Port Elizabeth

Introduction

Port Elizabeth (also known as 'Die Baai' in Afrikaans) is an industrial city situated on the coast of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. A colourful blend of leafy middle-class suburbs and corrugated iron shanty towns, it's often the final stopping point for travellers taking the scenic Garden Route from Cape Town. The main attraction of the city is it's sandy beaches, and the South African surfing mecca Jeffreys Bay is just a short drive down the coast.

For those looking for a safari adventure, Port Elizabeth serves as a good base-point to travel to a number of nearby game reserves. The largerst is the Addo Elephant National Park, a Big-5 game reserve with one of the densest concentrations of African elephants on earth. A number of private reserves also exist in the area offering a more luxury bush experience, namely Shamwari, Amakhala, Lalibela and Kwandwe.

Sights and Activities

The well-developed beachfront is the city's main attraction, but there are other worthwhile options for those spending a little time in the area.

The Donkin Heritage Trail is a 5-kilometre-long tour of the cultural history of Port Elizabeth. The route includes a 19th century lighthouse, the Campanile bell tower, the Port Elizabeth City Hall, and many other examples of Victorian architecture.

A small number of township tours operate in the city, offering an eye-opening insight into some of the lasting effects of the apartheid era.

Events and Festivals

World Cup 2010

The big upcoming event on the South African horizon is of course the FIFA World Cup beginning on the 11th of June 2010. One of the most prestigious and popular world sporting events, the World Cup 2010 promises to bring throngs of passionate supporters from around the globe. Held once every four years, it's a football tournament (known as soccer in South Africa) where 32 world nations vie for the famous golden trophy.

Port Elizabeth will be hosting some of the World Cup matches at the Nelso Mandela Bay Stadium, which has a capacity of 48,000.

Ironman South Africa

The Ironman South Africa annual event takes place in Port Elizabeth. It attracts 1000+ triathlon competitors to the city for a superb and challenging event. This year, the Ironman event takes place on Sunday, 5 April. For more information, visit the Ironman website.

Weather

Average temperatures are between 20 degrees in June and July to around 27 degrees in January. Nights average between 7 and 17 degrees respectively. Rainfall is quite evenly distributed throughout the year regarding the amount, but between May and September there are less rainy days, but with heavier shower.

Getting There

By Plane

Port Elizabeth Airport (IATA: PLZ) offers a range of flights. Destinations include Cape Town, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, East London, Lanseria and Durban.

By Train

Shosholoza Meyl has the following trains:

• Cape Town - Port Elizabeth via Oudtshoorn, 24 hours, premier class only, once weekly
• Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth via Kroonstad, Bloemfontein and Craddock, 21 hours, tourist class twice a week and daily economy class (except Saturday)

Getting Around

By Car

Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and First Car Rental have branches in Port Elizabeth.

Sleep

Budget

Learn

• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• University of Port Elizabeth

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

The SAPO (South African Post Office) is the nation's postal service. Post offices are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday, and 8:00am to noon on Saturdays. Domestic and international deliveries are reliable but can sometimes take up to several weeks. If you want to send something oversees of any value, try using one of the private mail services, like Postnet.