Hotels in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH: THE FRIENDLY CITY

Port Elizabeth (often shortened to PE and also known as The Bay) is one of the largest cities in South Africa and is situated in the Eastern Cape Province. The city’s nicknames are "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City". PE is the southernmost city on the African continent and one of South Africa’s major sea ports. It is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay, located at the end of the picturesque Garden Route. PE is known for its sunshine and gorgeous sandy beaches. The Bay enjoys a moderate climate all year round, which is one of the major contributors to its reputation as offering an outstanding quality of life. All in all, the Friendly City offers its visitors beautiful and safe beaches; wonderful historical and natural sights and attractions; and a great array of accommodation.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Port Elizabeth has many historical attractions – one of the most interesting is the Donkin Heritage trail. On this 5 kilometre self-guided walking tour, you can explore the 1820 Settler history and architectural delights at leisure. You will visits 51 historical sites in the Old Hill area of central PE.

There are beautiful parks to discover within Port Elizabeth. St Georges Park covers 73 hectares and is home to the world famous Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, the oldest bowling green in South Africa, Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial and the 1882 Victorian Pearson Conservatory. The other large park is Settler's Park in the city centre. This 54 hectare park is a nature lover's paradise, and a wonderful place for short walks and picnics.

You will be happy to hear that you can enjoy the awe inspiring wildlife of Africa at a number of wildlife reserves in and around Port Elizabeth – not too far from hotel, guesthouse, or bed and breakfast in the city. Addo Elephant National Park is just a one hour drive from PE and offers you a wide variety of game viewing, outdoor adventure, lodge accommodation and cultural experiences. It is a magnificently, diverse national park and home to the Big 7: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, Humpback whale and Great White shark. You will be amazed at the variety of wildlife species and natural landscapes that Addo has to offer.

Seaview Game & Lion Park is situated in the beautiful area of Seaview, and about a one hour drive from Port Elizabeth. Here you’ll come face-to-face with lions, tigers, and many other majestic wild animals. The park is also home to free roaming giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and many species of antelope. Seaview operates a big cat breeding program, as well as a wildlife sanctuary and nursery that work together to promote wildlife conservation. You can drive yourself through the park in your own vehicle (4X4 vehicles not needed) and experience African wildlife up close and personal.

Vast herds of white rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, nyala, bontebok and lechwe roam freely in the Kragga Kamma Game Park. This lush coastal forest and grassland is just a one hour drive from Port Elizabeth, and offers you close-up views of the animals and great photo opportunities. You can also drive through this park in your own vehicle (4X4 vehicles not needed).

No visit to Port Elizabeth is complete without bathing in the sun on one of the city’s pristine beaches. Hobie Beach is a favourite for swimming and sunbathing, and also has sheltered rock pools with very interesting inter-tidal sea life. A prime spot for sun worshippers and water babies!

King’s Beach is a magnificent 1,6 kilometre expanse of golden sand. This beach is ideal for safe swimming, sunbathing and long walks. This is also the perfect place for the whole family, offering facilities like a water park, an extensive playground for children, paddling pools for toddlers, a mini-golf course and a go-kart race track.

Humewood Beach is situated between King’s Beach and Hobie Beach, and is South Africa’s oldest Blue Flag beach – a prestigious, international award given to beaches that meet stringent standards in environmental protection, facilities provided, and safety equipment and personnel on hand. It is conveniently situated along the main beach front, which makes getting there from your hotel, guesthouse or b&b very easy. Humewood Beach is ideal for families and offers you sheltered sunbathing.

Pollock Beach or the "Pipe" is a favourite among surfers, because of its excellent surfing conditions. You can reach this beach by travelling along the popular Marine Drive. There is a lush lawn area and a shower house with an ablution block for surfers.

Sardinia Bay Beach can be reached after a short drive out of the city. This beach is popular for its wonderful picnic facilities and is regarded as one of the best beaches for long walks. It is also a popular spot for snorkelling and scuba diving.

WHERE TO STAY

If you are looking for an accommodation Port Elizabeth that is close to the beach, in the city or even near the airport, you will be able to find the right place at the right price. Whether you are looking for a 5 star hotel or something cheap, this city has it all. Even finding great deals and specials won’t be difficult, and you’ll soon find out why PE is called "The Friendly City".