Welcome to Hamburg, a hidden gem in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Situated roughly midway between East London and Port Alfred, Hamburg has a rich history and plenty of natural beauty to explore. Click here for a Google map.
Hamburg now has its own weather station.
Click here for the latest weather report and forecast.
Hamburg is host to over 250 bird species. Check out our birding page with the latest bird list and photos for the area. Or test your identification skills with our Bird Quiz.
Click here to join the Association
Some great reads about Hamburg
# There’s something about Hamburg by Malibongwe Tyilo (Daily Maverick) Click here to read
# Hamburg: one crazy little village by Andy Hofmeyr (Getaway Magazine)Click here to read
Luxury Guest House accommodation is now available in Hamburg at RiverDance Guest House. Click here for more info.
The extraordinary creativity of the Keiskamma Art Project
# Huge tapestries tell the story of a South African town, one masterpiece at a time
An excellent overview of the project by CNN in 2023. Click here to read.
# December 2024: The Keiskamma Art Project completed another magnificent commission,
this one for a wine estate in the Western Cape. Picture shows one of 3 huge panels
intricately-embroidered with stories about the history of the estate amidst a sea of vibrant colour.
Find out more about the project and its world-acclaimed tapestries here
# South African women weaving monumental tales of love and loss
(From The Guardian December 1 2023. Click here to read.)
Few people have left such an indelible mark on the life and
soul of Hamburg as Carol Hofmeyr, seen here with
another village icon, Susan Paliso, now in her 103rd year.
Hofmeyr’s extraordinary efforts to save lives during the
HIV epidemic and her passion to help unleash the creative energies
of the women of the Keiskamma Art Project is powerfully stitched
together by Barbara Hollands in the Daily Dispatch.
Click here to read her article.
What happened when the Bennebroek was
smashed on the rocks near Hamburg
An eyewitness account of how the Dutch frigate crashed its way
into Hamburg’s history in the 18th Century and still continues to
delight amateur treasure hunters. Click here to read
Why Hamburg belongs on your bucket list …
# Untouched natural beauty: Hamburg is situated on the Keiskamma River, which opens into a wide floodplain bordered by nature reserves and home to hundreds of species of birds (over 250 species recorded). The estuary is also a great spot for fishing, with world-record kob catches. There’s also superb canoeing between the estuarine islands.
# Beautiful secluded beach: Hamburg’s beach has been voted one of South Africa’s most beautiful secluded seafronts. You’ll often have it all to yourself.
# Art and culture: The Keiskamma Trust, a development organization that offers a range of community services, has gained acclaim for its Art Project. Today, 150 local women craft exquisite fabric artworks that are bought for private collections around the world.
Hamburg may be undeveloped, but that’s part of its charm. If you find yourself on the R72 between East London and Port Alfred, take some time out to visit our village.
Sunset over the Keiskamma River May 20 2025. Picture: Bruce Cohen
Inquiries: info@hamburg.co.za