By Nangamso Mabindla
10 May 2005

A NEW tourism brochure has been published by Tourism Buffalo City, touting the city's most prized tourist attractions and rich history.

Darby Gounden, the acting head of tourism agency, said the brochure was launched at the Tourism Indaba in Durban, which ran from 7 to 10 May.

"It was very well received here at the indaba and everyone is impressed with the colour and the information, ranging from our beautiful beaches to our heritage," she said.

"We have various other tourist attractions listed in our brochure to ensure that tourists get the full value for money spent in the city."

Tourists to the area will be able to use the brochure to find out more about Buffalo City, which stretches from the seaside village of Hamburg to the port city of East London along the coast, and inland past Mdantsane, the second largest township in South Africa, to the provincial capital of Bhisho. It incorporates the old settler towns of King William's Town and Berlin.

The 68 kilometres of coastline include 10 estuaries, conservancies, natural heritage sites, rocky shores and 14 sandy beaches. To enhance their visits, tourists should understand some basic phrases from the city's diverse languages and cultures and so a translation of some phrases like "Hola/Howzit", which means "Hi, Hello" is included in the new brochure.

"The brochure will guide our tourists to our best sites and give them a little bit of the history of our towns," Gounden said. Tourists will be able to read about the history of East London, Mdantsane, Bhisho, King William's Town and the four rivers that run through Buffalo City.

Another attraction is the information on early Stone Age settlements and the remains of Stone Age implements discovered in the dunes of Beacon Bay and east of the Quinera River.

"Our brochure is very comprehensive - every attraction has been included. You just have to get one for yourself and you will have the whole of the city in your hands," Gounden said.