Summary of Attractions in Port Elizabeth
This article draws on my extensive experiences in South Africa to showcase the paramount attractions in Port Elizabeth. With the insight of a travel writer specialized in the African continent, these recommendations are firsthand accounts of captivating sites that left a lasting impression on me.
Although officially designated as Gqeberha, the city remains widely recognized as Port Elizabeth, or PE. Situated on the expansive Algoa Bay, it serves as a viable alternative to Durban for seaside retreats. Furthermore, the city offers a wealth of cultural and historical experiences for those willing to delve deeper into the distinguished heritage of Eastern Cape Province.
1. Donkin Reserve
Located centrally within Port Elizabeth’s Central Business District, the Donkin Reserve is a public park that merges indigenous vegetation, historic architecture, and stunning panoramic views of the city.
The lighthouse, built in 1861, is typically open to visitors, further enhancing the vistas from Donkin Reserve. Adjacent to it lies a ten-meter tall stone pyramid commemorating Elizabeth Markham, the wife of then-governor Rufane Shaw Donkin, from whom the city derives its name.
Bringing a contemporary twist, the Donkin Reserve features vibrant mosaics, partially illustrating the Portuguese ships that first navigated this section of the South African coastline, as well as metal cutouts of Nelson Mandela, fist raised in triumph.
2. King’s Beach
Awarded the Blue Flag designation for cleanliness, King’s Beach stands as one of Port Elizabeth’s premier beachfronts. This idyllic stretch extends for 1.6 kilometers from the harbor to the Humewood district, known for its rich historical context.
This versatile beach features fine sand conducive for building sandcastles, while warm waters of the Indian Ocean entice visitors for swimming, bodyboarding, and surfing. Lifeguards are present to ensure safety, and additional amenities include a toddler’s pool, mini-golf, changing rooms, and refreshment stands. Indeed, King’s Beach provides all the essentials for a delightful day under the sun, with average temperatures remaining above 19°C year-round.
3. Route 67 Walking Trail
Route 67 forms a series of public art installations representing each of the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to dismantling the apartheid system in South Africa.
Beginning at the Campanile, the city’s iconic clock and bell tower, it traverses the Vuyisile Mini Market Square. The trail continues through St Mary’s Terrace and Donkin Reserve, highlighting what is reportedly the continent’s largest flag. Accompanying each artwork are informative plaques providing contextual background.
4. Splash Waterworld
Located behind King’s Beach, Splash Waterworld features exciting slides and attractions targeted mainly toward children, yet it ensures enjoyment for all ages. Prepare for an exhilarating experience on attractions such as the Super Tube, Lazy River, and Speed Slide, alongside a Children’s Slide designed for younger visitors.
As anticipated, the park includes numerous kiosks serving beverages and snacks, and notably, visitors can experience the slides during evening hours thanks to floodlighting.
5. Fort Frederick
Constructed in 1799, Fort Frederick was established to prevent a French invasion of the British Cape Colony. While this concept may appear absurd today, it was a pertinent strategy during the Napoleonic Wars between the two nations.
Despite never engaging in combat, the two-story fortification is square-shaped and positioned along the Baakens River, offering views over the modern harbor. It is said to be haunted by figures from the works of Shakespeare, and within its precincts, visitors will find a blockhouse, powder magazine, and a modest museum.
6. Addo Elephant National Park
Situated approximately 100 kilometers (1.5 hours) north of Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant National Park serves as an ideal destination for a day excursion from the city. It ranks among South Africa’s largest national parks, renowned for its remarkable wildlife.
Home to roughly 600 elephants, along with several hundred buffalo, a reintroduced pride of lions, hyenas, Burchell’s zebra, kudu, eland, and bushbuck, the park offers an enriching game drive experience across its 120 kilometers of trails. Common sightings of lions and hyenas occur in the early morning or late evening.
It is advisable to visit on a warm day, as this tends to bring a multitude of animals down to the waterhole.
7. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum
Located within Saint George’s Park, this gallery focuses specifically on the artistic expressions of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Featuring three main exhibition halls, its artwork is regularly rotated to showcase the breadth of its extensive collection.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions including diverse mediums such as sculpture and quilting. In addition to pieces from colonial artists like Thomas Baines and Frederick Timpson I’Ons, there exists a notable collection of beadwork from the Southern Nguni people, along with a selection of contemporary works.
8. Bayworld
Inaugurated at the turn of the millennium, Bayworld functions as a natural history museum, oceanarium, and vivarium all in one. Its modern exhibits are captivating and suitable for visitors of all ages.
The outdoor sections feature a dinosaur exhibit and an oceanarium showcasing live animal displays, including rescued turtles, seals, and penguins. Additionally, Bayworld hosts South Africa’s oldest snake park, allowing visitors to learn about a variety of local snakes, crocodiles, and tortoises.
9. Cape Recife Lighthouse
Cape Recife represents the southeasternmost point of Port Elizabeth. Its lighthouse, established in 1849, serves as a navigational aid for vessels steering past Thunderbolt Reef, named after a British frigate that met an unfortunate fate there.
Standing at 24 meters tall and adorned with black and white stripes, Cape Recife Lighthouse is situated within a nature reserve that offers hiking trails for various fitness levels. Paths wind through subtropical vegetation and over rocky formations to reveal tide pools teeming with diverse marine life.
10. Horse Memorial
In the heart of Port Elizabeth lies the Horse Memorial, a life-size sculpture portraying a British soldier kneeling before a horse and offering it a bucket of water. Crafted by English sculptor Joseph Whitehead, this tribute was unveiled in 1905 to commemorate the estimated 300,000 horses brought to South Africa during the Anglo-Boer wars of 1899-1902, most of which arrived at Port Elizabeth.
Funded by public contributions, the memorial devised a cost of £800, which would equate to approximately £120,000 ($150,000) today, and the bronze was cast in London before being shipped to South Africa.
11. Amakhala Game Reserve
Located approximately 1.5 hours by road from Port Elizabeth, the Amakhala Game Reserve spans 18,000 acres. Visitors joining morning or evening game drives have a high likelihood of encountering the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, and Cape buffalo.
Comprising various habitats from bushveld to savanna, Amakhala encompasses five of South Africa’s seven biomes. Therefore, visitors on day trips from Port Elizabeth may also observe giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and monkeys.
12. South End Museum
This museum is one of the rare attractions in Port Elizabeth that directly addresses the apartheid era. The South End neighborhood once thrived as a multiracial community, celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere, quality educational institutions, and successful local enterprises.
However, this dynamic existence ceased when non-white residents were forcibly relocated between 1965 and 1975. The South End Museum aims to educate the public on this history through an engaging combination of exhibits, historical photographs, and an interactive map of the area.
13. The Campanile
This free-standing clock and bell tower bears a resemblance to its more famous counterpart in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy. Primarily constructed of red brick, it elevates to a height of 50 meters.
Designed to commemorate the centenary of the first settlers’ arrival in what is now Port Elizabeth, construction took place from 1920 to 1922. The builders constructed the 204 steps leading to the lookout at the tower’s pinnacle, although an elevator now provides convenient access to the 23 bells that constitute one of South Africa’s largest carillons.
14. Whale Watching
The coastal waters off Port Elizabeth attract not only beachgoers but also whales, leading to the designation of Algoa Bay as the fifth Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance.
Participating in a licensed whale-watching tour provides the chance to witness the captivating behaviors of southern right and humpback whales, both renowned for breaching. Other species that may be observed include minke and Bryde’s whales. Known as the “bottlenose dolphin capital of the world,” a visit to Algoa Bay offers an exhilarating experience with these intelligent marine mammals.
15. South African Air Force Museum
As one of the smaller museums in Port Elizabeth, the South African Air Force Museum is situated within the airport’s perimeter. Its collection comprises nine aircraft, including South Africa’s oldest jet, along with a supersonic fighter and two helicopters.
The museum provides access to a restored World War II-era hangar where visitors can observe ongoing restoration efforts. Additionally, the main exhibit hall is filled with cabinets and visual displays related to the Air Force, which was established in 1920. The highlight is certainly the on-site flight simulator.
