With a genuine sense of hospitality and laid back style of living the inhabitants of East London will make you feel more than welcome. There are only a few hotels in the city which has opened up a niche for local Bed and Breakfast and Self-Catering establishments, to fill the void, where you will find great service and true South African cordiality. Overseas visitors will find the prices most agreeable, just check our currency converter to find out why. East London is at the northern end of a 300 kilometre stretch of coastline refereed to as the "Sunshine Coast" which has St Francis Bay at the southern end. The Sunshine Coast is renowned for it's many kilometres of beautiful unpolluted and un-crowded beaches

Long before written history the banks of the now Buffalo River and the seashore were inhabited by early man, the Nahoon footprints have been dated at been 200 000 years old, the oldest fossilized human footprints found in the world. In more recent history the area was home to the Khoisan or Bushman tribe who were pushed out of the region by the later white settlers.
It was in the area around East London that the Xhosa and white setters met for the first time and a century long battle ensured for the right to the prime grazing lands of the Eastern Cape. A British fort, Fort Glamorgan was constructed in 1847 around which present day East London developed, this was to protect the vital river port which was essential in supplying the army's and settlers in the region. For more history information on East London please visit Dr Keith Tankards archive at http://knowledge4africa.com/eastlondon/index.html
The economy of East London is heavily dependent on the motor manufacturing industry, Daimler Chrysler http://www.dcx.co.za/corporate1/OurPast.asp has a plant that produces for the local market and exports to England, Japan and Australia which is situated, not surprisingly, near the harbour, nevertheless the Eastern Cape remains one of the poorest regions of South Africa but with intervention by the government and the growth of the tourist industry by leaps and bounds the situation is improving.
Both Nelson Mandela and the current president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, have their roots in the Eastern Cape. Thabo Mbeki attend high school in Lovedale until been expelled for his participation in the struggle for freedom.

East London has a small but busy national airport that has between 20 and 30 flights a day into it and brings in 350 000 people a year to the city. For more information on the airport please visit the website at http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=232

Originally called Port Rex the port on the Buffalo River plays a huge role in the economy of the city and serviced 399 ships in the 2005/2006 fiscal year, for more information please visit http://www.ports.co.za/east-london.php

East London, Bhisho and King Williams Town municipalities have been incorporated into one and is now known as the Buffalo City Municipality which is in the Amatole District of the Eastern Province. For more information on exactly how this city is governed please visit http://www.buffalocity.gov.za/

Please vist East London's sister web site all about Jeffreys Bay at: Jeffreys Bay

The annual Daily Dispatch and Sparg’s Superspar Wine Fair is one of the country’s top rated Wine Fairs, and wants to encourage everyone to join in the fun, by having an authentic taste of Africa.

Tickets can be purchased from the Daily Dispatch and at Spargs Tops in Beacon Bay.

Ticket costs for Wednesday night, 1 July – R75, Thursday night, 2 July – R80 and Friday night, 3 July – R120.

"Calling All Wine Lovers – Top Quality Wine Fair is Back"

The Daily Dispatch in collaboration with Sparg’s Superspar in Beacon Bay will be hosting the 14th Wine Fair of its kind in East London! The event celebrates first-rate wine from all over the country in style, and gives attendees the chance to taste, sense and experience wine like never before. This year the Daily Dispatch and Sparg’s Superspar Wine Fair will take place from Wednesday, 1 July – Friday, 3 July 2009. With over 45 estates, the Wine Fair brings a wide variety of the best tasting wine at your doorstep, and ensures easy wine ordering in an instant.

Superb local restaurants and eateries always accompany the Daily Dispatch and Sparg’s Superspar Wine Fair, providing a wide selection of cuisine for the hungry. Local superstars from Centrestage will be performing all three nights at the Wine Fair and will guarantee an unforgettable night that will blow you away.