Somerset East
Inland from the coast between Port Elizabeth and East London lies the picturesque and sometimes spectacular countryside between the Sunday's, Fish and Kei Rivers.
Somerset East
The beautiful town of Somerset East originated in 1825 on a farm bought by Lord Charles Somerset. The town nestles at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains with spectacular scenery offering drives and walks through forests and fields alive with wild flowers. This area also offers good bass and trout fishing in dams and streams. There are a number of historical monuments in the area and the Walter Battiss Art Gallery displays the works of this renowned artist.
Adelaide
The town of Adelaide, on the bank of the Koonap River, lies just to the south of the magnificent Winterberg Mountain range. This town is extremely interesting from a historical point of view and hosts a museum aptly named Our Heritage Museum. Sited in what used to be the parsonage built in 1855, it displays the typical living house of the mid 19th Century. This museum also contains beautiful furniture of the period and the wonderful Ash collection of porcelain, glassware and silver.
Fort Beaufort
Fort Beaufort is another Eastern Cape town steeped in history. Sited on the Kat River it is almost completely encircled by the Kat and Brak Rivers. This town too owes its origin to a military post in 1822, and has one of the only two 'Martello' towers built as defensive fortifications to house a small swivel canon or gun on a wooden mountain. This gun could rotate in a full circle. The only other tower of this kind in South Africa was built in Simonstown. The military museum displays fine collections of firearms, military equipment and documents.
While in this area, a visit to the Great Fish River Valley is worthwhile. This region is of international importance for its unique species of succulents and aloes.
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