Experience Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth Accommodation

Port Elizabeth offers a wide variety of accommodation to suit every budget and taste whether you are a cost effective backpacker or enjoy splurging on leisure, Port Elizabeth will cater for your every need. Whether your preference is a luxury hotel or a 5-star game lodge, a guest house in the township or a bed & breakfast in the countryside – Port Elizabeth offers you endless possibilities. Port Elizabeth Accommodation ranges from accommodation with beach views to accommodation in the bush surrounded by wildlife.

Hotels offer from one to 5-star accommodation, from old colonial buildings where an ambience of the 1820’s colonial splendour can still be experienced, to modern buildings hosting casinos, spas and unique culinary experiences. 1- and 2-star hotels, as well as holiday apartments, offer value-for-money accommodation. The 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels offer a more traditional hotel service. There are also many holiday resorts, caravan parks and camping sites located on the beachfront.

About Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth is fondly referred to as ‘The Friendly City’, ‘The Windy City’ or simply as ‘The Bay’, or ‘Die Baai’ in Afrikaans. Although the wind can blow fairly often here, it has never put anyone off from having a super holiday. In fact, Port Elizabeth is rated as the fourth best in terms of weather out of all the coastal cities in the world. It has a subtropical climate with light rain throughout the year, mild winters and warm summers.

During the summer, many people come down to Port Elizabeth to enjoy the kilometres of golden beaches, the warm waves of the ocean and the family-orientated attractions. The main beaches include Kings Beach, Hobie Beach, Pollock Beach, Sardinia Bay, Maitlands and Seaview. The first two mentioned are surrounded by cafes, restaurants and beachfront accommodation, and have lifeguards and a variety of facilities. The entire beachfront area along Kings Beach has recently been renovated, and now includes playgrounds for children, a beautiful stretch of water in a man-made lake, a skate-park and paths where you can walk or ride a bicycle. The McArthur Pool and Leisure Centre (McArthur Baths) has a couple of swimming pools with slides, and the Supertubes are even larger water slides that guarantee fun for the whole family. In addition, a beachfront market is held every Sunday (weather permitting) where all sorts of goods are traded at reasonable prices.

Port Elizabeth is located at the southern tip of Africa, 34 Degrees South of the Equator. It is just under 800Km East of Cape Town and has a population of over 1.5 million. Well known for its amazing coastline, Port Elizabeth is a popular destination for holiday makers, especially during the festive season. It is often referred to as the “Friendly City” or the “Windy City” or simply just PE.

Also known as the “15 minute city’, Port Elizabeth also offers convenience to business travelers as everything is but 15 minutes from the airport. Water sports, game drives, heritage walks and hiking are just a few of the many activities that can be enjoyed in this beautiful city. Port Elizabeth is also host to numerous annual and seasonal festivals and events. Art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas will keep the cultural mind entertained. Presently, Port Elizabeth is fondly referred to as “Ibhayi” by Xhosa speakers, “Die Baai” by Afrikaners and “The Bay” by English speakers and the “friendly city” by all.

Attractions in Port Elizabeth

Museums

For many years Port Elizabeth’s oceanarium, now known as Bayworld, has been one of the city’s main attractions. It is still a great attraction; however, the need to renovate and upgrade the facilities caused Bayworld to send its two remaining dolphins to a facility in China. The dolphins also needed to interact with other dolphins of the same breed. Although there are currently no dolphin shows and also no large shark tank, the lovely, big PE Museum is still there, as well as some smaller fish tanks and the snake park. The museum has a Dinosaur Hall, a huge southern right whale skeleton, fascinating cultural displays and much more. Penguins and seals still reside at the oceanarium as well, and daily talks and shows take place.

No. 7 Castle Hill is one of the loveliest little museums in Port Elizabeth. It displays a typical mid-nineteenth century, middle-class family home with many interesting ‘olden day’ items. The home itself is one of the oldest settler cottages in Port Elizabeth, having been completed in 1830. The home’s kitchen, children’s playroom and the well in the back yard are favourite parts of the museum.

The South African Air Force Museum can be found in Humewood and displays a magnificent supersonic jet fighter, helicopters, engines, aircraft memorabilia, models and photographs. This is a must-see museum for all aircraft enthusiasts. For those who prefer to stay on the ground, the St Croix Motor Museum is a treat. Its vintage and classic vehicles date back to the very start of the motor car to the late 60’s. Approximately 80 vehicles can be viewed.

The Red Location Museum was only opened in 2005 and depicts the tragedies and victories of South Africa’s Apartheid regime. It also highlights the diverse cultures and lifestyles of the South African people. The museum has been a great success for its ‘hands-on’ approach that thoroughly involves visitors in its exhibitions and for its impressively large scale exhibitions and huge building. This fascinating museum is a great outing for anyone interested in gaining more insight into South African cultures.

Additional popular museums in Port Elizabeth include the South End Museum and the Jewish Pioneers Memorial Museum, and in Despatch/Uitenhage, a short distance from Port Elizabeth, you can visit the Despatch Museum, Drostdy Museum, Old Railway Station Museum and the VW AutoPavilion.

