King Williams Town/Qonce

Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) is a town along the banks of the Buffalo River. The city is about 60 kilometres northwest East London. Qonce city has one of the oldest post offices in South Africa developed by missionaries led by Charles Brownlee. King Williams Town’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS all the beautiful old buildings. For such a small town there have a great variety of lovely old buildings; from forts to churches, banks, memorials and museums. There is something for everyone.

King William’s Town city centre (source: Alamy)

Amathole Museum It was officially opened to the public in October 1898 as The Museum of Natural History. A major extension to the building, linking it to the Public Library, was completed in 1953.

Steve Biko Centre was officially opened to translate global interest in the legacy of Bantu Stephen Biko into an intellectual, economic and developmental resource for the local and regional economy. The Centre comprises a museum, archive and library resource centre, the Steve Biko Commemorative Garden, training rooms, cultural performance and production spaces, a community media centre and memorabilia shop.

Bhisho Contact Centre is a Living heritage site that tells the story of what happened during the Bhisho Massacre on 7 September 1992, but also reflects of other aspects of struggles for liberation in the Eastern Cape. An extension of the Bhisho Massacre Memorial, the site comprises flexible meHiking and nature walks: King William’s Town is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, and there are plenty of hiking and nature trails to explore. The Tyhume Valley Nature Reserve is a popular destination for birdwatching and nature walkseting, exhibition and public entertainment spaces.

Hiking and nature walks: King William’s Town is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, and there are plenty of hiking and nature trails to explore. The Tyhume Valley Nature Reserve is a popular destination for birdwatching and nature walks

Accommodation

King William’s Town offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget and preference. There is G guest house, Repose guest house, Instinct hotel, Bisho park guest house, etc.

Transport

The town is easily accessible by road, with major highways connecting it to other parts of the Eastern Cape and beyond. It is a small town, and it’s easy to get around on foot or by car. There are also taxis and minibusses available for hire. If you’re planning to explore the town’s natural landscapes, be sure to hire a tour guide, as public transportation might be limited in these areas.

For Coaches and Buses to king Williams Town from Johannesburg it’s 12 hours and from Cape Town it’s 10 hours away. Luxury coaches service is provided by Inter City express, Intercape, Citiliner,Ilula, Jacobs coaches, etc.

There are daily flights from Johannesburg to East London International Airport which is located about 50 kilometres away. Flights are serviced by Airlink and Flysafair. You can hire a car or get a bus from East London to King Williams Town.

Foodies

King William’s Town is a great place to sample some of these dishes. Be sure to try some traditional Xhosa cuisine, such as umngqusho (maize and beans) or amasi (sour milk).