Addo Elephant Park - 042 233 0556
Situated 72 km north of Port Elizabeth. The park was instrumental in saving the last of the Addo elephants and the Cape Buffalo from extinction in the areas they once roamed freely. Sweet thorn, wild olive, karee species, spekboom, sneezewood, guarri, milky rope, tree fuchsia and many varieties of succulents, vines and creepers are to be found here in abundance.Addo, which is the largest state owned reserve in the Eastern Cape, is in the process of extending its borders for many kilometres!

Kowie Nature Reserve - 046 624 1235.
The Nature Conservation Department of the Ndlambe Municipality has created the Kowie Hiking Trail, not only as an estuarine and scenic attraction in itself, but also as an off-shoot of the Kowie Canoe Trail which canoeists can add to their discovery of the Kowie River. The Hiking Trail involves a two-hour walk of eight kilometres inside the Kowie Nature Reserve on land which was once part of the commonage. The beauty and peace of the Kowie Hiking Trail, disturbed only by the crackling of the undergrowth under the hikers feet, the sound of the insects and birds and the rippling of the tidal water, is enough to restore and revitalise the most world-early hiker as he rests at the picnic spot provided under the trees.There are braai areas and toilet facilities and the area is patrolled by rangers who live in the reserve and keep the camp sites clean, check fencing and guard the animals against poachers.Here and there one comes across shallow open water troughs created in the bush for the abundant animal life which includes bush buck, duikers and miniature blue duikers, tree dassies, vervet monkeys, mountain tortoises, the Cape clawless otter and various other small carnivores.

The Great Fish River Reserve Complex 
Iin the Great Fish River Valley, between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort it extends from near Fort Brown eastwards to the Kieskama River. This complex comprises the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve, the Double Drift Nature Reserve and the Sam Knott Nature Reserve. These three reserves are linked by a circular route and total a combined size of about 45 000 hectares. The area in which the reserves are located was, in the past, an area of conflict and war, with the Great Fish River often forming the boundary between Settler and the Xhosa territories. As a result, the area has a rich historical background and a number of forts, signalling towers, fortified farmsteads, barracks and graves are located within the reserves.

The Kap River nature Reserve - 046 624 1140 or 046 625 0631
This 670 hectare reserve, about 28 km from Port Alfred, lies between the Kap River and the Great Fish River. A lush sub-tropical forest and dense foliage with large trees, colourful flowers and shrubs. There is a seven kilometre nature trail to the Kap River forest and the Fish River flood plain. Game includes zebra, red hartebeest, impala, duiker and bushbuck. There are over 300 species of birds including the African fin foot, Heron martial eagle, hornbill, Crowned eagle and Fish eagle. Accommodation available in bush camps, a guest lodge with swimming pool and fishermen's cottage on the river.Other facilities include picnic sites, canoe trail, angling. AmaXhose customs are taught and mini-kraal education and lectures for school groups covering information about local fynbos, birds and game. It is important to book for the reserve and one can book the canoe trail at the NATURE'S VIEW stall as well.

The Blaauwkrantz Nature Reserve 
Lies in the rugged, broken Blaauwkrantz Gorge and protects eastern province thornveld vegetation, including aloes and tree euphorbias. To date 215 plant species have been identified. This part of the province is rich in birdlife, with 185 species observed. Mammals known to occur include bushbuck, vervet monkey, rock dassie and the Cape clawless otter. Of particular importance is a rare fish, the Eastern Province rocky, found in pools along the Blaauwkrantz River. Take the R67 from Port Alfred; this road runs through the reserve as it crosses the Blaauwkrantz River.

Ecca Nature Reserve
Covers 126 hectares of rugged country and is famous for its fossils. Most notable are those of the reptile Mesosaurus which were discovered by the 19th Century geologist A.G. Bain. Information plinths along the trail describe aspects of interest. The vegetation comprises dense, semi-succulent, thorny scrub, and tree euphorbias, aloes and spekboom are abundant. Kudu, bushbuck, steenbok and common duiker occur, and rock dassies are often seen. Located in the southern part of the region; north-east of Grahamstown.