5 Day Eastern Cape Settler Country Beach Vacation

After clearing customs and immigration in Johannesburg, you’ll find an African Sky representative waiting in the arrivals hall. Once introductions and formalities are complete, you’ll be escorted to the domestic departures terminal for your local flight to Gqeberha (Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport) in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The route typically takes around two hours and offers views over the Highveld before descending to the Indian Ocean coastline. On arrival, you’ll meet your driver and set out along the N2 and R72 towards the quieter Sunshine Coast near Port Alfred, where Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve is set above a sweeping stretch of sand and sea.

After check-in, the remainder of your day is at leisure in idyllic surroundings. You might wander out to the viewing decks to take in the ocean panorama, settle in with a drink as the light softens over the dunes, or simply unwind in your suite after the journey. Depending on your arrival time and the lodge schedule, there may be an opportunity to join an afternoon game drive on the private reserve or enjoy a gentle walk on the near-private beach. Dinner is served at the lodge, introducing you to relaxed Eastern Cape hospitality and the all-inclusive dining experience that continues throughout your stay.

The next three days are devoted to enjoying Oceana’s blend of bush and beach at an easy, unhurried pace. Suites and villas look out over rolling coastal bush and the Indian Ocean, and your stay includes three meals daily, selected local beverages, and scheduled game drives on the private reserve. Morning or afternoon drives explore the surrounding fynbos and grassland in search of diverse wildlife, including plains game, birdlife, and some of the larger species that inhabit this part of the Eastern Cape. In between, you can relax by the Africa-shaped pool, sip a drink on the deck, or simply enjoy the views from your private veranda.

When you feel like a change of scenery, a path leads down through the dunes to a broad, near-private beach where long walks and quiet shoreline time are part of the rhythm of the day. Optional spa treatments, time in the small gym or cinema room, and flexible dining complete the experience. Nearby Port Alfred and its Blue Flag Kelly’s Beach, along with the historic village of Bathurst, make easy excursions if you’d like to explore the wider Settler Country, but there is no pressure to do more than read, rest, and savor the coastal atmosphere if that suits you best.

Enjoy a final leisurely breakfast at Oceana and, time permitting, one last look over the dunes and shoreline that have framed your stay. After check-out, you’ll meet your driver and retrace the scenic route back towards Gqeberha along the R72 and N2. The drive typically takes a couple of hours, passing stretches of coastal farmland and small Eastern Cape settlements before you reach Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. On arrival, your driver will assist with drop-off at the terminal for your flight back to Johannesburg.

Once you’ve checked in and boarded your flight, sit back and reflect on a few days that combined relaxed game viewing with unspoiled beach time on South Africa’s Sunshine Coast. On landing at OR Tambo International Airport, you can connect with your onward international journey or continue with additional arrangements in South Africa, such as a Cape Town city stay or a classic big game safari. Your Eastern Cape Settler Country beach vacation concludes with the option to build it into a broader itinerary or simply return home feeling rested and refreshed.