Eastern Cape meetings

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Addo Elephant National Park

© Mark Kampers

The Eastern Cape is the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and home to the Xhosa nation. 
Its Addo Elephant National Park and award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve are malaria-free reserves. Both are terrific Eastern Cape meetings locations, and offer conservation-oriented team building activities.

The Addo Elephant National Park is the only Big 7 game reserve in South Africa. Its 4-star Kuzuko Lodge has conference facilities for 48 delegates. Here guests can enjoy game drives, cosmic safaris and San rock art viewing.

Shamwari’s team building experiences are like no other. Guests can work together to track wild animals, help vets with darting programmes and assist with the release of animals into the wild. Four-by-four driving lessons, wine tasting, and conferencing for 30 delegates are also available.

Near Port Elizabeth, the Lalibela Game Reserve is a malaria-free Big 5 reserve with 3 luxury lodges and conference facilities for 110 guests.

For those with bigger conference needs, the award-winning East London International Convention Centre  (ELICC)  is a sought-after venue for international conferences. It offers high-tech meeting venues that can cater for 2 150. There are 2 hotels on site that together offer 400 rooms, and a wide variety of accommodations options located nearby.

The Eastern Cape is known for its adventure tourism opportunities. East London's coastal nature parks offer wonderful outdoor activities from fishing, diving, swimming to  hiking and cycling. It's Blue Flag beaches are the perfect places to unwind. And if you're interested in history, the East London Museum offers unique displays and historical insights.

Further along the coast you can visit Bloukrans and do the world's highest bungee jump; or hike the Otter Trail or the Dolphin Trail (for the less adventurous). Hiking along the rugged beaches of the Wild Coast is another exhilarating experience.

For surfing lovers, Jeffrey’s Bay is the place to go, while art, theatre, and music lovers will enjoy the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown that takes place in July.  

Further inland is the historical town of Graaff Reinet with its beautiful Cape Dutch architecture. Graaff-Reinet offers a good selection of quality conference and meeting venues. One example is The Palms on the banks of the Sundays River, which can accommodate 150 delegates.

While in Graaff-Reinet, take a scenic drive to the nearby town of Nieu Bathesda. Here you’ll discover the fascinating Owl House, a masterpiece of visionary art created by artist Helen Martins, said to have lived a reclusive life.

The Owl House is a fascinating world of concrete sculptures, fantastic figures and mythical beasts set around a house decorated with luminous paint and multi-coloured panes of glass. While here, don't miss the opportunity to take a 4x4 drive into the spectacular Valley of Desolation.

 Eastern Cape highlights at a glance:

•  Big 7 Game Reserves and long stretches of beach
•  Nelson Mandela Museum - tribute to a South African icon
•  The Addo Elephant National Park
•  Bloukrans Bungee - highest bungee jump in the world
•  The Garden Route National Park
•  The Sunshine Coast - sun, sand, sea and loads of fun
•  The Valley of Desolation - lunar-like landscapes
•  A combination of bush and beach experiences
•  The Wild Coast - unspoilt and a hub for adventure activities