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Voykit pocket guide · South Africa
King William's Town
Qonce
Skip unless you are visiting the Steve Biko Centre or the Amathole Museum. A half-day stop from East London is enough.
King William's Town (renamed Qonce in 2021) is a quiet Eastern Cape town 60 km from East London. Its main draws are the Steve Biko Centre, birthplace of the anti-apartheid activist, and the Amathole Museum with its Xhosa gallery and taxidermy collection. Most travellers pass through on the N2 without stopping.
- Country
- South Africa
- Local name
- Qonce
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (hot, humid), Jul–Aug (cold)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ZAR
- Money
- Currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere in cities and at lodges; carry small cash for tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget R400–600 excl. bed · Mid R600–1,000 excl. bed · High R1,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper. Buy at the airport shop with your passport (RICA registration is required).
- Emergency
- Mobile emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types M, C, N · 230 V · 50 Hz · The big round-pin type M is rarely used elsewhere; buy a local adapter at the airport or any supermarket.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.; Fuel attendant: R5–20, more if they wash windows and check tyres.; Car guard: R5–20 when you leave.; Safari ranger and tracker: About R150–300 per guest per day for the ranger, R100–200 for the tracker — check lodge guidance.; Hotel porter: R10–20 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.
- Toilets
- Clean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | R20–35 |
| Lunch (sandwich or bunny chow) | R50–80 |
| Dinner at a restaurant | R100–200 |
| Beer (bottle) | R15–25 |
| Taxi from town to Steve Biko Centre | R30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ELS · East London Airport
- About 50 min drive; hire a car or take a bus.
Typical fares
- East London → King William's Town by bus
- about R60–100, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi from centre to Steve Biko Centre
- R30–50
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable, but you will need a car or taxi to reach the Steve Biko Centre (about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the centre). Minibus taxis run along main routes.The town is walkable, but you will need a car or taxi to reach the Steve Biko Centre (about 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from the centre). Minibus taxis run along main routes.
See and do
Known for
- Steve Biko Centre
- Amathole Museum
- Huberta the hippopotamus
- Xhosa cultural history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| East London | N2, about 50 min drive | About 1 h |
| Hogsback | R345, about 1 h 15 min drive | About 1.5 h |
| Bathurst | N2 then R67, about 1 h 20 min drive | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few guesthouses and B&Bs; limited dining options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Molomoh-loh |
| Thank you | Enkosien-koh-see |
| How much is it? | Yimalini?yee-mah-lee-nee |
| Where is the museum? | Iphi imyuziyam?ee-pee ee-myoo-zee-yam |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say hello and ask how someone is before any request; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Handshakes: Three-part African handshake with friends; a normal handshake with strangers; avoid: Refusing an offered hand
- Elders: Use Mr/Mrs or 'Mama', 'Baba' respectfully in townships and rural areas; avoid: First names with older people you have just met
- Braai invitations: Bring meat or drinks, and arrive on 'African time'; avoid: Taking over the fire
- Photos: Ask first, especially in townships and villages; avoid: Photographing children without a parent's permission
- Politics and race: Ask questions and listen; avoid: Lecturing on history or crime
Scams and watch-outs
- The town is quiet; few restaurants open for dinner.
- Check opening hours for the Steve Biko Centre and Amathole Museum before visiting.
- Street crime is low but keep valuables out of sight.
King William's Town is generally safe during the day. Avoid walking alone after dark. Keep car doors locked and valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for King William's Town yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Steve Biko Centre
- Amathole Museum
- Huberta the hippopotamus
- Xhosa cultural history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Amathole Museum: www.museum.za.net/
- Wikivoyage: King William's Town, revision 4943340 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4943340
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
King William's TownQonce
Nceda, kule dilesi
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Mobile emergency112
Most embassies are in Pretoria or Cape Town; check the nearest consulate in East London.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/king-williams-town). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.