Paterson lies at the foot of the Zuurberg Mountains on the Port Elizabeth – Cradock road (N10) and is the nearest town to the Shamwari Game Reserve.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Port Elizabeth 75 km

Altitude: 305 m above sea level

Banks – FNB

Dams - New Year’s Dam at Alicedale (25 km away)

Mountains - Suurberg Mountains

Rivers - Sundays River

HISTORICAL VIEW

According to local legend. Paterson was named to acknowledge John Paterson, a member of the Cape Parliament, for the role he played in supporting the building of a railway line to the north, benefiting the town. The railway station was first located next to the hotel, on the farm Sandflats, from which the station took it’s name. When, in the course of time, the station moved to it’s present position, it took the name of Paterson Station. John Paterson, born in 1822 at Rubislaw, Aberdeen in Scotland, was the founder of both the Standard Bank and the Eastern Province Herald in Port Elizabeth. Paterson Road, which runs parallel to the railway line in Port Elizabeth, was also named after him. John Paterson disappeared from the ship on which he was traveling between the Cape and Scotland in 1860. The streets in the original town area have been given the names of the first inhabitants. Examples include Pullen, Lovemore, Coltman, Davis, Griffith, Kirkwood and Buchner.

NATURE

Addo Elephant National Park

ATTRACTIONS

Schotia Safaris

20 km from Paterson

Shamwari Game Reserve

10 km from Paterson. A privately owned luxury reserve where the ‘Big Five’ can be seen in a malaria free area. Great diversity of fauna and flora including hippo, giraffe, zebra, 17 antelope species, many species of small game and 300 species of bird. Long Lee Manor offers stylish accommodation, floodlit tennis courts, a gym, a conference venue, gourmet meals and 24 hour service. African Rail Safaris brings visitors by luxury express train from Johannesburg. Shamwari Lodge offers accommodation for 10 people. Highfield Lodge and Carn Ingly Lodge are two self contained homes offering more modest accommodation. Shamwari offers day trips, lunches and game drives

Accommodation in and around Retreat