Stutterheim

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The small town of Stutterheim lies at the foot of the Amatola Mountain range in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This picturesque town is situated about 70 km from East London on the N6 Highway to the north.

Stutterheim has a rich history: From the Xhosa groups that were moving into the area to the German settlers of the 19th century, to the English colonists that followed. The town is named after Baron Richard Carl Gustav Ludwig Wilhelm Julius von Stutterheim.

Stutterheim boasts the second largest indigenous forest in South Africa (second only to the Titsikamma forest in Knysna). The forested mountains are home to much endemic flora and fauna, including the endangered Cape Parrot.

The hiking, mountain bike and horse trails on the mountains are very scenic and include sweeping views, beautiful forests and cascading waterfalls. Gubu Dam is a must see in Stutterheim. This breathtakingly beautiful dam is stocked with trout and day fishing permits can be bought.

Other activities in Stutterheim include The Stationary Engine Museum, indigenous nursery, bird watching and golf.

There are many accommodation establishments ranging from luxury accommodation to camping.

The majestic yellow wood trees tower above you and the stately pines sway gently in the breeze, the bird life is astounding. The combination of indigenous and exotic forest plays an integral part in providing sanctuary for numerous bird species.

The rare Knysna Lourie whose distribution is mainly limited to the eastern coast of Southern Africa and parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique is a year-round resident and is equally at home in the natural and pine forests which cover the mountainside. These birds, normally one of natures shyest are also common visitors to the gardens near the forest.

The exceptional Engine Museum is the largest stationary engine Museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a “must to see” together with a day at Thomas River, so exceptional with its own railway station, that it deserves another page in your diary.