SECTION 4: CITY GUIDES | < BACK | NEXT >

4.8 PORT ELIZABETH.

The ‘Friendly City', Port Elizabeth has a stunning coastline with safe and clean beaches.

PE is worth visiting for its surrounding attractions too – you can arrange day trips to game lodges, to the Addo Elephant National Park, to the cultural hub of Grahamstown and to Jeffrey’s Bay, famous for its impressive scenery and surfing.

Life generally revolves around the ocean, even during the cooler winter months. PE’s Humewood beach has achieved Blue Flag status as a world class beach venue. The city is a nature lover’s paradise, so don’t miss the boat cruises, diving opportunities, a visit to Seaview Game & Lion Park and an excursion to Bayworld, which incorporates an oceanarium, museum and snake park.

Nelson Mandela Bay has 40 km of beaches with protected areas for swimming, fishing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and sailing. There is something magical about this coastal terrain. Closer to Port Elizabeth is the Seaview Game & Lion Park and the Kragga Kamma Game Park.

Another popular activity is the Apple Express steam train trip from Port Elizabeth to Thornhill, where you can take in scenic views from the highest narrow gauge bridge in the world.

You’re in the right place if you’re an adrenalin junkie. In Port Elizabeth, you can dive with sharks at the oceanarium at Bayworld. There are other dive sites too, including fascinating wreck dives

Restaurant Guide: www.dining-out.co.za/Port-Elizabeth-restaurants.asp

What’s on in Port Elizabeth: http://www.ibhayi.com

SHOPPING

Elephant Walk Centre, for a boutique and original shopping experience
Doorley Road, Colleen Glen.  ( 041 372 1470, www.elephantwalkec.co.za.

Green Acres Shopping Centre  The biggest mall in Port Elizabeth, Greenacres, will satisfy all your purchasing needs whilst visiting this friendly city.
The mall forms part of a kilometre long complex that will entice all shoppers.
( 041 363 0791 www.greenacres.co.za

OUTDOOR

Cape Recife Nature Reserve is great for bird watching and nature walks. www.pe.org.za/hikes.html

Settlers Park Nature Reserve comes as a surprise: a green lung amid an otherwise built up city.
( 083 533 3463, web www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za.

Maitland Mines is an isolated piece of nature about 30 kilometers west of town that has hiking and 4x4 trails and great picnic spots with views of the ocean. ( 041 372 1909, www.maitlandmines.co.za.

The Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve - This small 450 hectare reserve is protected to ensure that the excellent variety of plant, bird and animal species.  ( 041 956 0155)

Seaview Game & Lion Park, - The Seaview Game Park is established on 120 hectares of beautiful coastal bush and grassland. It is quite literally situated on the city’s doorstep and will only take you a few minutes to reach by car. While the park specializes in Lions, it is also a small game park and is home to more than forty species of wildlife. ( 041 378 1701 or visit http://www.seaviewgamepark.co.za

Addo Elephant National Park - Addo Elephant National Park seeks to be fully integrated into the regional landscape, conserves and enhances the characteristic terrestrial and marine biodiversity, ecological processes and cultural, historical and scenic resources representative of the Eastern

0(0)12 428 9111 or mobile: ( 082-233-9111 www.sanparks.org

Kragga Kamma Game Park
Lush coastal forest and grassland is home to vast herds of African game, including White Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, Nyala, Bontebok, Lechwe and many more species. All the animals roam freely, unrestricted in natural surroundings. This owner operated animal friendly park, where no hunting or other disturbance of the game is permitted, means that you always get close up views and great photo opportunities. ( 041 379 4195  www.kraggakamma.com

Swartkops Valley Nature Reserve -  If you’re a keen cyclist, there are 2 mountain biking trails: the 23 km Baakens River trail and the 22 km circular route along the Reserve.. ( 041 585 9711
Email: peparks@iafrica.com

HISTORIC MUSEUMS & CULTURE

Bayworld Museum, ( 041 584 0650, www.bayworld.co.za.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum ( 041 506 2000, www.artmuseum.co.za.

EXPLORE

Choice beaches include King's Beach, Humewood Beach, Hobie Beach, Pollock Beach, Brighton Beach, Bluewater Bay, St George's Strand and Wells Estate.

St George's Park is a green space in the city centre, with an open air theatre, art galleries and a public swimming pool. It's a popular picnicking spot. www.stgeorgespark.co.za
Apple Express Steam Train Association  ( 042 - 233 0619 www.appleexpresstrain.co.za

Beachview Barnacles, - safest and less crowded areas in the Port Elizabeth area, ( 041 378 2058.

Offcamber Adventures lies in the Elands River Valley on one of the oldest farms in the area. Take your own vehicle or piggyback a ride and explore the winding 4x4 trails ( 021 401 955 5572, www.offcamberadventures.co.za.

