Colchester

What do you get when you are stuck between a hundred-thousand-year-old dune field and the fastest flowing river in South Africa? A birder’s paradise. A family retreat. A fishing trip for the ages. Sunshine and watersports. Not convinced? There’s sandboarding, river cruises, mountain biking, hiking the endless coastal dunes and canoeing. Colchester is a laid-back village on the banks of the Sundays River, about 40 minutes from Port Elizabeth and just 4km from the southern gate of the Addo Elephant National Park, just off the N2.

The friendly residents welcome you to the riverbank with easy grace, making the village feel homely. Twitchers are in for a treat. The grassy riverbanks, mudflats and dunes attract a fantastic mix of bush birds, waders, and chookies. It will be worthwhile to go into Pearson Park. You can book a river cruise or go on foot. Greater Addo has over 400 different bird species. Sightings in Colchester include African Green Pigeon, Southern Black Tits, Black-headed Oriole, Knysna Woodpeckers, Herons, Duck, and up to four types of Kingfisher.
Distance from Port Elizabeth: 40km