Uitenhage
The charming little town of Uitenhage is situated only 38 kilometers from Port Elizabeth and 30 kilometers from the sparkling Indian Ocean. Situated in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, the city has just recently been made part of the greater Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Not only does Uitenhage serve as the automotive hub of the Eastern Cape, but it is filled with a rich history and it has so many beautiful gardens and parks that it is often called ‘The Garden Town’.
The town was founded in 1804 by J.A. Uitenhage de Mist, who was a Dutch governmental official sent to the Cape Colony in the early 1800s. Named in his honor, the town is filled with a number of excellent 19th century South African buildings such as the Drostdy, which was built in 1815, the Town Hall, which was built in 1882, and the Court House, which was built in 1898. There are a number of other lovely examples of both Settler and Victorian architecture in the town and many people enjoy making their way from one example to the next. The Cuyler Manor has to be the most enjoyable historical attraction in the town. Situated just outside of Uitenhage, this graceful building serves as the personal home of the Landdrost of Uitenhage from 1802 to 1829. Recent years has seen the Manor restored to its former glory with plenty of period furnishings to give visitors the feeling of traveling back in time. In addition to this, the Manor now also features a demonstration farm complete with Angora goats, spinning, weaving, herb gardens, farm animals and an old millhouse. A number of traditional activities such as soap and candle making are also demonstrated at the Cuyler Manor. Other historical attractions include a number of old churches, monuments and war memorials.
More recent years have seen Uitenhage gaining a reputation for being the automotive hub of the entire region. The town has long been involved with several internationally known companies such as Volkswagen and Good Year. It also enjoys good railway services, textile factories and has recently become the home of Soho Services. When it comes to good living, Uitenhage is a popular choice amongst those who wish to get the most out of life. There is little traffic congestion to keep you stuck in your car for hours and few of the distractions of bigger cities to corrupt young minds. In fact the town is home to several excellent schools and recreational centers geared towards improving the lives of young ones. Other attractions include The Springs Resorts, the Groendal Nature reserve and the Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve – all of which are situated only a short distance from the town. So visit this lovely historical town and discover its quaint charm for yourself.
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