The 1820 Settler's National Monument and other Grahamstown, South Africa Things to Do Tips

In the 1950's it was coming to light that these people, the Settler's, had a great impact on the country due to their campaign for Press Freedom and the need for democratic government. It was decided that a symbol was needed to honour these Pioneers - and hence the Memorial came about.

Grahamstown is host to a number of festivals each year, the most famous and most successful being the Grahasmtown/Standard Bank National Arts Festival during June/July. Other festivals include the School's Festival and the Sasol Science Festival during March/April

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Phone: +26 (46) 603 1100

The Provost was buit as a military prison in the Drostdy grounds by the Royal Engineers. Sir Benjamin d'Urban, Governor of the Cape Colony instructed the Royal Engineers to plan a "fortified barrack establishment" and the design of the Provost takes the form of a quadrant with a double-storied tower at the apex. It is, in fact, a modification of a panopticon designed by Jeremy Bentham for a Russian prince in 1787 on the principal of ceaseless surveillance of prisoners. In the Provost we have a segment of a panopticon, each window in the central tower commanding a view of two cells with their exercise yards. The Provost was hastily completed in January 1838 to receive twenty Hottentots of the Cape Corps stationed at Fort Peddie who were guilty of mutiny and who, on their way to Grahamstown, shot one of their Officers, Ensign Crowe. The mutineers were executed on the adjacent parade grounds.

The Provost was proclaimed a National Monument in 197. It has been restored by the Cape Provincial Administration and is under the care of the Albany Museum.

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The Drostdy Gate was designed by Major C.J. Selwyn in 1835 and built by the Royal Engineers in 1841 or 1842. The purpose of his gateway was to provide an entrance to the military establishment which was to be on the site of the unoccupied and unused Drostdy House grounds. At a later date sentry boxes and walls on both sides of the gateway were added.

Framed in the Gateway's arch is the clock tower of the main administration block of Rhodes University which was based on a design by Sir Herbert Baker and Francis Kendall and incorporates the site of the old Drostdy. Founded on 31 March 1904, Rhodes is unique among South African universities in that it has no natural hinterland from which to draw its students. The majority come from far afield and most are accommodated in residences on the campus. Graduates of Rhodes University have risen to positions of notable influence both here and abroad.

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Shamwari Game Reserve is an African dream. A game reserve in which a multitude of plant, animal and bird life unfold the very soul of untamed Africa, along with the most luxurious and leisurely means by which to enjoy it.

Stretching along the Bushman`s River, Shamwari is 72 km from Port Elizabeth and 30km from the Addo Elephant Park. Forming a natural extension of the famous Garden Route, it can be comfortably reached from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town within 2 hours travelling time by air.

Dedicated to nature conservation, our veld has been primed accordingly. And the vast, everchanging vegetation, coupled with mild weather conditions provide the perfect home and hunting ground for multitudes of different species.

Here the graceful leopard, the powerful rhino, elephant and hippo, share the domain with kudu, gemsbuck, wildebeest, zebra, hyena and a large variety of smaller game, as well as a paradise of bird, reptile and plant life.

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Directions: From Port Elizabeth follow the N2 on the Grahamstown road for 65kms, turn left at the Shamwari sign on to gravel (R342) for 7 kms, turn right at the Shamwari sign.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is located in the beautiful and historically rich Eastern Cape. The Kwandwe Conservation Initiative strives to ensure an ecologically balanced wildlife reserve. Kwandwe means "Place of the Blue Crane" in Xhosa, and is home to a population of these majestic endangered birds. The Reserve sponsors the Blue Crane Initiative, assisting survival of the species.

For the first time in over 100 years, Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, Buffalo and Black Rhino wander free in this reborn wilderness. Giraffe, Zebra, Greater Kudu and several other antelope are resident and regularly seen. Of particular interest are the many unusual nocturnal mammals which are regularly encountered on night drives; these include the comical Aardvark, termite-eating Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox and Springhare.

This is also the home of the sociable and entertaining Suricates (or Meerkats) which live in close-knit family groups.

Kwandwe Private Game Lodge is surrounded by 16 000 hectares of exclusive, malaria-free wilderness.

Overlooking the wide and winding Great Fish River, the camp is masterfully contoured to blend with the magnificent landscape.

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Directions: The Game Reserve is a two-hour drive from Port Elizabeth.Airport transfers to/from Kwandwe are available.

Situated on the Fort Beaufort road (30km from Grahamstown) Kwandwe is highly recommended for self-drive clients as the roads are excellent.

The Thomas Baines Nature Reserve on the Kenton-on-Sea road has a fully equipped environmental education center for school and youth club outings. Game population includes Cape buffalo, white rhinoceros, kudu and other antelope species. The Settlers Dam recreation site is situated in the reserve and offers bass fishing, sailing, boardsailing and canoeing.

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The Great Fish River Reserve, which comprises the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve, the Double Drift Reserve and the Sam Knott Reserve is situated about 38 km from Grahamstown on the Fort Beaufort road. This Reserve of 43 000 ha encompasses a divergent variety of vegetation types which in turn offer a variety of habitats specific to a great diversity of wildlife species which are found in the Reserve. Game population includes giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu, rhinoceros, hippopotamus and warthog.

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The Amakhala Game Reserve, 59 km from Grahamstown on the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. Day/Night safaris and accommodation available. Guided tours of crocodiles, tame ostriches and farmyard animals at the Reed Valley Crocodile Farm.

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5 km from Adelaide at the foothills of the Great Winter Berg Mountains lies Koedoeskloof Private Game Reserve. Game viewing, horse trails, bird watching, hiking and mountain biking. Local places of interest include the Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve, Post Retief, Adelaide Museum and the nationally known private gardens of the Kowie Valley just outside Bedford.

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The Valley of Ancient Voices, only 20 minutes from Grahamstown offers a 4 hour journey that spans thousands of years. Rock art, relics and artifacts give clues to the myriad of animals and people that have crossed through this place. The towering cliffs are home to innumerable types of birds, reptiles and mammals, a nature lovers paradise.

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