Raggy Charters, led by conservationist, wildlife educator and marine safari specialist Lloyd Edwards, is known for its tours to see the whales and dolphins in PE's waters. ( 041 378 2528  www.raggycharters.co.za.

Eco bird touring
In and around town are more than 100 bird species of all shapes and sizes. ( 041 466 5698  www.birdtours.co.za.

ADVENTURE

Fishing and Boat Charters ( 082 459 9971 http://www.3waycharters.co.za

Horse riding Zuurberg Horse Trail In the Addo Elephant National Park ( 082 783 1187 (  042 233-0581

Sacramento Local Horse trail ( 041 559 711
Bungy Jumping  Bloukrans is officially recognized by Guinness World Records as being the World's Highest Commercial Bungy Jump at a whooping 216 m high! A proud record for South Africa
( 042 281 1458 www.faceadrenalin.com

Surfing   Head to the surf capital of South Africa J-Bay 70 km away. http://www.learn2surf.co.za/surfschools_pe.html

Helicopter Trips to the Wild Coast http://www.av8helicopters.co.za

Parachuting  ( 082-8009263 www.epskydivers.co.za

Diving  ( 041 581 1144  www.prodive.co.za

Mountain Biking www.gardenroute.co.za/pe/trails.htm

COOL SPOTS
 
Barney's Tavern - on the beachfront next to Hobie Beach has live music and live sports screenings.
( 041 583 4500

Toby Joe's is a pub by day and a club by night, with live music and DJs (041 584 0082. www.tobyjoes.blogspot.com

NIGHTLIFE

The Boardwalk Beachfront
Dizzy Dolphin’s Café (Restaurant and Cocktail Bar) ( 041 583 4536
Blue Waters Café (Restaurant) ( 041 583 4110

Pubs, Taverns and Cocktail Bars

An entertaining variety of traditional English pubs, taverns and cocktail bar options are available in Nelson Mandela Bay, most of which also offer live music and partying until sunrise.
78 Restaurant & Bar, 16 Buffelsfontein Road, Mount Pleasant ( 041 368 5699
Captains Bar and Grill, Shop 1C, Dolphin’s Leap, Beach Road ( 041 582 2238

Gondwana Café, Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Dolphin’s Leap, Beach Road ( 041 585 0990
Giovani’s, Dolphin’s Leap, Beach Road ( 041 586 3189
Frango’s Cocktail Café, Access Retail Park, Miramar ( 041 368 5761
Supersport Arena, Boardwalk Casino Complex ( 041 507 7902
Jeya Jazz Corner Tavern, Sheya Kulati Circle, Cnr Ferguson and Avenue A, New Brighton ( 041 454 7567

ENTERTAINMENT

The Savoy Club Theatre  ( 041 368 4598 www.savoy.co.za

Feather Market Centre  ( 041 585 5514 www.feathermarket.co.za/

The Opera House  ( 041 586 2256, http://www.peoperahouse.co.za/

The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World, Marine Drive, Summerstrand, ( 041 507 7777. www.boardwalk.co.za

Brookes Pavilion Entertainment Complex, Beach Road and Brooke’s Hill Drive ( 041 583 4110

Centrestage Productions  Centrestage is a leading entertainment creation and booking agency in Port Elizabeth. ( 041 368 3093, www.centrestage.co.za

Fire Klub - For information, contact Fire Klub in an outfit that promotes, nurtures & showcases local, original talent, by providing a warm, supportive platform for free artistic expression in the form of music and gigs.
( 072 658 3006 Dorien, E-mail: dorien@fireklub.co.za
Four Winds Music - The Folk Club was established in 1969 and show cases some of Nelson Mandela Bay’s original local musical talent on an informal and relaxed basis. ( 082 568 1755 Rod, E-mail: listmaster@fourwindsfolkclub.co.za

The Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra ( 041 581 7747, e-mail: info@ecpo.co.zawww.ecpo.org.za

GETTING AROUND

Car hire
Africa-Car-Hire.com ( 078 669 4444
Europcar ( 041 581 4214.
Tempest Car Hire ( 041 581 1256.
Sixt ( 041 581 1123.
Avis ( 041 501 7200.

Public transport
There is a Metrorail service from Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage, ( 011 773 1600, web www.metrorail.co.za.
Algoa Bus Company operates buses to all parts of the city and residential areas, ( 041 404 1200, web www.algoabus.co.za.
The Apple Express is a tourist train that goes from Humewood Road to Thornhill Village, ( 041 583 2030.
Minibus taxis can be hailed and are found around the city.

Metered taxis
Hurters Cabs ( 041 585 5500.
Kingcab ( 041 368 5559.
Magic Cabs Taxi ( 041 582 2800.

Safari Tours ( 021 780 1391 www.e-gnu.com

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