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Hamburg

At first glance, the dramtically beautiful Hamburg is one of the many little seaside villages dotted along the Eastern Cape seafront. But there is a lot more to Hamburg - as with many of those villages - than meets the eye.

Hamburg, with a population of 3000, is a village of contrasts. It is a delightful seaside resort at the mouth of the Keiskamma River, populated by scores of holiday-makers who revel in the wonderful coastline, weather and the beautiful lagoon - which all make it the idyllioc family getaway. Hamburg
Hamburg and the surrounding rural areas endured a long period of neglect under homeland rule - as part of the former Ciskei - but now the locals are pulling themselves up by their collective bootstraps. New tourism strategies have been devised and are under way and communities are coming together. The estuary is one of the few mentioned in the Coastal Green Paper as being highly significant, thanks to its ability to naturally filter water through its marshes.

Double-storey homes with magnificent sea views sit side-by-side with crumbling cottages, their abandoned porches cracked and windows boarded. Bronzed jet skiers share the beach with lively village children and funky backpacker lodges face modest kiosks which still sell tar soap. Cows graze everywhere and almost everyone has a view of the fish-filled Keiskamma River estuary or the ocean beyond.

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History of Hamburg
As the town's name suggests, it was founded in 1857 by German settlers recruited to the Eastern Cape – or British Kaffraria as it was then called – after border wars between the Xhosa and the British. In truth, they were a buffer of trained German soldiers led by Baron von Stutterheim (after whom the Eastern Cape town of
Stutterheim is named) originally recruited from Germany to fight in the Crimean War in 1855. When peace came sooner than expected England, faced with an army but no war to fight, sent them to the Eastern Cape as colonists – and probably as buffer settlements against the Xhosa.

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What to do in Hamburg
As with most Eastern Cape seaside resorts, Hamburg has fantastic beaches for walking, fishing and generally holidaying. For the more active, there is hiking, canoeing (kayaking out at sea for the more adventurous), windsurfing and mountain biking, There is also abundant bird watching - and for history buffs, the region has a number of heritage sites and trails.

The nearby Keiskamma Art Project (on the main road between Port Alfred and East London) is a worthwhile visit. With fine arts and curios on display, embroidery remains the soul of the Project, depicting imagery ranging from the Nguni cattle that roam through Hamburg to joyful African angel cushions that ensure pleasant dreams!

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King William's Town East London Port Alfred Kasouga Kenton-on-sea Bushmans River Mouth Port Elizabeth Summerstrand Click on a town for more detailed information

Hamburg images

The Hamburg Lagoon
Hamburg Beach Stunning carpet from the Keiskamma Project

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