South Africa - Port Elizabeth

Tourists go to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, partly because it's a large, vibrant city with an exciting nightlife. The main reason they come here, however, is for the long, sandy beaches. Port Elizabeth, or PE, as the locals call it, is an industrial city and a major port. It is also the biggest coastal community between Cape Town and Durban. The heart of the city, called Central, is the best part of town and is made up of neighbourhoods of lovely Victorian houses and lots of green spaces. The Donkin Heritage Trail is a great self guided tour of Central. At the tourist office you can pick up a guide book that lists 47 places of historical interest.

Central

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The pyramid-like structure near the tourist office was erected by Sir Rufane Donkin as a memorial to his wife Elizabeth, for whom the city was named. According to local legend of South Africa, her heart is buried under the pyramid. Market Square is the most attractive corner, and here you can see a couple of important historic buildings. City Hall was constructed between 1858 and 1862 and the clock tower was added in 1883. The Main Public Library, which dates back to 1837, was actually re-located here from the United Kingdom and was originally used as a courthouse. The marble statue of Queen Victoria out front was erected in 1903.

Fish and Snakes

Baysworld is a museum complex off Marine Drive in Humewood, to the southeast of Central. It features three main attractions. The main museum is a mixture of natural and cultural history, with plenty of specimens of flora and fauna, and local artefacts from pioneering times. The Oceanarium displays more than 40 species of fish and there are seal and dolphin shows put on twice every day - a big hit with children. What the kids really love, though, is the Snake Park. This park has a large collection of the reptiles, from South Africa as well as other countries. Some of the snakes are rare and endangered species.

Those Beautiful Beaches

A combination of long hours of sunshine, and the warm waters of Algoa Bay lapping on sandy beaches makes Port Elizabeth one of the most popular beach communities in South Africa. Because there is also a large student population, the beach scene and the downtown nightlife scene are lively. The water of Algoa Bay is warm for most of the year, so it is perfect for water sports. New Brighton Beach is great for swimming and fishing, and is one of the main northern beaches; the other is a long stretch of sand called Bluewater Bay. King's Beach, which lies between the harbour and the district of Humewood, is the closest one to the city, but it is heavily developed. Hobie Beach is very popular in the evening due to the proximity of the Boardwalk entertainment area. Here you can find great bars, clubs and restaurants. Sardinia Bay is a marine reserve where you can enjoy some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in South Africa.

South Africa - Port Elizabeth

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