East London marks the Northern boundary of the Sunshine Coast and is seen as the gateway to the Wild Coast, making it the perfect destination for holidaymakers destined for the Eastern Cape. Often referred to as Buffalo City (due to its location along the mouth of the Buffalo River), East London boasts an array of superb beaches and modern amenities, as well as interesting tourist attractions.
As the only river port city in South Africa, East London has become a busy metropolis. Yet it still manages to be a friendly and inviting place to visitors - with all the intrinsic warmth and character of a small town.
When on holiday in East London, the easiest way to move around is by car. Tempest offers a wide range of rental vehicles from which to choose, so that you can get from A to B in comfort and style. Contact Tempest today to arrange a vehicle for your East London car hire needs.
With warm oceans and beautiful weather almost all year round, it’s easy to see why the beaches that stretch along the Sunshine Coast are so popular. These gorgeous expanses of white sand are mostly untouched by commercial developments and offer up a paradise for those who love water sports, sun tanning and enjoying the great outdoors. The most popular beaches in East London itself are Nahoon and Eastern beach.
Just a 30-minute drive away from the city, you’ll find a host of idyllic places to enjoy. Igoda beach and Cove Rock are perfect for swimmers, and Gulu beach is the most popular spot for anglers. The smaller beached that dot the coastline are also a favourite with surfers. If these take your fancy, make sure your East London car hire option has space for your fishing rods, as well as a surfboard.
As one of the oldest in South Africa, the East London Aquarium boasts an African penguin colony, exciting seal shows and the only Cape pigmy clawed lobsters to be kept in a public exhibit in the world. There’s also a raised observation deck that is ideal for whale watching during the spring – September through to November.
For a real family treat, take a trip to the East London Zoo. Housed in the Queen’s Park botanical gardens, which is a National Monument, the zoo is home to many animals, including lions and tigers. Aside from the extraordinary animals, the zoo and surrounding gardens boast a breathtaking display of both indigenous and exotic vegetation.
Just five minutes’ drive from East London, you’ll find The Lion Park, a nature reserve that allows you to get close to one of the animal kingdom’s fiercest predators. Here you’ll find more than just lions; there is other big game, as well as a host of bird life to discover. For the children, there is a play area with jungle gyms and farm animals with which they can interact, making this an ideal place for a family day trip.
Take a trip out to the oldest village in the Eastern Cape and experience the warm welcome of the Xhosa people who live there. At Mgwali Village, you can taste traditional food and drink, as well as take a stroll through the market. This is a wonderful place to buy curios and other mementos to remember your holiday in East London.
Tempest offers East London car hire as a way to make sightseeing easier
With so much to see and do, in and around the city, you can rent a vehicle from Tempest to get from one interesting place to another with ease. East London car hire has plenty of options available for you, from expensive luxury vehicles to large people carriers, as well as every size and shape in between.
