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Areena Riverside Resort - East London

  • Tourism grading:
  • User rating:
  • South Africa , Eastern Cape , East London , See forecast
  • Contact Number: +27 43 734 3055
  • Fax: +27 43 734 3312
  • Website:
  • Physical Address:
    Kwelera, East London, Eastern Cape [View Map]
  • Abby the Giraffe (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Archery (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Camping (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Chess (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Corporate Events (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Corporate Venue (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Cottage (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Cottage 4 Lounge (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Double En-Suite (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Obstacle Course (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Teambuildingl (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Pool Area (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Rondavel (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Rondavel (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Swimming Pool (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Timber Chalet (click HERE to enlarge)
  • View From Timber Chalet (click HERE to enlarge)
  • Weddings & Fuctions (click HERE to enlarge)

Welcome to Areena Riverside Resort!

Areena Riverside Resort is situated on the banks of the Kwelera tidal river, 23 km east of East London city centre, at the beginning of the Cape Wild Coast.  The dream of Ed and Karen Rathbone to have a unique family resort became a reality some 23 years ago and soon grew from strength to strength.  After a lot of hard work and dedication, the Caravan Park  was voted S.A. Top Resort 2004, after gaining public interest and became the hideout for those wanting to experience quality family time in the heart of nature. 

Areena is 4 Star and AA Highly Recommended where you can wake up to the call of the Fish Eagles.

We offer you unsurpassed views of the river, wildlife, birds and surrounding wild coast vegetation where cruises to the river mouth and beach can be arranged.

You can virtually fish from your tent on river front sites, and also park your boat along the jetty directly in front of you. And everyone loves to meet Abby, our friendly giraffe!

Most early mornings will provide you with a spectacular visit of buck, monkeys and dassies on the other side of the river.

Access to the beach is either by boat, river ferry, or a short trip by car. For the energetic, an interesting hike.

Self-Catering Accommodation

Choose from a variety of options in our 4 Star, AA Superior self-catering accommodation nestled near the main facilities of the resort.

Rondavels
Our three rondavels are an open-plan design with a queen size bed downstairs and single beds in a loft room upstairs, sleeping from 4 to 6 people. (These units are not suitable for very young children as the wooden stairways to the loft rooms are fairly steep.)

Cottages
Cottage 1 is a single level two-bedroomed unit which can sleep 4, with a queen size bed in the main bedroom and a double bunk in the second bedroom.

Cottages 2 and 3 each have three bedrooms and can sleep up to 8 people with a queen size bed in the main bedroom, two single beds in the second bedroom and four single beds in the third.

Cottage 4 and 5 are high-pitch thatch, open-plan units with a bathroom en-suite to the main bedroom downstairs, and four single beds in a loft room leading from the lounge, sleeping up to 6 people.

Double En-Suites
Ten generously sized, open plan en-suites are ideal for 1 or 2 persons. There are two twin beds in each, made separately, but pushed together against a king-size headboard. One of these units is available as king-size, if requested when making a reservation.

Timber Chalets
Five timber chalets are set on the banks of the river, a few hundred metres from the main hub of the resort. They are exquisitely furnished and offer a truly peaceful riverside stay. Each chalet has a queen size bed in the main bedroom with two single beds in the second bedroom, comfortably accommodating 4 people. The covered timber deck facing the river is the perfect spot for viewing the game that often wanders through the garden in this area.

Caravan & Camping

A visit to our stunning caravan park will make it clear why Areena has been voted a Top Resort by the readers of Caravan and Outdoor magazine since 2004.

Many camping enthusiasts have returned to our caravan park time and time again to stay on one of our 110 generously sized caravan or tent sites. Most sites are well grassed and shady, with more than half of the sites spread along 800m of river frontage.

Each site has one 15-20 amp electrical outlet and a braai with a grid. Water taps and sparkling-clean ablution blocks are placed within easy reach from each site.

Facilities

Moor your boat at one of our many wooden jetties to give you easy access to the indigenous valley leading to the silver sands of the quiet beach at the river mouth.

Back at the resort, children and adults alike spend hours fishing, crabbing or playing in the river or in our huge split-level swimming pool.

A tennis court, playground and 3 trampolines are popular with the young active ones, whilst the clubhouse offers table tennis and pool tables indoors. The roads around the caravan park are perfect for riding bikes and trikes, so bring them along!

Delicious meals are available from Areena Quays, the restaurant at the slipway. Take a break from cooking to enjoy tasty light meals and snacks, or juicy steaks and seafood. With a pub and big screen TV, this is also the place where you can cheer for your favourite sports team!

Two laundries with token-operated washing machines and tumble dryers make washday a breeze – windy driers are also available to hang washing in the fresh country air.