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The Eastern Cape gets progressively wetter from west to east. The west is mostly semi-arid Karoo, except in the far south, which is temperate rainforest in the Tsitsikamma region. The coast is generally rugged with interspersed beaches. Most of the province is hilly to very mountainous between Graaff-Reinet and Rhodes including the Sneeuberge (Afrikaans: Snow Mountains), Stormberge, Winterberge and Drakensberg (Afrikaans: Dragon Mountains). The highest point in the province is Ben Macdhui at 3001m. The east from East London towards the Kwa-Zulu Natal border is lush grassland with intermittent forest. This region, Transkei, is rolling hills punctuated by deep gorges. |
| Eastern Capes climate is very diverse. The west is dry with scarse rain during winter of summer, with frosty winters and hot summers. The Tsitsikamma to Grahamstown receives more precipitation, which is also relatively evenly distributed and temperatures are mild. Further east, rainfall becomes more plentiful and humidity increases, becoming more subtropical along the coast with summer rainfall. The interior can become very cold in winter, with heavy snowfalls occuring at times in the mountainous regions between Molteno and Rhodes. |
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| The landscape is extremely diverse. The western interior is largely arid Karoo, while the east is well-watered and green. The Eastern Cape offers a wide array of attractions, including 800 km of untouched and pristine coastline along with some particularly splendid beaches, and "big-five" viewing in a malaria-free environment. The rugged and unspoilt Wild Coast is a place of spectacular scenery, and a graveyard for many vessels. |
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| St Francis Bay is situated on the South African south coast, 100 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth and 200 east of Knysna, 20 kilometres off the N2. It is a popular resort for South African residents, and increasingly so with overseas tourists, on account of its warm temperate climate; its unspoilt beach, with excellent surfing; the Kromme River and estuary, suited to fishing and a variety of water sports; its predominantly thatched architecture; its picturesque six kilometres of marina, known as "The Canals"; Port St Francis, an active commercial and recreational harbour, from which sea trips can be arranged; its links golf course,with a Jack Niklaus course in preparation, and wonderful coastal walks. "Waterways" is in a prime waterfront position on the canals, overlooking the Kromme River estuary. |
