Queenstown

I have always enjoyed my time spent in Queenstown in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The mountains which surround the basin in which the town lies are absolutely extraordinary. As an oil painter I find the area exquisitely inspiring. To wake up early in the morning and hike up the Lawrence de Lange nature reserves road take a right at some point and ascend to the peak that one finds there is one of my very favorite things to do. Kiepersol trees, pelargonium, Acacia (vachellia) and many other indigenous flora complement the awesome collection of wildlife including zebra, Eland, Impala, Kudu, Caracal and of course the ubiquitous Jackal. Not many people seem to take advantage of this nature reserve although there are a few who take their early morning stroll there. The view of the town of Queenstown below provides an outtake on the life of the town a moment’s respite from the business below. I always feel as though I have cleared my head and gained some perspective when I look down upon the town beneath this fantastic hillside. It is a rare pleasure to be able to take a break from the day and your worries and enjoy nature. Very few people in the world have this luxury available to them.

Guesthouses

There are many underserved rural communities in the Eastern Cape which rely on Queenstown for their needs. A private as well as a government hospital are found here. Several well reputed schools and any number of mechanical workshops, car dealerships and general retail outlets including pick n pay Guesthouses in particular are a feature of the town. Queenstown plays host to some really lovely accommodation businesses. Competition is stiff, which results in fairly high prices by comparison with most hotels nationwide, but nothing so dear as can be found in an exclusive city suburb. Some of the older and more established bed and breakfast establishments are still reasonably priced and it is worthwhile taking a look on the internet to find the better deals