Amatola is a region that stretches into the surrounding areas of Grahamstown and west of Stutterheim.

Although beginning in an arid and shrub filled area, the region is actually a densely forested mountainous area of stinkwoods, yellowwood trees, Cape chestnuts and many more indigenous trees.

Forest trails and hikes snake through these indigenous forests, sometimes in winter coming across snow-covered peaks in winter whose summits sit above 2000 metres. Visitors to the Amatola area can frequent the many settlements that began as military outposts, like Fort Beaufort and Cathcart, and towns like Stutterheim that began as a resting place for disbanded soldiers. For calmer histories, visitors should see other small, quaint towns like Hogsback, which was originally a farming community. Fort Hare University houses the collection of African Art near the lovely town of Alice, but more interestingly is the stop at Steve Biko’s grave in King William’s Town.