Cookhouse, Greater Addo
The Eastern Cape may be South Africa’s largest province, but it is certainly one of its quietest and least urbanised. As a result, it is home to a number of small, relatively unknown villages, which are secreted in its hills and valleys, countryside and coastlines. Cookhouse is one of the tiny villages that have a character and charm all their own.
Cookhouse is about 170 north of Port Elizabeth and only 24 kilometres outside Somerset East. It was originally established along the railway line that was laid out in the 19th century as part of the colonisation initiatives in South Africa. It also occupies the banks of the Great Fish River, and was often the point at which troops that were travelling along the river would stop over and stay the night in a small stone house.
It covers only about 50 square kilometres and is occupied mainly by Xhosa-speaking South Africans. It is often overlooked by international tourists, but those who do visit Cookhouse en route are likely to enjoy the warm atmosphere, friendly smiles and lovely landscapes surrounding it.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Kromrivier Farm Stays
Kromrivier Farm Stays Guest House is situated on a working farm that borders the Addo Elephant Park in the Kromrivier Valley. Built separately fr...
Maggie May House Boat
The Maggie May is a beautiful rustic house boat located on the Sunday's River. The boat is over 10 meters long and five meters wide. The crew can...
Dungbeetle River Lodge
Uniquely situated on the banks of the beautiful Sundays River close to the new entrance of the Addo Elephant Park and only 40 kms from Port Eliza...
Rosedale Organic Farm B&B
Rosedale Organic Farm offers accommodation in 6 rooms. The cottages are safely nestled in the garden, where many indigenous shrubs and trees hav...
Barefoot Addo Elephant Villa
This private luxury family villa in the Addo Elephant National Park takes a personalised holiday to the next level. Perfect for those with young ...
Silos Guesthouse
Silos Guesthouse offers guests spacious and tastefully decorated rooms with private verandas, overlooking a beautiful garden and surrounding citr...
Happy Jackal Cottage
Happy Jackal Cottage is located on the premises of the Happy Jackal Guest House in Colchester. Port Elizabeth and its airport is only half an hou...
Addo Riverside Villa
Boasting beautiful views of the river and the Park, Addo Riverside Villa is a bed and breakfast residence set on the banks of the Sundays River, ...
River Bend Lodge
Tranquility, luxury and exquisite cuisine describe the gracious living at the River Bend Country Lodge in the Eastern Cape. River Bend Country Lo...
Things to do in the area
Wilton Guest Farm MTB Trails
Where: outside Middleton, 24 km south of Cookhouse (on the way to Bloemhof and De Mistkraal Dam)Level: moderate to advancedType of route: some si...
Hoeksfontein 4x4 Trails
In the heart of the Karoo, deep in the South African province of the Eastern Cape, lies the fun and excitement of the Hoeksfontein 4x4 Trail. Thi...
Boschberg MTB Trails
The Eastern Cape remains the quietest and least developed of all South African provinces. However, it offers visitors plenty in the way of things...
Walter Battiss Art Museum
Your Somerset East accommodation is right on the doorstep of pretty landscapes and some unusual Eastern Cape attractions. The Walter Battiss Art ...
Noteworthy attractions
Addo Elephant Park
Situated in a malaria free area the magnificently diverse Addo Elephant Park offers a wide variety of game viewing, outdoor adventure, accommodat...
Bushman Sands Game Reserve
Bushman Sands Game Reserve is situated on nearly 4000 hectares of former farmland. Bushman Sands game reserve offers malaria free sightings of wi...
Groendal Wilderness Area
The 30 000 hectare Groendal Wilderness Area protects the water catchment area of the Swartkops River (KwaZungha River), with the Groendal Dam in ...
Kariega Game Reserve
The private Kariega Game Reserve is situated in the malaria-free, upper reaches of the Kariega River Valley, 14 km from Kenton On Sea on the R343...
Shamwari Game Reserve
Shamwari Game Reserve is the southernmost, Big Game, private reserve in Africa - Malaraia Free. This ultimate African adventure stretches along t...
Bosberg Nature Reserve
Set on the southern slopes of the Bosberg Mountains, the Bosberg Nature Reserve is a thickly wooded nature reserve that looms over the town of So...
Pumba Game Reserve
Lying in a particularly breathtaking setting that includes five of the world’s seven biomes, Pumba Private Game Reserve has a couple of major adv...
Kamala Game Reserve
Kamala Game Reserve is a private reserve lying between the Bruinjieshoogte and Boschberg mountain ranges that each rise to about 6 000 feet, clos...
Cookhouse Wind Farm
The largest wind farm in the country, if not the continent, the Cookhouse wind farm has a 138.6 MW capacity, only just pipping JBay's wind farm a...
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