One of our plans during this holiday was to explore the Greater Addo and surrounds. Our friend Ursula was kind enough to play tour guide and showed us this secret spot on the point of the Port Elizabeth bay. It proved to be an excellent destination, perfect photographic setting, on a perfect pre-frontal cloud day.
The 366 hectare Cape Recife Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1973, and is situated next to the Pine Lodge Holiday Resort off Marine Drive, Summerstrand.
A 9 km circular walking trail starts at the entrance gate of the Nature Reserve and offers beautiful unspoilt beaches, natural dune vegetation, rocky outcrops, a lighthouse built in 1851, an old military observation post, as well as a bird hide. The Cape Recife Nature Reserve is also regarded as one of the best bird-watching venues around Port Elizabeth.
Entrance permits available from Pine Lodge Resort located at entrance to Cape Recife Nature Reserve. Entrance only with permit, zero tolerance for diving thus no entry with diving equipment. Price of permits : Weekly @ R32.10 per vehicle, annual (July – end June of each year) @ R163 .30 – reduced to half price from 1 February of each year.
Entrance for purpose of visiting SAMREC is gratis provided proof of visit is produced on exit from the Reserve.
Best times to visit 08h00 – 16H00. Visible security in Reserve during daylight hours.
Cape Recife Lighthouse
Visitors are allowed to visit the Cape Recife Lighthouse that has been refurbished.
All bookings need to be done through Pine Lodge Holiday Resort reception desk and phoned through in advance to arrange times. (Tel: 041 583 4004)
Someone from Pine Lodge will then accompany the interested visitors to the Lighthouse and unlock for them.
Cost for entry to the lighthouse is Adults = R25 / cost for Children = R15
Source : Nelson Madela Bay Tourism
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