was built in the 1980s by members of the agricultural community to honor and celebrate the sweet fruit.
Entry costs 25 Rand per person, and you can learn all about the cultivation, harvesting, and marketing of the fruit on several floors. You can also buy fresh pineapples on the lowest floor. At the very top, an observation deck awaits you, offering a view all the way to the Indian Ocean. It’s a great place to stop for a quick break and learn about pineapple cultivation.
4. Kenton On Sea
Another popular place along the Sunshine Coast in South Africa is Kenton on Sea. Here, at the confluence of two rivers, you can spend a superbly relaxing beach holiday and relax on the fine sandy beaches. The atmosphere here is very quiet and relaxed, which is why families and nature lovers in particular enjoy vacationing here.
The two rivers, the Kariega River and the Boesman River, are navigable and await you with crystal-clear waters flowing into the sea. Along the rivers, you can spot numerous bird species nestling in the dense vegetation. The beaches invite you to take long walks, swim, and sunbathe.
Shelly Bay is particularly popular and is easiest to reach at low tide. The hilly sand dunes, the fascinating rock formations, and the natural rock pools are also eye-catchers. Kenton on Sea also offers various water sports on site, such as kayaking, SUP, and fishing.
Not far from Kenton on Sea are several malaria-free game reserves, such as the Kariega Game Reserve, Sibuya, Shamwari, and the Lalibela Game Reserve. Some even house the Big 5. So, if you’d like to see some of Africa’s wildlife, you can go on safari here in the Eastern Cape. We stayed at the Pumba Private Game Reserve, which you can read more about further down in the post.
Great accommodations in Kenton on Sea:
- The House Quarters*
- River Cottage*
- The Oyster Shack*
- Ocean Breeze Holiday Home*
- The Oyster Box Beach House*
- Kariega Game Reserve Main Lodge*
- Sibuya Game Reserve and Lodge*
5. Cannon Rocks
The small coastal village of Cannon Rocks is located southwest of Kenton on Sea and was built on a small strip of land between the sea and the forest of Woody Cape. Although there are hardly any shops or gas stations on site, Boknes Beach, the rock pools, the Boesmans River Mouth, the sand dunes, and Cannon Rocks are popular.
Cannon Rocks is also very popular with kitesurfers, as the Cannon Rocks Kiteboarding Classics takes place here every year. Nature lovers are drawn to the 7 km long Cannon Trail, which leads through the forest and dunes.
6. Grahamstown
Grahamstown is located between Port Elizabeth and East London and was founded in 1812 by Colonel John Graham. This town also once served as a military base before Grahamstown became South Africa’s second-largest city at the end of the 19th century. Today, the city is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities (Rhodes University), an incredible number of museums, over 50 places of worship, and numerous Victorian-style houses.
Once a year, Grahamstown also hosts the “National Arts Festival” with over 500 events, attracting over 50,000 visitors (more information here). There are some really cool cafés in the city center, such as The Barista, Hand Made Coffees, Jacks Bagels Grahamstown, and Red Cafe Grahamstown. Grahamstown is ideal for a stopover; there are also large supermarkets and gas stations on site.
Great accommodations in Grahamstown:
- Milner Manor*
- 8A Grahamstown*
- Temba Private Game Reserve*
- Cornerstone Manor*
- St Aidan’s Manor*
- Our accommodation*
7. Pumba Private Game Reserve
For Christmas, we really treated ourselves and spent four days in a private game lodge. After extensive research, we decided on the Pumba Private Game Reserve* near Grahamstown. We had a great chalet with a terrace, small pool, sun loungers, a view of the water, a comfortable double bed, a seating area, a bathroom with a shower and bathtub, and many other amenities.
Two safari drives a day were included, as well as breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner. So we didn’t have to worry about anything and could truly relax. Click here for our detailed report: Pumba Private Game Reserve.
On-site, there are the Water Lodge cabins and the Bush Lodge cabins. We loved our view of the water, but the Bush Lodge also had its advantages. There’s also a small wellness area with a gym. The food was really great, and the staff very attentive and friendly.
They pay particular attention to the small details that make all the difference. On our drives, we saw lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, and hippos, among others. Although we much prefer the large national parks in South Africa, the experience was still great.
8. Addo Elephant Park
If you’re already traveling in the region, you should plan a stop at Addo Elephant National Park. This park was founded in 1931 and is home to more than 600 elephants, as well as buffalo, zebras, numerous antelope species, warthogs, spotted hyenas, hippos, kudus, rhinos, ostriches, lions, leopards, monkeys, and other mammals, as well as many bird species. So, you have the opportunity to fulfill your dream of seeing the Big 5 here in this park. Of course, you’ll need a lot of luck to spot all five of these large wild animals.
