5 Things to Do in Port Elizabeth South Africa

Port Elizabeth is one of most underrated tourist destinations in South Africa. This place is known for its blue flag beaches, award-winning restaurants, and a range of historic sites with a link to the city’s colonial past.

Things to Do in Port Elizabeth South Africa

Here are the best 5 things you can do in Port Elizabeth and also do not consider investing in a one, two, three, or seven-day Nelson Mandela Bay Pass.

1. Relax on the City’s Blue Flag Beaches

Things to Do in Port Elizabeth South Africa
Relax on the City’s Blue Flag Beaches

You’d be spoiled for choice in Port Elizabeth with a bevy of beautiful beaches to choose from. Three of these beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status for its safety, cleanliness, and amenities. It is equipped with Kings Beach, Hobie Beach and Humewood Beach. All three beaches are protected by lifeguards. December is a festive time to visit these beaches while the winter months are quite vacant.  

2. Explore Local History at the Port Elizabeth Museum

Explore Local History at the Port Elizabeth Museum
Explore Local History at the Port Elizabeth Museum

Port Elizabeth Museum is located on the Humewood beachfront where you can explore the city’s cultural and natural history via a range of amazing permanent exhibits. This includes the Maritime History Hall to the Xhosa Beadwork Gallery, the story of Algoa Bay from the days of the indigenous San people to the arrival of the colonial settlers. You also get to see a life-sized reconstruction of a local dinosaur species called Algoasaurus or can ever go back to the dates of prehistoric times.

3. A Day Out at St. George’s Park

A-Day-Out-at-St.-George’s-Park
A-Day-Out-at-St.-George’s-Park

Established in 1860, St. George’s Park is spread across 73 hectares of beautiful parkland coupled with specimen trees and colourful flower beds. You can also get to watch local athletes competing at the historic Port Elizabeth Cricket Club.

In summer, the park’s Mannville Open-Air Theater is the greatest attraction that hosts the annual Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival. 

4. Amazing Marine Life on an Algoa Bay Cruise

Amazing-Marine-Life-on-an-Algoa-Bay-Cruise
Amazing-Marine-Life-on-an-Algoa-Bay-Cruise

At PE’s Algoa Bay, you can see some incredible marine life, including dolphins, whales, sharks, and Cape fur seals. Here you’ll find a range of different wildlife cruises, including trips to St. Croix Island and Bird Island.

You can also hire a pelagic birding cruise that will take you out to the continental shelf to watch albatrosses, shearwaters and skuas.

5. Go on Safari at Addo Elephant Park

Go-on-Safari-at-Addo-Elephant-Park
Go-on-Safari-at-Addo-Elephant-Park

At Addo Elephant Park you can see Africa’s most iconic land mammals if you happen to take a 30-minute drive north of Port Elizabeth.

This reserve is especially famous for its huge herds of elephants, which you can see congregating around the waterholes in groups of 100 or more on hot days.

Here you’d also see buffalo, lions, leopards, and rhinos. You can go for a guided game drive or opt for a self-drive safari instead. The reserve’s roads are well-maintained and suitable for all types of vehicles.

Synopsis

If you’re planning your next trip to South Africa, Port Elizabeth is one of the most attractive places you cannot miss out on visiting.

About the author

Mamta Sharma