Grahamstown is situated within close proximity of numerous game reserves, all of which are malaria-free and most of which offer the “Big Five”. Examples are:
Addo Elephant Park – (self-drive) $129 per night excl game drive. You are guaranteed to see… elephants, kudu and warthog. But there are also lions, hyenas, buffalo, etc… (90 minutes from Grahamstown, likewise 90 minutes from Port Elizabeth).
Amakhala – $ 285 or €225 per day (all meals, buffet lunch, 3 course dinner, accommodation, select drinks, 2 game drives). (45 minutes from Grahamstown, 45 from Port Elizabeth)
Kariega – between $ 285 or €225 per day, rates all inclusive. (20 minutes from Grahamstown)
Kwantu – an alcohol-free environment, offering a 3-hour game drive, and over 250 bird species. (40 minutes from Grahamstown)
Lalibela – $315 or €250 per day
(rates include accommodation, 2 game drives, all meals and all drinks at your lodge and on game drives). (30 minutes from Grahamstown)
Kwandwe – $335 or €263 per day (rates include accommodation, game drives, select meals and drinks at lodge and on game drives) (30 minutes from Grahamstown)
Pumba – $335 or €263 per day (15 minutes from Grahamstown)
National Arts Festival, 20th June – 4th July 2010
Held annually for almost three decades, this famous event serves to transform Grahamstown
into a hub for creative talent from across South Africa and other parts of the continent. In 2009, the festival offered more than 300 productions on the main programme, and five times the amount on the fringe, covering opera, cabaret, drama and music to standup comics and street theatre.
Its specialist sections include a major jazz festival, a “words” festival, children’s festival, and a Think Festival (a ‘Winter School’).
Visual art includes multimedia installations, graphic design, textile art, ceramics, sculpture, photography, oils, watercolours, charcoal, glass work, beads and carvings.
The festival website provides a detailed booking kit closer to the occasion. Be assured that there is a cornucopia of offerings at any given time. Students and staff of Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies provides saturation coverage of this amazing event, through a series of platforms under the brand-name of Cue. For a taste of the festival, check the Cue site, and the links to the associated sites on it.
Grahamstown attractions
Grahamstown is famous for the biggest full-spectrum annual Arts and Culture festival in Africa. It is also of interest for its historical character. These include many Victorian-era buildings, as well as the Cathedral where construction began in 1824.
South Africa’s second oldest museum can be found at the Albany Museum Complex, which was established in 1855. The Natural Science Museum, the History Museum the Observatory Museum, and the National English Literary Museum make up the whole complex.
Rhodes University is also home to the International Library of African Music (ILAM) which houses a collection of more than 200 playable traditional African musical instruments. The University also houses the Cory Library of Historical Research, and the Institute for the Study of English in Africa.
Perched on the hills surrounding the city is the 1820 Settlers National Monument, a large venue that hosts a range of cultural activity and artwork. In the valley below, is the moving Egazini memorial to the lives lost on the spot during the 1819 Battle of Grahamstown.
The city is in one of the most diverse ecological regions in South Africa, with a variety of biomes as well as spectacular scenery. Fossils, stone tools and rock-art are widespread. Nature and game conservation is strong in the area and it is becoming a popular destination for excellent game viewing including the “Big Five”.