You can see all of the park’s animals in the Visitors Guide and check off each one as soon as you see it. Please note: There are no giraffes in Addo Park. We drove through the park ourselves in our small car (from the North Gate to the South Gate) and had a wonderful day among lush vegetation and beautiful wild animals. You can stay overnight either in the park itself, outside the gates, or in one of the surrounding towns. A detailed report about the park can be found here: The Addo Elephant Park in South Africa.
Great accommodations around the Addo Elephant Park:
- Dungbeetle River Lodge*
- Addo African Home*
- Addo Wildlife*
- Woodall Country House and Spa*
- Gorah Elephant Camp*
- Camp Figtree*
- ParkView Safari Lodge*
9. Colchester Dunes
The small town of Colchester is located directly at the southern entrance to the Addo Elephant Park and on the banks of the Sundays River. The town is surrounded by sand dunes that are between 6,000 and 100,000 years old. The dunes themselves are teeming with wildlife, such as bushbucks, bush pigs, vervet monkeys, mice, mongooses, and other animals.
There are some great activities on site. How about a river cruise on the Sundays River*, where you can explore the unique birdlife? You can also canoe on the river, go quad biking, or whizz down the sand dunes while sandboarding*. You can book an adventurous zipline tour* with Manawa.
10. Port Elizabeth
During my first trip through South Africa over 10 years ago, I passed through the bustling port city of Port Elizabeth, which is located between East London and Mossel Bay on the country’s east coast (known as the Eastern Cape). Almost 1 million people live in this seaside city on the Indian Ocean and enjoy a truly pleasant climate with an average of 7.7 hours of sunshine per day. However, Port Elizabeth hasn’t managed to shake off its industrial charm over the years.
If you’re planning a trip along the famous Garden Route, PE could still be a good starting and/or finishing point. It all depends, of course, on how much time you’ve planned for your trip to South Africa. You’ll find numerous accommodations, shopping opportunities, restaurants, cafés, beaches, and much more there. However, we recommend a maximum of 1 to 2 nights. You can find out more about this city here: Port Elizabeth Highlights & Tips.
Great accommodations in Port Elizabeth:
- Millbury Guest House*
- Nova Boutique Hotel*
- Whispering Palms*
- Carslogie House*
- First Avenue Guesthouse*
11. Jeffreys Bay
One of the most popular surfing areas in South Africa is Jeffreys Bay, which is just under an hour’s drive from PE. Surfers from all over the world meet in Jeffreys Bay, especially in June and August, to surf the 800-meter-long “Super Tubes.” These waves can reach up to 3 meters high. Crazy, right? Highly recommended are the “First Light Coffee Bar” café and the “Gisters Jeffreys Bay” restaurant.
The beach in Jeffreys Bay is very expansive, and you’ll find some great accommodations there. If you don’t feel like surfing, you can go sandboarding nearby in the meter-high sand dunes; it’s really fun! Click here for the dune tour*. You can read more about this place here: Our tips for Jeffreys Bay.
Great accommodations in Jeffreys Bay
- Intle Boutique Hotel*
- Aguia-Vista Luxury Apartment*
- Dolphin Sunrise*
- Hummingbird Chalet 23 Houtboschbaai*
- Jeffreys Bay Luxury Apartments*
- Raaswater Surf Villa*
12. St. Francis Bay
The end of the Sunshine Coast is the small, pretty resort of St. Francis Bay, with its many thatched-roof houses and waterways, somewhat reminiscent of Port Alfred and Knysna. Not only water sports enthusiasts, but also nature lovers, families with children, and sun-seekers will find their money’s worth here.
Between August and October, you also have the chance to see whales and dolphins in the bay. For hiking, head to Cape St. Francis, just 10 kilometers away, with its pretty old lighthouse and rugged rocky landscape. In St. Francis Bay, you can also expect fine sandy beaches, a pretty Mediterranean harbor district, great accommodations, a few restaurants, cafés, and shops.
The “Scuro Coffee Crafts” and “The Bakery St. Francis Bay” are very cozy. Popular in the evenings are the “Chokka Block Restaurant” and “The Quays Restaurant,” located directly on the canals at the harbor.
Great accommodations in St. Francis Bay
- The Sands @ St. Francis*
- Cycads on Sea Guest House*
- My-konos*
- St. Francis Cottage*
- 9 Quarter Deck*
Conclusion on the Sunshine Coast in South Africa
We found our tour along the Sunshine Coast in South Africa very varied and exciting. We got to know many great places, discovered beautiful beaches, enjoyed delicious food, and stayed in fantastic accommodations.
If you ever consider traveling to the Sunshine Coast, we recommend at least 7 to 10 days. This way, you won’t miss out on relaxation between all the sightseeing. The Sunshine Coast offers a great climate, making it the perfect place for a relaxing beach holiday on the Indian Ocean coast.