Entertainment

Over recent years the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Complex has become a hotspot for locals and visitors alike. The complex features a top-class casino, an undercover African market, movie houses, restaurants, shops, a games arcade, fun rides, putt-putt, tenpin bowling and go-karting. There are also many concerts and other types of performances held at the Boardwalk’s amphitheatre or on the floating stage in the water.

Not far from the Boardwalk and Humewood Beach you will find Happy Valley, an area of beautiful gardens, lily ponds, large palm trees and rockeries. A pathway leads the way past various children’s nursery-rhyme characters. In summer the whole area is illuminated by many colourful lights. In addition, there is a giant chess board with giant chess pieces to match on the valley’s lawn that can be used by the public.

The Port Elizabeth Opera House is found in Central and is the longest-operating theatre on the continent of Africa! It is also the only Victorian theatre building still standing in Africa. When it opened it was deemed as ‘The finest theatre in all the world’. Furthermore, the theatre is also thought to be haunted, as it is built on the site of an old gallows – so if a ghost tour interests you, it can be arranged! On a lighter note though, the theatre offers regular, entertaining performances. The Little Ford Theatre is another popular spot for social activities and the building, built in the 1850’s, is a national monument.

In Port Elizabeth there are a number of places suitable for golf enthusiasts, and they include the Humewood Golf Club, the Port Elizabeth Golf Club, the Shark River Golf Club and the Walmer Country Club. The Humewood Golf Club is considered to have a championship course with challenging holes. Interestingly, it is also often shared by small wildlife, such as monkeys, tortoises, meerkats and small buck.

Additional fun things to do in Port Elizabeth include go-karting at the Algoa Grand Prix indoor Go-Karting arena, listening to the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra at the Feather Market Centre, spending a few hours at the Boma visiting their Reptile Centre, gathering a couple friends together for some action at Paintball Heaven, horse-riding on the beach, spending a morning at the Lady Slipper Farm Market, admiring some amazing art collections at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, watching the fascinating rehabilitation process of the endangered African penguins at the SAMREC African Penguin Rehabilitation Centre and renting a bicycle and going for a guided tour along the Port Elizabeth beachfront.

Parks, Nature reserves and Wildlife

All around the city are large and small patches of green that make ideal spots for picnics and enjoying the sunshine. St. Georges Park is huge and features a public swimming pool, a greenhouse, ponds, paths for walking, a children’s playground, a tennis club and the St. Georges Cricket Stadium. Settler’s Park is another favorite area for short hikes and bird-watching, while Victoria Park is a lovely, open area that is also popular for various arranged forms of family entertainment.

The Island Nature Reserve in Seaview, with over fifty bird species, including the Knysna Lourie, is the perfect spot for bird-enthusiasts. Small animals, such as the vervet monkey, blue duiker and bush pig, are common as well.

If you want to see some larger and fiercer animals, head towards the Kragga Kamma Game Reserve and go for a game drive to see white rhino, cheetah, zebra, giraffe and much more. You can choose to participate in a two-hour guided tour or drive your own vehicle through the park. Another great location for wildlife is the Seaview Predator Park with free-roaming wild cats and many types of herbivores. If you are lucky to arrive when there are lion cubs you may also be able to cuddle them. The park features a shop and restaurant, and picnic areas. It also offers fantastic views of the ocean.

Historical places and buildings

Port Elizabeth has a number of interesting historical buildings and locations that are well worth a visit. At the top of the list is the Donkin Reserve – a stunning lighthouse that you can go inside, climb the stairs to a reasonable height, and enjoy beautiful views of the city, bay and harbour. The lighthouse was built in 1861 and the pyramid alongside it is a national monument. In and around the Donkin Reserve visitors can admire some exquisite and unique works of art.

In the very heart of the city you will find Market Square with the City Hall and its clock tower, the Prester John Memorial and the magnificent building of the public library that lies behind a tall, marble statue of Queen Victoria. These buildings were constructed in the early 1800’s. Furthermore, you will also find the impressive replica of the well-known Diaz Cross, placed in remembrance of Bartholomew Diaz.

The tall bell tower of the Camponile is a short distance from Market Square, and stands at a neck-straining height of over 53 meters. You can climb the 204 steps to the very top if you are feeling energetic!

Fort Frederick is a very interesting historical location in Port Elizabeth. It features high, stone walls built in a protective square shape, cannons and a guardhouse. The fort was erected in 1799 for the purpose of defending the mouth of the Baakens River; however, no shot was ever fired in anger from the fort.

Attractions and places nearby Port Elizabeth

• Van Stadens Beach and Wild Flower Reserve (45 km).
• The Daniell Cheetah Breeding Project at Kirkwood (45 km).
• The Addo Elephant National Park (72 km).
• The Addo Raptor and Reptile Centre (72 km).
• Shamwari Game Reserve (75 km).
• Jeffreys Bay (85 km).
• Pumba Game Reserve (105 km).
• Cape St Francis (115 km).
• Grahamstown (120 km).
• Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve (120 km).
• Kenton-on-Sea (130 km).

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