Port Elizabeth or Nelson Mandela Bay often known by its initials PE, and colloquially as “The Friendly City”or “The Windy City”,[4] is a major seaport city and most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Port Elizabeth is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa’s second largest metropolitan district by area.[5][circular reference][6] It is the most-populous city of the Eastern Cape and the sixth most-populous city in South Africa.[7][8][9] the most-populous city of Eastern Cape; and the cultural, economic and financial center of the Eastern Cape.[10][11][12] The city is among the top five cities in the world for pleasant weather, according to a 2014 scientific climate study of 600 global cities.[13] Port Elizabeth is known for many blue-flag beachesalong the city’s urban coastline; its popularity as an international and local holiday destination; and its rich and diverse cultural heritage. It is a tourism gateway city for the Eastern Cape and the only city with the closest proximity to malaria-free big five game reserves.
1. Beaches
Port Elizabeth boasts some of the tidiest and safest city beaches in South Africa. More than 40 kilometers of sun-splashed sand rims the coast along Algoa Bay. The best picks for a swim are Wells Estate Beach with a paddling pool and water slides; well-shaded Humewood Beach; and popular Kings Beach, with kiosks, restaurants, a skate park, and other entertainment facilities close by. All these beaches earned the coveted international Blue Flag status, awarded for exemplary water quality, safety, and environmental management.
Near the Boardwalk entertainment complex, Hobie Beach offers sheltered rock pools and is well suited for swimming and windsurfing. Pollock Beach is a top surfing spot, and unspoiled Sardinia Bay, in a marine reserve, is great for snorkeling and scuba diving, although fishing is off limits. Avid anglers should head to the northern beaches such as New Brighton Beach and Bluewater Bay.
2. Addo Elephant National Park
South Africa’s third biggest national park, Addo Elephant National Park lies 72 kilometers north of Port Elizabeth and offers nature lovers the taste of a true African safari. The park encompasses more than 444,000 acres, extending from the Karoo, in the north, over the Zuurberg range to the coast. It also includes offshore islands, which shelter important breeding populations of Cape gannets and African penguins.
The park was established in 1931 to preserve the last eleven South African bush elephants from extinction. Today, more than 600 of these majestic beasts roam the park, as well as Cape buffalo, black rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras, spotted hyenas, numerous antelope, and more than 185 species of birds.
Other adventures here include night game drives, horseback riding, and hiking trails. Travelers can choose accommodation options to suit their budget—from cottages and chalets to a camp site, all with access to a restaurant and shop. Day visitors are welcome, and visitors can explore the park in their own car or take a guided tour.
3. The Boardwalk
In Summerstrand, a 12-minute walk from the beach, The Boardwalk is a slickly packaged leisure resort and convention center on an artificial lake. Tourists and locals come here to browse the boutiques and specialty stores, dine at the restaurants and cafes, and enjoy the entertainment venues, which include a five-screen cinema, an amphitheater hosting live shows, an amusement arcade, bowling alley, and adventure golf. The fitness center features two pools, and those seeking a little pampering can relax at the full-service spa.
At night, the complex comes alive with a musical fountain show. More than 100 individual jets shoot water up to 60 meters into the air, illuminated by colorful lights, and a screen of water displays multimedia presentations. Adults and children of all ages will find something fun to see and do here, and it’s a great alternative to the beach on wet weather days.
4. Kragga Kamma Game Park
Less than 30 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth, Kragga Kamma Game Park welcomes day trippers for self-guided or guided safaris. The park is more affordable than other game-viewing options, with an impressive array of wildlife for its size, including white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and monkeys. A favorite are the cheetahs in their own enclosure with a catwalk above for better viewing opportunities. All the other animals roam freely.
This is a great option for those who don’t have time for a longer safari at a national park; visitors can easily tour the park in two to three hours. Tracks through the park are fine for two-wheel-drive cars, but the park also offers guided tours in open Land Rovers.
About a 10-minute drive from Kragga Kamma Game Park, Holmeleigh Farmyard is another critter-filled family attraction. Pricier and more luxurious safari experiences with a range of plush accommodations are available at Kwantu Private Game Reserve, about 85 kilometers from Port Elizabeth, and Shamwari Game Reserve, 75 kilometers south of town.
5. Cape Recife Nature Reserve
Covering 366 hectares, Cape Recife Nature Reserve, a few kilometers from Port Elizabeth, offers great hiking and beachcombing along a slice of unspoiled coast. Visitors can escape the crowds found at the city beaches here, and a nine-kilometer hiking trail curves through the park with beautiful views of the rocky coastline, dunes, an 1851 lighthouse, and pristine beaches with tidal pools.
Wildlife lovers can also stop by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds within the reserve. Better still, try timing a visit to coincide with the release of rescued penguins off the beach.
6. Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Shamwari Private Game Reserve is one of the top private game reserves in South Africa and is well-known for its conservation efforts. Located just 75-kilometers from Port Elizabeth, it is well worth booking a few nights accommodation here. The Shamwari Private Game Reserve Lodges are beautiful, the food excellent, and the wildlife viewing can be phenomenal.
Shamwari also runs a number of animal conservation programs, including the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries. These facilities are educational and also serve as home to rescued big cats from around the world. Day visitors to the cat sanctuary are allowed on a limited basis, but you must contact the reserve first to enquire. Don’t just show up.
Port Elizabeth is full of history and lots of natural tourists destinations. Contact us to make up tours for you!