Port Elizabeth – coastal town in South Africa

Port Elizabeth, which is affectionately referred to as the “Windy city” or the “Friendly City,” is a coastal hub in Eastern Cape and is one of the largest cities in South Africa. The city is host to fantastic attractions right on its footstep, and thus locals proudly proclaim that everything lies within 15 minutes drive of the airport. The city is large enough to be a bustling metropolis, and small enough to feel like a village.

The destination is a busy industrial city, which can be used as a base for playing golf at one of several nearby courses, an overnight stop, or as a tourist hub. Get discounted deals for flights to Port Elizabeth and enjoy a journey to this great spot, which will mesmerize you with its pure beauty and elegance.

Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay, Uitenhage, Despatch & Colchester) is full of diversity and has something for every visitor. To explore major attractions of the city one can purchase The Nelson Mandela Bay Pass, a smartcard access card that provides you with free admission to a variety of attractions and activities at Nelson Mandela Bay.

Explore the Donkin Heritage trail: If you want to explore the city on your own, then take on five kilometer trail which follows the footsteps of 1820 settlers. It links more than 47 historical monuments in central Port Elizabeth and is named after acting governor of Cape Town Sir Rufane Donkin. This tour tells you about fascinating facts of the city and enlightens you about the city. The trails are an easy way to get you around town.

Don’t miss a visit to SAMREC: If you are a bird lover then don’t miss an opportunity to visit The South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC). Located near the Cape Recife Lighthouse, it is a temporary home to many sick and injured African penguins and other sea birds. The volunteers here dedicate their days to the animals rehabilitation. This non-profit organization is open from 09:30 hrs to 1700 hrs every day.

Beautiful Blue Flag Beaches: Of the six Blue Flag beaches located in Eastern Cape two are situated in Port Elizabeth. Hunmewood Beach and Wells Estate Beach have both passed the 14-point criteria and are awarded Blue Flag status. Visitors over here can enjoy a marvelous stretch of coast that has impeccable water quality, visible environment, safety services, ample parking and sparkling ablution facilities.

Enjoy sporting activities at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium: Built specifically for 2010 FIFA World cup, the stadium is about 7-8 hours from Port Elizabeth and is one of the top attractions for Cape Town. A variety of sporting events, including rugby’s biggest party, the IRB Sevens Rugby World Series, are held here. If you are there on the weekend then catch a local rugby match or you can take the 30-minute stadium tour on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 13:00 hrs and 16:00 hrs. To take part in all these amazing activities and to indulge in more fun, just book business class flight to Port Elizabeth and enjoy a great journey.

Route 67: Port Elizabeth is also home to Route 67, which is a collection of 67 art pieces celebrating the years Nelson Mandela devoted to public life. It is a mix of visual art, urban design and great heritage, showcasing old Victorian churches, terraced cottages, a lighthouse, and a large pyramid built by Donkin in memory of his wife. It is a great place to visit and enjoy cultural diversity of city. There is also a large metal cut-out of Nelson Mandela erected to inspire South African’s to vote in country’s first democratic elections.

Port Elizabeth is also an hour and a half drive from Grahamstown, which holds the biggest art / cultural festival in the country, every year, the National Arts Festival  Whatever reason that compels you to visit this fascinating city, you will surely fall in love with it and visit again and again.

This is a guest blog post from Robert Connor, edited by Lisa Bruhn,