“Adventure is not outside man; it is within”
When it comes to natural beauty, East London has got it all, from stretches of beautiful white sand beaches to rugged mountains, and what better way to enjoy this beauty than with some outdoor pursuits.
A real adventure playground, East London and its surrounding areas offer so many opportunities for the sports enthusiast to enjoy, in what is one of the most moderate climates in South Africa.
So what is your passion? If it is surfing then there is no end to what’s on offer in East London as the area boasts several beach and river mouth surf breaks including Nahoon Reef and Corner, Yellowsands Point, Queensbury Bay, Eastern Beach, Kidd’s Beach, Igodo River Mouth, Bonza Bay, Gonubie and Glen Eden. If you are an accomplished surfer then check the conditions before you head out – the locals at Sugar Shack Backpackers on Eastern Beach are always a good source of information.
If surfing is perhaps something that you’ve always wanted to learn to master but have never had the chance, look no further. Sugar Shack offers surf lessons in front of the backpackers or on Nahoon beach with qualified instructors. Visit their website for prices and more information, email or call them on 043 722 8240/074 890 8405/083 320 5406. Learn 2 Surf is another school in East London offering to teach you the techniques, with private and group lessons available. Check their website for further details or contact them by email.
Love the water but prefer to be in a boat than on a board? Take advantage and enjoy the 
numerous beautiful rivers in a canoe – Areena Riverside Resort offers half day and full day canoe trails around their stunning location. Visit their website for full details. Jonginenge Eco Adventures also offers guided canoe trails on the Eastern Cape’s awesome estuaries. You can contact them through their website, email or call Dean on 083 305 2590. Another option for canoeing is canoetrails.co.za. Allan runs the trails mainly on the Kei and Keiskamma rivers and offers one day trips and overnighters too. Call him on 082 783 1288, email or visit his website.
If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on land but still love the buzz of sports, then why not experience the thrill of sandboarding? This exhilarating activity is practiced by many on our fantastic sand dunes and is offered as a day trip through Sugar Shack with all the coaching and equipment included. Jonginenge Eco Adventures also offers the opportunity to master riding the dunes.
For adventure in the wild, Areena Resort offers quad bike game drives through their 350 hectare reserve where you can spot a wide variety of game and Sugar Shack also cater for the animal lovers with their quad biking adventures through local game parks. Red Cherry Adventures offers quad biking trips for the whole family and you can choose from 2 hours to 5 day tours. Contact Red Cherry via email or visit their website.
Rock climbing is a past-time that is growing in popularity in East London and there are several options when it comes to finding the best places to go. You can contact Rock Climbing Co-ordinator Garvin Jacobs at the Mountain Club of South Africa on 083 961 0044, email him, visit the Rock Climbing East London Facebook page or the EC MCSA page. Jonginenge also offers rock climbing and abseiling activities for those who don’t have a fear of heights!
Red Cherry Adventures offers Honda Bike Tours for off-road enthusiasts and tour packages are available and tailored for 3 to 7 days. If you love extreme biking then this is the experience of a lifetime! If you prefer the variety without an engine then East London is the perfect place for mountain biking and there are often organised trails to participate in. See the Eastern Cape Mountain Biking or the Amatola Mountain Bike Club websites for details.
If neither land nor sea are your cup of tea then perhaps you might be tempted by jumping from an 
airplane? EP Skydivers offers this in various forms including Tandem Skydives, Accelerated Freefall and Static Line Jumps, all with training included. If the thought of this doesn’t make you go weak at the knees then contact the club on 082 800 9263/082 441 2055, email or visit their website.
Jonginenge also has an exciting Kloofing package, offering the chance to jump from cliffs and waterfalls into natural rock pools, a wonderful opportunity to go deep into the mountains and river gorges. Contact them for further details.
Whatever your passion, East London is the perfect place to indulge and experience exhilarating adventures. You won’t want to leave!
| More info on the town of East London | More info on the Sunshine Coast |
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