Pearson Park Resort

This resort makes a fine pick for folk in search of active times: sandboarding and quad bike outings can be organised within a few minutes’ walk, as can paddles along the Nukakamma Canoe Trail (or shorter outings for those who’d just prefer a taster of the local scenery). And it’s also an excellent spot for accessing animal antics: the Addo Elephant Park (10 minutes’ drive) is a must, of course, but if you’re sticking around for a while you may also like to sort trips to see the Big Five at Kwantu Game Reserve (40 minutes), meet the residents of the Addo Raptor & Reptile Centre (half an hour) or head out to sea on whale-watching expeditions from Bluewater Bay (20 minutes). There are plenty of gorgeous beaches and rural trails to take in around here too, but if you fancy swapping all of that for a bit of urban time, it’s a half-hour drive to Port Elizabeth for art galleries, the seafront Fort Frederick and a history-tinged wander on the Donkin Heritage Trail.