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If you wish to escape from city life or the tensions of the
concrete jungle, or to have a relaxed and safe holiday then this is the
place for you to come and hang up your hat. Our location, here next to the
beautiful Sundays River Estuary, can easily be described as peaceful, beautiful,
tranquil and safe. Our lodge was the first B & B in this village and was built
in 1997 and previously known as Rivers View Lodge. It has a spectacular view of
the river and sand dunes and is a mere 100m from the waters edge. The name was
changed to Addo Gateway Lodge due to the easy access to the New South Entrance
of the Addo Elephant National Park, (Camp Matyholweni) only a few km's from our
village. We believe that this new entrance will one day be the Gateway to the
Addo Elephant National Park once the coastal and marine sections of the park are
better known.
Cannonville/Colchester was a very busy place in the mid 1800s
and early 1900s, due to the only pont/punt on the main route between Grahamstown
and Port Elizabeth, ferrying people, oxen, carts and food across the Sundays
River.
The original remains of the pont are still visible on the western banks of the
river near the N2 bridge in Cannonville. The pont sank in 1874, having been
washed away down the river during a great storm. In 1875 a new and bigger
pontoon was launched. Two months later, this pontoon was also taken down the
river after the river rose suddenly and was not used again. It took a battle of
35 years to get the Government to build a proper bridge across the river. The
bridge was commenced in 1884 and opened on 5th March 1895. It was named the
Mackay Bridge, in honour of John Mackay who's efforts resulted in its
construction. This bridge was constructed at a cost of 14 000 pounds and made
entirely of steel and iron brought all the way from Sheffield in England.
We (Maggie & Les) took over the lodge in January 2006 and are
ecstatic to have found this little jewel on the golden banks of the Sundays
River.
With a dream come true, Les also committed himself to establish
a ferry cruiser on the river and on the 14th April 2007 THE SUNDAYS RIVER FERRY
was launched. Come and enjoy a leisurely cruise both up or down stream to the
river mouth. Enjoy the spectacular views, river, sea and dunes.
To promote tourism and to be able to accommodate all our guests
with warmth and a friendly welcome, we uphold and abide by our motto: Where
Strangers Become Friends
WE WELCOME YOU !!!!!
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