Living in a charming coastal town is a dream many hopeful homeowners aspire to, and East London is a perfect place in which that dream can be realised. Based within the Eastern Cape’s Buffalo’s City Metropolitan Municipality, the town boasts a glorious shoreline (just part of the ever-popular Sunshine Coast) that is ideal for surfers and beachgoers. Added to that, it is home, and a gateway, to numerous opportunities for adventure in and around the Eastern Cape.
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Nature-lover’s haven
If you love the outdoors, then you’ll instantly fall in love with East London and its surrounds. Both the Buffalo and Nahoon rivers run through the town, the latter sharing its name with one of the most popular surfing spots in the Eastern Cape, Nahoon Reef.
If surfing’s not your outdoor activity of choice, however, then there are many more outdoor spots worth exploring that are located around Nahoon Reef. Highlights include East London Coast Nature Reserve; Nahoon Local Authority Nature Reserve, where the Dassie Trail and the Wheals Bridge and Russell Way hikes are based; and Bat’s Cave, also a great spot for a hike.
Another place where natural splendour is in abundance is the East London Zoo, perfect for a few hours off with the family. If, however, you’re looking some adrenalin, then head to Jonginenge Eco-Adventure, an establishment that offers numerous exciting activities for kids and adults, including rock climbing and abseiling, surf lessons, canoeing and kayaking, snorkelling, sand boarding and kloofing.
Points of interest
East London is also home to a variety of cultural and historical points of interest, the most notable being the local museum. Established almost 100 years ago, the East London Museum is home to exhibits that will take visitors from prehistory, straight to the First World War. It’s here that you’ll see a specimen of a coelacanth, the only dodo egg in existence, and a Xhosa beadwork collection, among other exhibits.
East London also features the only remaining river port in South Africa, located at the mouth of the Buffalo River; the imposing Nahoon Point Lighthouse; and numerous well-preserved buildings that perfectly exemplify the architecture of the 19th century. There’s also the Guild Theatre, a wonderful place to catch a show, and the Ann Bryant and Vincent art galleries, both of which house eye-popping collections from a variety of artists.
A gateway to the Eastern Cape
East London’s location with the Eastern Cape also makes it a dream destination. It’s close to other wonderful coastal retreats, such as Kenton-on-Sea, Kei Mouth and Port Alfred. If you’re travelling further inland, you can stop by other charming dorpies such as King William’s Town, Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort, or visit places such as the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, the Kologha Forest Reserve, Wriggleswade Dam and Huntshoek Safaris game Farm.
Property paradise
If you’re enticed enough to consider purchasing property in East London, then take note of some of the town’s property trends and statistics, all thoroughly captured by a town report compiled by Lightstone Property and dated 17 January 2019.
- As of the report date, there are 2784 estate-based freehold properties in East London, 42 524 freehold properties not based in estates, 1044 estate-based sectional title units, and 4203 sectional title units not based in estates.
- In 2018, the median price for sectional scheme properties was R688 000, R525 000 for vacant land, and R1 100 000 for freehold properties.
- In terms of median valuation for freehold properties, East London ranked 203rd in a list of 834 towns in South Africa, with a median valuation of R820 000. In terms of sectional scheme properties, the town was ranked 169th among a total of 315, with a median valuation of R620 000.
East London is a hub of cultural relevance, natural wonder and serene coastal bliss. It’s also hot spot for hopeful property owners. If you think this town might be the place where you’d like to make a home for yourself and your family, then strike while the iron is hot.