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While on a press trip on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, someone said the East London is the capital of keDezemba.
The starting point of the Wild Coast, there are a few that might smirk at this suggestion, the small city hugging the eastern region of the province that has been historically disadvantaged in terms of development.
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The Multicultural Man - a peace monument that's also in Canada, Bosnia, Australia and China. (Photo: Gabi Zietsman)
But it's a city that could be considered the heartbeat of the Eastern Cape - bustling during the day around an architectural spectacle of Victorian buildings, while at night local up-and-coming artists provide the rhythm of Mdantsane township at Mthombo's Palace.
Mthombo's Palace - The Restro Lounge. (Photo: Gabi Zietsman)
It's also a place where urban life and nature live together in a precarious relationship - Nahoon Point with its gnarly waves rushing at surfers and wild views that mesmerise beach walkers. It's also a place of history, where remnants of our ancestors were found buried in the dunes.
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There have been a few shark attacks on surfers who ride the Nahoon Reef. (Photo: Gabi Zietsman)
East London is also a starting point for exploration - you barely have to drive an hour outside the city for adventure. Areena Riverside Resort for example is a place where you go to make friends, camping out next to the water with a braai crackling in the twilight.
There's even a giraffe that loves to meet new people - provided they bring along a snack.
READ: Chintsa: The Wild Coast’s Secret Coastal Town
Abby the giraffe enjoying a snack as journalists pose. (Photo: Areena staff)
Now doesn't that sound like the kind of place where the festive spirit is born?
*Disclaimer: Gabi Zietsman was hosted by the Eastern Cape Province Tourism Authority.
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