Connecting African Culture Through the Seas
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Known as “PE” to locals, this small-ish, laid back beach city on the edge of South Africa’s Sunshine Coast is a favorite seaside holiday destination for those seeking a quiet escape with a bit of a city vibe. It is small enough to zip from one end to the other in 20 minutes, but doesn’t lack for activities. And the city’s mild winters and limited rainfall make it an ideal vacation spot year-round, but especially during the balmy, breezy summers.
Stretching 16km along Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth is first and foremost famous for its wide, sandy beaches and relatively warm water, making it perfect for sunbathing and water sports. Known as the “windy city,” windsurfing, swimming, fishing and boating are all popular here, where the water and shores are some of the cleanest in the country. The annual Splash Festival and world boardsailing championships both take place along the beachfront, which features a long promenade and a festive pier chock full of touristy distractions.
Aside from the beach, there’s the Bayworld oceanarium, the opera house, a casino, a history museum, hiking trails, the Donkin nature reserve, Seaview Game and Lion Park, Kragga Kamma Game Park, and numerous shopping malls and golf courses. Accommodation ranges from high-end chain business hotels to quaint B&Bs, as well as a number of elegant boutique hotels located in restored historic buildings.
Port Elizabeth is a great base for day trips to places such as Addo Elephant National Park, a sanctuary to over 600 elephants, which is only an hour away. The park offers hiking routes and horse trails, and easy access to the nearby Sunday’s River, where visitors can spot birds and other wildlife. Many travelers also use Port Elizabeth as a starting point or pass-through stop during road trips along the Garden Route, or around Eastern Cape province.
Safety: Overall PE is very safe, but the gritty downtown area and nearby Parliament Street are not places where tourists want to wander around at night. Also take caution in dark alleys and along the beachfront after dark, because muggings have been known to occur.
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Port Elizabeth is known for many things — gale force winds, Addo Elephant Park, the friendliest people in the country, and a distinct lack of traffic — but luxury travel …