Visit
the Bayworld Aquarium Walk
the Donkin Heritage Trail Go
scuba diving in the Bay Sail
on the warm winds Picnic
at Settlers Park See
the Big Five at Shamwari Have
fun at the Boardwalk Soak
up the sun on the beach Play
golf at Humewood See
the cell of Steve Biko
The "friendly city" of Port Elizabeth lies
in Nelson
Mandela Bay on South Africa's Eastern Cape coast,
about 360km from Knysna
and a day's drive from Cape Town. This major seaport and tourist
destination offers a superb value-for-money holiday and
is a perfect base for exploring the area's many attractions.
Beautiful coastline and beaches,
scenic
nature
trails, historic architecture, and cultural and water sport
activities make the city a favoured holiday location
for local and international tourists alike. The temperate climate
of warm summers and mild winters means you can enjoy surfing,
boardsailing and diving all year round because the sea temperatures
are always above 16 degrees!
A number of great
spots offer scuba divers the chance to see ship wrecks,
coral reefs
and
beautifully coloured fish in the warm waters which
often give up 30 meters visibility. Keen beginners can take
one-day diving
courses and there is a selection of
boat charters and gear for hire.
Nelson Mandela Bay offers some of the world's best
sailing venues as well, and the warm seas and open
water offer near-perfect conditions
for windsurfing, angling, snorkeling, kitesurfing, flyfishing
and canoeing.
Today Port Elizabeth still cherishes many examples of its rich
history. Architecture and heritage can be explored on the Donkin
Heritage
trail,
which
follows the footsteps of the 1820 Settlers on
their journey of discovery and settlement in the city. This
5 km trail visits 47 historical sites
in the
Old Hill area of central PE.
The central city area is an interesting mix of architectural
styles, displaying the development of the urban landscape
through the past few centuries. Many fine examples of classic
Victorian
edifices are found, along with a charming collection of art
nouveau, art deco and
modern
buildings.
Port Elizabeth is also proud home to the
largest
number
of art deco buildings in South Africa.
Visitors should take a picnic out to one of the beautiful
parks in the city and enjoy the peace and quiet of
the landscaped gardens. At St Georges Park you can view Prince
Alfred's Guard
Memorial and the 1882 Victorian Pearson Conservatory. Settler's
Park in the city center, with its beautiful flora and fauna
is a must for nature lovers.
If you want to get out into the wild, you can take a day or
overnight trip to the exclusive, private Shamwari
Game Reserve which offers early morning
and evening game drives and is home to the "Big Five" of
Africa. Shamwari is less than an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth.
Other options include the Addo Elephant Park and several other
smaller
reserves at which you can enjoy a wonderful authentic
African experience. The entire area is Malaria Free.
Tourists looking for entertainment must visit the Boardwalk
Casino and Entertainment World in Summerstrand. The complex
caters for the whole family with all kinds of entertainment,
shopping, dining and gaming. The central metro also has several
cinema complexes, numerous modern shopping malls and plenty
of restaurants offering steaks, seafood, Italian and Eastern
cuisine. Live music venues, pubs and wine bars offer a vibrant
nightlife and the locals are always friendly and sociable.
Port Elizabeth's accommodation facilities cater
for travelers of all types. Stay in style at your choice
of accredited beachfront luxury hotels,
or, at a wide selection of apartments, guesthouses, bed
and breakfasts
and cottages. Several Backpackers
provide budget accommodation
facilities.
Port Elizabeth is often overlooked in favour of some of the
flashier South African destinations. But the city will give
you a superb value-for-money vacation and is a perfect base
to explore many attractions in the area including Grahamstown,
Jeffrey's Bay, Cape St. Francis, Port Alfred, Kenton-on-sea and
the Fish River Nature Conservancy.
Visit the friendly city next time you're in the Eastern Cape!
Visit
the Bayworld Aquarium
Freestate 
