Alexandria

The pristine stretch of land between Alexandria and the coastline of the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast includes one of the world’s most interesting natural features. The Alexandria Dune Field is considered to be one of the largest moving dune fields in the world and indeed resembles the otherworldly phenomenon that is the magnificent Namib Desert.

The dunes are preserved in the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which has recently been included as part of the Addo Elephant National Park and serves as Addo’s gateway from inland to the coast. Similarly, the town of Alexandria is also regarded as one of the gateway towns to the Addo Elephant National Park.

This stretch of land between the Bushmans’ and Sundays’ river mouths is also home to the Alexandria State Forest, a lush and dense stretch of indigenous forest that, scenically, is succeeded only by the subtropical coastal forests of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The combination of lush forests, coastal dunes and spectacular coastline make Alexandria a uniquely beautiful town on the Sunshine Coast and one that is well worth visiting.

Getting there: from Port Elizabeth, take the N2 going towards Grahamstown. Turn off onto the Settlers Way road and continue to the town of Alexandria.