East London

East London is South Africa's only river port. The town is situated on the mouth of the Buffalo River, so called by the Khoi San because of the large number of these animals that used to roam the area. It was eventually settled as a means of providing supplies to the garrisons, who were protecting the white settlers from the Xhosas.

East London's modern-day attractions include the East London Museum, which houses the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to be extinct, and numerous memorial statues.

Good golf courses and friendly locals make East London a pleasant enough place to visit. Other attractions include the unusual double-decker bridge over the Buffalo River. The bridge was completed in 1935 and to this day is the only bridge of its kind in South Africa.

In the late 1850s the population of East London was boosted by the introduction of some German settlers, most of whom were bachelors. In 1857 the British Government took pity on them and a cargo of 157 Irish girls arrived to help lift morale.

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