OPINION - Every December, the same migration happens. Johannesburg empties out, the N2 fills up, and South Africa's coastal towns brace for the annual influx. Families pack roof racks, book beach houses, and head east toward the promise of warm water and slower days.
This year, there's another migration worth watching. Southern right whales are calving in Algoa Bay, their massive forms breaching just offshore.
Great white sharks patrol the deeper waters, drawn by the rich marine ecosystem that makes the Eastern Cape coastline one of the most biodiverse stretches in Africa.
Bottlenose dolphins hunt in super pods. African penguins waddle across beaches that double as breeding colonies.
Welcome to Big 7 territory. Most safari-goers know about the Big 5, the terrestrial celebrities of African wildlife tourism.
The Eastern Cape offers something rarer: those five plus two marine mega-species that turn the province into a year-round wildlife destination. Addo Elephant National Park hosts lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino across 180,000 hectares.
Drive an hour to the coast and you're scanning the waves for whales and sharks.
It's a geographic advantage that's reshaping how tourists think about South African travel. The Boardwalk precinct in Gqeberha is emerging as the natural hub for this dual experience, with The Capital Boardwalk set to open in 2026 as the city's first true apartment hotel – a base camp positioned between bush and ocean that gives Big 7 travellers a single, well-located home for exploring both ecosystems.
Eco-tourism in the province is no longer just about game drives and lodge stays. Marine safaris have become as sought-after as traditional bush experiences, with operators offering cage diving, whale watching, and dolphin encounters that rival anything found on terrestrial safaris.
The thrill of a great white shark rising through the water column or a southern right whale rolling beside your boat carries the same weight as spotting a leopard in a marula tree.
A tourism ecosystem evolving in real time
This diversification is happening at exactly the right moment. Global tourism trends show travellers increasingly seeking sustainable, multi-experience destinations where conservation and adventure intersect.
The Eastern Cape delivers this naturally. SANParks has partnered with Red Sea Global on an SMME Incubation Programme that's nurturing 20 local enterprises over 18 months, creating pathways for entrepreneurs to build tourism businesses rooted in their communities.
These aren't token initiatives. The programme includes connections with international agencies, sustainability networks, and eco-tourism marketers, giving Eastern Cape operators access to global distribution channels and best practices.
The result is an ecosystem where wildlife experiences, community-based tourism, and international partnerships are creating something bigger than the sum of their parts.
A tourist can spend the morning tracking elephants in Addo, the afternoon watching great whites breach off Seal Island, and the evening eating at a restaurant owned by a programme graduate, all while staying in accommodation that understands what modern travellers want.
A place to lay your head
That last piece matters more than it might seem. Eco-tourism can't scale without infrastructure that meets expectations. Travellers committed to sustainable experiences still want comfort, connectivity, and contemporary design.
They want apartments with full kitchens when they're traveling with family, gym access when they're extending stays, and proximity to both wildlife attractions and urban amenities.
Set to open in April 2026, The Capital Boardwalk addresses this precisely. The property features 145 units ranging from standard rooms to luxury penthouses, with studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments that work for different travel styles.
A restaurant and bar, fully equipped gym, and family-friendly leisure spaces mean guests have a legitimate base camp for exploring the region without compromising on the things that matter when you're spending a week or more in a destination.
Location amplifies everything. The Capital Boardwalk sits minutes from the coast where marine safaris depart, an hour from Addo's entrance gates, and inside Gqeberha's revitalising urban core. Instead of juggling multiple stops or compromising on proximity to either bush or ocean, Big 7 travellers have a single, strategically positioned base for the full Eastern Cape experience.
It's the kind of positioning that makes multi-day itineraries possible without the friction of long transfers or logistical gymnastics.
We're watching the Eastern Cape tourism landscape evolve in real time. The wildlife experiences have always been world-class. What's changing is the infrastructure around them and the collaborative approach between conservation bodies, local entrepreneurs, and hospitality providers. The Capital Boardwalk is our contribution to that ecosystem.
When tourists have a comfortable, well-located base, they explore more, stay longer, and engage more deeply with the region.
The timing aligns with broader shifts in South African tourism. Domestic travel surged post-pandemic and hasn't retreated. International arrivals are recovering, with European and American markets showing strong interest in destinations that offer both classic safari experiences and something beyond the standard circuit.
The Eastern Cape's Big 7 narrative, combined with its emerging reputation for sustainable, community-linked tourism, positions it as an alternative to the more saturated safari regions.
Next year this potential converts to momentum. The SMME programme graduates will be launching businesses. International partnerships will be delivering their first cohorts of eco-conscious travellers. Properties like The Capital Boardwalk will be absorbing the extended stays and family bookings that indicate genuine destination confidence rather than just pass-through traffic.
As the new anchor in Gqeberha's tourism ecosystem, The Capital Boardwalk gives Big 7 travellers a modern, long-stay home from April 2026 – infrastructure that matches the ambition of the destination itself.
The December migration will still happen. Roof racks will still groan under the weight of beach gear and optimism.
The difference is what travellers will find when they arrive: an Eastern Cape that's figured out how to turn its natural advantages into a genuinely differentiated tourism offering, where the Big 7 aren't just marketing copy but the foundation of an ecosystem that works for wildlife, communities, and the visitors who come to experience it all.
Garnet Basson - COO of The Capital Hotels, Apartments & Resorts.
Comment and opinion are that of the author and not necessarily shared by Group Editors, any of its publications or staff members.
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