The Eastern Cape has a remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the dry, desolate Great Karoo to the verdant Tsitsikamma Forest and the fertile Langkloof and Sundays River valleys.

Whether you're in the mood for an informal seaside escape from the office or something more sophisticated, you'll find what you're looking for in the Eastern Cape. Between Kei Mouth and St Francis Bay - one of the world's best surfing areas - holiday resorts follow a weather-beaten coastline much frequented by fishermen. Many resorts comprise only a cluster of houses, shops, bowling greens and a small hotel or two.

The Eastern Karoo is an extended high lying area with many farms. Sheep farming is the main agricultural activity, and the combination of Karoo bush, natural herbs and succulents ensures that Karoo lamb always has a delicious flavour. The air is crisp and clear, and sunsets are quite remarkable. Night skies are bedecked with stars and in spring, the veld is ablaze with flowers.

Graaff-Reinet, one of the prettiest towns in the region, has more national monuments than any other resort in South Africa.

Cradock, at the hub of the Central Karoo, is notable for its alkaline mineral baths and springs, and recreation resorts. It is also ideally placed for visits to the Mountain Zebra National Park. When the park was proclaimed, there were only six surviving examples of this species, but thanks to the conservationists, mountain zebras are now found in large numbers in this and neighbouring parks.

The scenic variety of the Kouga Coast, broken by sandy beaches and interesting coves, leads from one attractive resort to the next. While board sailors and surfers test their skills against the power of the sea, others enjoy the fine hotels, resorts and restaurants that characterise this part of the country. There are miles of beaches and many rocky outcrops afford anglers ideal opportunities to bag a "big one".

The Tsitsikamma National Park offers wonderful hiking opportunities.

The Otter Trail in the Storms River area provides a challenge for the fit and energetic.

Grahamstown, home to the annual National Arts Festival, is an enchanting town with a rich history. Early settlers from England came to this part of the Eastern Cape in 1820, bringing with them a culture which is still very much in evidence today in South Africa.

Port Alfred, on the Kowie River, with its Marina, lagoon and beach front, offers forest trails and rolling surf. Anglers gravitate to the surfing while sun-worshippers enjoy the sweeping sandy beaches on both sides of the river.

Algoa Bay is the setting for Port Elizabeth, its fine beaches and bathing areas, wonderful surfing opportunities and pleasant year-round climate. Inland, the Addo Elephant National Park provides sanctuary, nearly 200 elephants in addition to many other species of game and more than 180 bird species.

Uitenhage has developed into a modern industrial centre and is home to one of the largest motor manufacturers in the country.

The Romantic Coast, between the Gonubie River and Kei Mouth, has everything one needs for an enjoyable holiday. Resorts abound in the region, from Gonubie, a popular surfing spot, Haga Haga with its secluded beaches and good fishing. Kei Mouth, Cefanie and Queensberry Bay also have miles of unspoilt, quiet beaches.

From East London, the road parallel to the Wild Coast leads through a region of unspoilt grandeur - thick indigenous forests, hilly grasslands and sheer cliffs falling to white, unspoilt beaches. The Wild Coast is one of South Africa's most exciting and unexploited areas, with a special appeal for fishermen - all year round.

Hogsback, in the majestic Amatola Mountains, can be reached within an hour and a half from East London. The village is set among tall forests graced with mountain streams and waterfalls where summer days are calm and pleasant and winter brings visitors to enjoy the snow. The forests around the village are criss-crossed with trails and visitors are encouraged to explore.

Cathcart, at the centre of an important cattle and sheep farming district, has delightful examples of 19th century architecture. Famed for its beautiful roses, Queenstown, the principal town of the Eastern Cape midlands, has a museum, an art gallery and other attractions. Between Queenstown and the Free State border, roads straddle mountain passes and traverse valleys, grassy plains in a region that has much to offer trout anglers, hikers and nature lovers.

Aliwal North is famous for its hot sulphur springs, and Lady Grey is rich in scenic splendour, particularly after snow. Barkly East has the distinction of being one of the highest and coldest towns in South Africa in addition to having some of the finest trout fishing waters in the country. The village of Rhodes offers trout fishing, riding and hiking opportunities, and ski enthusiasts sweep down the slopes of Ben McDhui, the highest mountain in the Cape.

Visitors will find plenty to see and do in this friendly city set on one of the most majestic stretches of coast in South Africa. Only a few minutes from the city centre, the warm Indian Ocean which laps the long, graceful curve of Algoa Bay provides unlimited opportunities for swimming, rock and surf angling, scuba diving, boating, surfing and yachting. Many regard Port Elizabeth as the watersport mecca of South Africa and needless to say, the marvellous beaches are always popular.

Port Elizabeth is an attractive, compact city with a rich architectural heritage and an efficient infrastructure - in particular, the road network. Entertainment is the order of the day, with pop and classical music, the annual Splash Festival, cabaret, theatre and other productions. Within the city, the Settlers Park Nature Reserve offers a prolific bird and plant life. Land-based sportsmen have access to tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, bowling greens and cricket and rugby grounds. 

Every visitor should visit the museum complex which incorporates the Oceanarium with its famous dolphin shows, the Snake Park and Tropical House. Trips in the vicinity of the city include a narrow gauge train ride on the Apple Express to the Langkloof agricultural areas. When the orchards are in blossom, the valley is particularly beautiful and during the picking season the fragrance of fruit fills the air.

Situated on one of the most attractive stretches of coastline on the eastern seaboard, East London's broad beaches extend for miles - unpolluted, uncrowded, unspoilt. Swimming, sailing, water-skiing and boating are enjoyed year round, while the river mouths, lagoons and gullies are a fisherman's paradise. 

Excellent collections of South African and international works of art are exhibited at the Ann Bryant Gallery and there are theatres, cinemas and a selection of restaurants to pamper the most discerning palate. Latimer's Landing, East London's attractive new harbour development, is a welcome addition to the city's leisure options. 

Nahoon Reef is a favourite haunt for the surfing fraternity and Beacon Bay is the site of two nature reserves. Quiet seaside resorts such as Haga Haga and Morgans Bay are reached by car within an hour, and on the western side of the Buffalo River, Igoda, Gulu and Kidd's Beach can hardly be matched for their tranquility. 

The treasures of the hinterland are within easy reach. Hogsback in the Amatola Mountains is a firm favourite among climbers and hikers. Close to East London, casinos attract the visitor with dreams of instant fortunes, while Mpongo Park, a game reserve north-west of the city, is a very popular attraction for nature lovers. 

Whether you visit on business or for pleasure, you will find East London a warm, friendly city with a broad range of accommodation and the old fashioned values of courtesy, friendliness and hospitality.