Colchester and Cannonville are tourist villages on the Sundays River, just off the N2, an easy 20 minute drive from Port Elizabeth towards Grahamstown and an ideal stopover for Addo Elephant Park. Situated on the edge of the coastal section of the Addo Elephant Park and 3km from the southern gate and Matyholweni camp, it is not surprising to find that this part of the country is largely unspoilt.
The tidal section of Sundays River meanders through these villages and the famous Alexandria Dunes on its way to the ocean in Algoa Bay. The dunes, dating back 100,000 years, are teeming with wildlife like bushbuck, grysbok, bush pig and smaller animals too, such as meercat and mongoose.
Birders include Colchester in their itinerary and river cruises along the Sundays River reveal a wide variety of waders, heron, duck, colonies of Cape and masked weavers, and up to four different types of kingfisher. The Colchester salt pans are home to the greater and lesser flamingo, African pied avocet, the blue crane and a number of other waders – all in all, over 200 species recorded.
Accommodation and campsite facilities near the river provide their guests with water activities like swimming, canoeing, fishing and ferry rides. Swimming in the tidal pool is also very popular.
Colchester and Cannonville provide the perfect setting for relaxed, easy living. It is an excellent spot to spend the weekend, for retirement and even to commute to Port Elizabeth.
For the ultimate guide to Port Elizabeth, visit ShowMe Port Elizabeth or find out what else you can do in the Greater Addo Region on ShowMe.
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