Grahamstown is the "city of the saints" and the African festival capital: there are two major annual national festivals and four smaller festivals. This is a picturesque historic town with a rich history and beautiful architecture in the Victorian, colonial and Gothic revival style. And in its surroundings there will be something to do both for nature lovers and hunters.
How to get to Grahamstown
Near Grahamstown there are two airports: the nearest to Port Elizabeth, which is 114 km from the city . East London Airport is located at 123 km . Both take regular flights from major cities of South Africa . Sam Grahamstown is almost directly on the N2 highway, between Port Elizabeth (in the west) and East London (in the east) and the highway is in good condition . It is possible to get to the city by bus or on your own car . Regular flights Riding arrives from Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg to Elisdeyla, but out in Grahamstown have to get their own (about 60 km) .
Search for tickets to the city of Port Elizabeth (nearest a / p to Grahamstown)
A bit of history
The city was founded in 1812 as a military outpost by Lieutenant Colonel John Graham to protect the British colonies of Cape from the tribes of the spit, whose land lay directly to the east. In the 20-ies. the city began to grow, the families of the settlers built farms here and began to trade in farm products, and by the 1930s, the population of the city was 6 thousand people. A few decades later, Grahamstown became the largest city in the colony of Cape after Cape Town. The bishopric was founded here in 1852
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Grahamstown
The nickname of Grahamstown - "the city of the saints" - not by chance . Here there is just a huge number of churches of different religions and denominations . The most impressive church is the Anglican cathedral of St. Michael and St. Geo ha . It is distinguished by a characteristic Anglo-Gothic look with a high pointed spire and ten excellent bells on the belfry, the largest of which weighs 1300 with more kg . Bell-ringing can be heard on Sundays, from 18:00 to 19:00, and at the University of Rhodes training is conducted at a special rate for bell ringers .
In addition, there is a Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Ethiopian Episcopal, Baptist, Dutch-Reformed, Apostolic and Protestant churches in Grahamstown. Moreover, Hindus, Scientologists, Quakers, Muslims and adherents of the Church of the Doomsday are gathering here. In general, there are more than 40 religious buildings in the city.
- Climb the hill to Fort Selwin to look at the city from above.
- Throw a postcard in the oldest in South Africa mailbox. This bright red design stands in the northwestern part of Worcester Street, on the corner from Somerset Street, and since 1989 it is declared a national monument. The museum complex Albany was founded in 1855
by the Grahamstown Medical and Surgical Society . Today the museum includes 7 buildings: a natural science museum, a historical museum, a museum of the observatory, Fort Selwyn , the old military prison, the Droddi Arch and the old priest's house . The natural science museum, the oldest in the museum complex, is famous for its Egyptian section . In addition, there are excellent expositions connected with prehistoric times, geology and nature of the region . A m The Observatory's site occupies the old building of a former jewelry store in which the Eureka, the first South African diamond found in 1867, was first inspected and evaluated. . De Beers Diamond Corporation bought out the building and restored it in the early 80's -х гг . 20 century . Here is the oldest working camera of pinhole in the Southern Hemisphere .. Arch Droddi was designed in 1835 and was built by the royal engineers in 1841-1842. Later, the walls were added to the arch. Today, through the arched opening, the clock tower of the main building of the University of Rhodes is visible, and this picture became an iconic view of Grahamstown.
The Historical Museum, founded in 1965, has a significant collection of artifacts and a detailed genealogical archive connected with the British colonists who arrived here. in 1820. In addition, the museum houses a collection of fine art items as well as important historical and scientific publications
The International Library of African Music was opened in 1954. It houses the most important Scheu archive records music from that part of the continent that is located below the Sahara. You can walk to the museum from the gate opposite the Theater of the University of Rhodes, by the signs of ILAM
@ This is intended to underscore the enormous influence of those initial colonists on the further development of the country . The monument was opened in 1974 . and since then it is a kind of creative center of the city: there are several theaters, including ballet, galleries and restaurants . At these venues are the events of the famous Grahamstown Festival . In addition, the monument offers a good view of the city .. The Makana Botanical Garden is the second oldest in South Africa, and here you can see many interesting exotic plants associated with the European line in the history of the continent, as well as local. More than 160 species of birds live in the garden. According to legend, Lady Giovanni Smith's ghost is still visiting the garden that the lady loved so much during her life.
Gallery "Eastern Star" got its name in honor of the newspaper, which was published in the city in 1871. This newspaper was the forerunner of today's the famous daily Star of Johannesburg
Book the popular Grahamstown hotels at the best prices
Mountain View Manor
| from 2 532 rubles Grahamstown Mountain Drive A White House Guest House | from 4 695 rubles Grahamstown 7 Whites Road, Curry Park A Stone's Throw Bed & Breakfast |
| from 3 429 rubles Grahamstown 9 Stones Hill, Route 67, Port Alfred Road Coldsprings Lodge | from 2 902 rubles Grah amstown Highlands Road Events of Grahamstown |
Every year the National Arts Festival takes place in the city, the largest festival of its kind in South Africa and the third largest in the world
It is usually held in June-July, and it features more than 500 stands and exhibitions - with comic productions, music and dance . The annual festival of science, engineering and technology takes place in late March - early April, and it hosts up to 600 events . Freedom Festival arranges in Grahamstown in April, Eysteddfod ( Welsh traditional litas -temperature-musical-theater festival) - in May, and in July - National school festival .. Grahamstown (voice-over in English)
Surroundings Grahamstown
The most interesting excursion is a trip with a guide to the Valley of Ancient Voices, which is 25 km from Grahamstown. The excursion involves a walk along a valley about 2 km long with many stops in order to see examples of rock art and admire the wild nature. In the cliffs inhabited by an infinite number of species of birds and animals. At the end of the tour, a picnic is provided by a natural stone basin with clean water, to the bottom of which no one else has been able to get.
The charming Victorian town of Elisdale, located 60 km from Grahamstown, was once a key railway junction in South Africa . @ This is definitely worth a trip, primarily because of the retro-atmosphere . In addition, the city of Mohair Museum deserves attention, and beyond it - the Bushmen caves with pristine rock paintings . Visiting Elisdale is conveniently combined with organized excursion to the cultural village of the spit, which includes riding a carriage harnessed by donkeys through olive groves and a light lunch in the beautifully restored historic building of the railway station .
Having extra time , it is worthwhile to drop in to the pretty village of Salem, 25 km southwest of Grahamstown. It is filled with rural charm: here you can see the ancient buildings and the famous cricket lawn, the competition which takes place since 1844. Also of note is the Methodist church, built in 1823
The lovers of hunting Grahamstown will also have to heart. In its vicinity there are many reserves: Kedeskluf, Amkhala, Great Fish River, Thomas Baines, Kwandwe, Shamvari. Here you can find not only the "big African five", but also various kinds of antelopes, crocodiles and other living creatures.