Alexandria, originally known as Olifantshoek is steeped in the history of the Xhosa, Afrikaans, Portuguese and British people.

The town is situated on the coastal road between Port Elizabeth and East London, roughly mid-way between Cape Town and Durban.

Alexandria is the home of the chicory industry and also serves a dairy farming and pineapple growing region.  The chicory processing plant may be visited in the drying season from mid November to end of May.

Woody Cape Nature Reserve, with beautiful forests and the unique Alexandria Dunefield stretches from the Sundays River Mouth to the Bushmans River.  The Alexandria Dunefield is one of the largest active coastal dunefields in the world.  The area boasts an abundance of birds and wildlife, with a wide variety of trees including yellowwoods.

The Alexandria Hiking Trail is unique for its three ecosystems - high forest, desert-like dunes and spectacular beaches.  From the dune cliffs one can see Bird Island and this is also a good viewpoint for dolphin and whale watching.

For bird lovers, the rare damara tern can be seen, as well as the jackass penguin, fish eagle, Knysna loerie as well as an abundance of other birds.

Things to do and places to go:

• Within the town the art lover can visit the Quinn Sculpture Gardens and The Art Centre, as well as take a leisurely walk round the block to view the historical labourer's cottages, Courthouse and jail, Catholic Church and Dr Drew's house.  These historic buildings date back to Settler times.

• For the sports lovers, guests can enjoy a game of golf at the local 9 hole course, situated 5 minutes away from the guest house.  There is also a squash court nearby.

• Only 80km away is the Addo Elephant National Park, which is regarded as the best elephant viewing park in South Africa.  The Eastern Cape Province is a malaria-free area.  Besides the elephants, the park has black rhino, buffalo, eland, kudu, red hartebeest, bushbuck, grysbok and duiker.  There are more than 170 species of birds and a bird-hide.

• Woody Cape, a Nature Reserve, offers splendid pristine clean beaches and awesome sand dune forests. Horse riding on the beach and canoeing in the breakwater with whales and dolphins as likely playmates.

• Numerous game lodges are situated close by for viewing game in the wild and with offers of river cruises on the Bushman's River through indigenous forests abundant with bird life.

• Alexandria has the only chicory processing factory in South Africa which is positioned on the hill overlooking the town and is surrounded by dairy farms for which the area is also famous.

• Alexandria lies only 15 minutes from the nearest beaches. Approaching these one drives through spectacular indigenous forests.

• In October, gardening and rose lovers can visit the Addo Rose Show and the Bedford Garden show.

Sunshine Coast
South Africa