The Eastern Cape of South Africa boasts beautiful and untouched natural scenery that the rest of the country enviously admires and it’s the sheer lack of commercialisation in this natural paradise which makes it a tourism draw for those of us weary of the overstimulation of the big cities. If you’ve never been before, here are 20 photos to fuel your wanderlust!

“Doesn’t it seem to you that the mind moves more freely in the presence of that boundless expanse; that the sight of the Ocean elevates the Soul and gives rise to the thoughts of the infinite and ideal.” – Gustave Flaubert 2 of 2 #GoExplore #SouthAfricaLetsMe #lifeofadventure

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Dameon (@dameon) on Oct 1, 2015 at 9:44pm PDT

Filming with @danthedirector is super fun! Especially when @nicoleeddy is driving

A photo posted by Pumba The Landy (@pumbathelandy) on Dec 9, 2014 at 8:17am PST

Soaking up the sunset shortly after taking my first plunge into the frigid and turbulent waters of the Indian Ocean. #GoTranskei

A photo posted by Philip Nix (@thenaturistman) on Jun 19, 2015 at 12:07pm PDT

Par @nomadicemilie : Un autre côté de l'#Afrique du #Sud, le pays des #Xhosa et leur iconique #habitation #village #letsgetlost #seetheworld#explore #discovertheworld#passionpassport #getlost#nomadlife #travelblog#traveladdict #traveljunkies #travel#travelling #travelgirl #wanderlust#worlderlust #afriquedusud

A photo posted by Nomad Junkies (@nomadjunkies) on Nov 3, 2015 at 12:35am PST

Hole in the Wall / Coffee Bay

A photo posted by kayla drobot (@kayladrobot) on Oct 29, 2015 at 12:20pm PDT

#LoveTrail ~ Nothing quite like the aftermath of a storm, at Storms River. Crashing waves at dawn.

A photo posted by Darren Smith (@dazmsmith) on Oct 23, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

8.

#afterlight #africa #famileeholiday #latergram // #kayaking at Storm's River Gorge

A photo posted by Lee Carrie (@leeecarrriee) on Sep 16, 2015 at 11:31pm PDT

The view from today's hike. #stormsriver #stormsrivermouth #tsitsikamama #forest #westerncape #easterncape #southafrica #plettenbergbay #sky #sea #desolate #barren #wild #wilderness #africa #travel #instatravel #igtravel #instapic #picoftheday #africanskies #beach #ocean #beautiful #landscape #nature #naturelover #scenery #hike #trail

A photo posted by Roxy Kairuz (@roxykairuz) on Mar 21, 2015 at 10:22am PDT

Storms River #stormsriver #landscape #southAfrica

A photo posted by @jyountchi on Dec 5, 2014 at 9:42pm PST

12 km hike och bergsklättring avklarad ✅ #beautiful #view

A photo posted by Julia Jönsson (@juliajoensson) on Nov 4, 2015 at 7:58am PST

Jurassic

A photo posted by @talnoble on Oct 10, 2015 at 11:07am PDT

A photo posted by Ofir Mizrahi (@giddygiddyup) on Oct 26, 2015 at 5:39am PDT

Hope you know which way you are heading this week! Have a good one. Thanks to @jarrydking for this great image. #kariega #bushlife #easterncape #safari

A photo posted by Kariega Game Reserve (@kariega.game.reserve) on Nov 1, 2015 at 8:16pm PST

Spectacular view of cliff , sea and sky ☺ like taking in a breath of inspiration #sea #clouds #cliff #inspiration #appreciation #thankful #blessed #seaview #scenic #scenery #instagood #instadailypic #instadailyphoto #photooftheday #bestoftheday #morgansbay #morgansbaysouthafrica #easterncapebeauty #easterncape #southafrica

A photo posted by Aspiring Photographer (@mikegeyer2009) on Nov 12, 2015 at 9:26am PST

Looks like it was taken a 100 years ago: just recently, a farmer and his horse.

A photo posted by Ofir Mizrahi (@giddygiddyup) on Nov 12, 2015 at 8:04am PST

#addoelephantnationalpark #Roadtripping #lovingsouthafrica #thisissouthafrica #travellingsouthafrica #amazing #beautiful #allcreaturesgreatandsmall #easterncape

A photo posted by Morgan Will (@spideyg2015) on Nov 11, 2015 at 1:48pm PST

Getting lost in the Amatola Forest #MirkwoodForest #tolkien #awaywiththefaries #thebigtree #easterncape #hike #nature #roadtrip #wanderlust #travelsa #travelsouthafrica #southafrica

A photo posted by Ryan Varga (@ryvarga) on Nov 11, 2015 at 4:14pm PST

Remember when a great bull elephant walked right up to the bakkie, by far one of my greatest memories of all time #southafrica #easterncape #pumbagamereserve #exotic #international #nature #africa #elephants #amazing #beautiful #magnificent #animals #wild #studentlife #travel #life #love #experience

A photo posted by Kathryn Cleary (@californiakathryn) on Nov 10, 2015 at 1:40pm PST

Swimming! #mountainbiking #cycling #boyfriendadventure #adventure #swimming #openswimming #rainforest #tsitsikamma #southafrica #africa #blackwater #waterfall #cooloff #tia #thisisafrica #easterncape #cape #indigenous #forest #tree #green #nature #naturehike #holiday #homefromhome

A photo posted by @louisianna11 on Nov 9, 2015 at 8:44am PST

Sibuya Game Reserve #sunset #kariega #river #spectacular #nature #exciting #magnifique #kentononsea #easterncape #southafrica

A photo posted by Jenny Jarvis (@jennyj737) on Nov 9, 2015 at 9:32pm PST

Which Instagram is your favourite?