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Port Elizabeth Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Port Elizabeth
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Port Elizabeth Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Port Elizabeth - The industrial city of Port Elizabeth is the
centre of the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, known in most
tourist guides as 'settler country'. The city was founded by
shiploads of British settler families who arrived in the Eastern
Cape in the early 19th century hoping to improve their prospects
after suffering economic hardship because of the industrial
revolution at home. The settlers also intended to strengthen
defences against the local Xhosa people, who had been pushed back
beyond the Fish River frontier. They came ashore at Algoa Bay,
where there was nothing more than the small British Fort Frederick
to welcome them. The city, from its humble beginnings, has grown
into a principal port and manufacturing centre. Although it is very
much a working town with a large indigent population living in the
outlying township areas, Port Elizabeth draws plenty of tourists
because of its proximity to the attractions of the east coast and
historically interesting interior. The city is justifiably known as
'the friendly city' and Algoa Bay boasts 25 miles (40km) of
beautiful sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian
Ocean. The attractive beachfront is the venue for the annual
'Splash' festival and world boardsailing championships, and
features a long promenade and pier full of tourist
facilities.
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Port Elizabeth
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Bayworld
Beach Road, Humewood
www.bayworld.co.za |
What is it? Port Elizabeth's most popular attraction
consists of a complex on the beachfront that includes the
Oceanarium, a museum, and a snake park. The Bayworld Oceanarium is
famed for its performing Bottlenose dolphin shows, enjoyed by
thousands every year. Besides the large dolphin pool with its
underwater viewing area, the oceanarium also features an aquarium
tank where visitors can watch a vast array of marine life through
glass portholes as they glide by, including sharks, turtles and
rays. The snake park contains an impressive variety of indigenous
reptiles in natural-looking enclosures. The PE Museum focuses on
cultural and natural history with a wide variety of exhibits, from
models of sailing ships and period costumes to giant replicas of
dinosaurs that roamed the area in prehistoric times; it is the
third-oldest museum in the country.
Hours of Operation: Museum, Oceanarium and snake park: daily 9am to
4.30pm (Oceanarium closed between 12.45pm and 1.45pm); dolphin and
seal shows are twice daily at 11am and 3pm; reptile presentations
at 12pm Monday to Friday
Phone:041 584 0650 |
2. Market Square
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What is it? Port Elizabeth's architectural heritage can
be traced by taking a walk around the central city Market Square,
which features several historic buildings. The centrepiece of the
square is the aesthetically pleasing City Hall, dating from 1858,
topped with an attractive clock tower. Also in the square is a
replica of the Diaz Cross that commemorates the first European to
set foot in Algoa Bay in 1488, when Dutch explorer Bartholomew Diaz
stopped over on his way east. Alongside the city hall is the
Prester John Memorial, dedicated to the Portuguese explorers who
landed in South Africa. On the northwest flank of the square is the
city's public library, built in 1835 and originally used as a
courthouse. The beautiful building is regarded as an excellent
example of Victorian Gothic architecture and is interesting in that
its façade was manufactured in England and shipped to Port
Elizabeth to be recreated piece by piece. In front of the library
stands a marble statue of Queen Victoria, which was unveiled in
1903. Slightly downhill from the square, at the entrance to the
harbour, stands the Campanile, containing the biggest carillon of
bells in the country. Visitors can climb 204 steps to enjoy the
view from the top of this monument, which commemorates the landing
of the 1820 settlers.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
3. Donkin Reserve
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What is it? On a hill above the centre of the city stands
a stone pyramid monument with an adjacent lighthouse. The open
public space was proclaimed in perpetuity by Sir Rufane Donkin,
acting British Governor of the Cape, when the 1820 Settlers arrived
in Algoa Bay. Donkin named the new settlement after his wife,
Elizabeth, who had died in India two years' previously, and erected
the pyramid in her memory. The lighthouse was built in 1861, and
today houses the city's Tourist Information Centre. Maps are
available from the centre describing a three-mile (five km)
discovery trail through the hill area and central city, taking in
47 historic sites and architectural
delights.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
Port Elizabeth
holidays - Top Events
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