Destination Information from SAA

Visit Port Elizabeth

View of church and buildings in port elizabeth

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About Port Elizabeth

One of South Africa’s popular seaside towns, Port Elizabeth (PE for short) sits on Algoa Bay on the Sunshine Coast. It’s lapped by the warm Indian Ocean so it’s great for sunbathing, swimming and surfing. It’s also a good base for some excellent wildlife viewing or exploring the desert-like Karoo inland.

Travel Tips

Hiring a car is a good idea so you have the freedom to visit the area’s attractions, which are out of the city itself. PE is nicknamed the Windy City, but the locals will have you believe that refers to the frequent but gentle breezes, rather than any real risk of actual gales. It boasts about 300 days of sunshine every year.

Time

South Africa is a GMT +2 hours, with no Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

The currency is the Rand and you’re going to get great value for money. ATMs are ubiquitous and credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change, hotels and banks.

Weather

Port Elizabeth has excellent sub-tropical weather. Winters are cool to chilly, but the days still reach about 18°C. It can rain in any month, and rain is heaviest during the winter (from June-August). Summer from December to February can bring heat waves of 35°C and warm, balmy nights. Its nickname, the “Windy City”, correctly hints at frequent winds, with a light wind blowing most afternoons. Strong winds can occur in Summer.

Electricity

South African plugs are a rare breed with three fat round pins, so buy an adaptor at the airport. Many hotels have installed European and UK-style sockets too and keep adaptors at reception.

Communications

Mobile networks have the city covered. Roaming calls and data are expensive, so buy a local sim card if you want to make local calls. Take some form of ID with you to do that. There are plenty of free wifi hotspots in cafes and in the hotels, but you’ll find the speeds sluggish if you’re from a first world country.

Public transport

Buses serve all parts of the city and residential areas and you can get details from the central terminal at Market Square Bus Station. Taxis are available – just phone to make a booking.

Airport to City Center

A taxi from the airport will get you to the centre in about 10 minutes. Car hire companies also have offices at the terminal.

For South African Airways flight offers, visit our flights to Port Elizabeth page.

GMT +2
South African Rand (ZAR)
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Donkin Reserve

Donkin Reserve Collapsed Information

This reserve was created by Sir Rufane Donkin, who named the city after his late wife, Elizabeth. He built her a pyramid, which has been refurbished and now houses a small collection of artwork by local artists. Best known is Voting Line, a life-size steel figure of Nelson Mandela and a line of voters queuing to vote in the first democratic elections, by artists Anthony Harris and Konrad Geel. A lighthouse was added to the reserve in 1861.
Unusual Art

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Artistic expression has really livened up the Donkin Reserve with some offbeat pieces. The Welcome Carpet at the entrance is made of quartz and beadwork to represent the region’s diverse cultures, by Lisbet Demeyer. Fish-bird by Dolla Sapeta is a practical sculpture, because you can shelter in its shade on a hot day while you debate whether it metal shape depicts a bird or a fish.
Red Location Museum

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This museum commemorates the struggle against Apartheid. It’s stark and spacious, using the corrugated iron of informal settlements to build 12 free-standing galleries that house photographic and art exhibitions. Next door is an excellent art gallery.
Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park Collapsed Information

Forget the Big Five, Addo has the Big Seven, adding southern right whales and great white sharks to the usual lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. It covers part of the arid Karoo, the Zuurberg Mountains, valleys, plains and the coastal region, and boasts 550 elephants as well as everything else. You can hike, horse ride, go for game drives and stay in accommodation that ranges from luxurious lodges to a patch of ground for your tent. It’s 55km from the city.
Pumba Private Game Reserve

Pumba Private Game Reserve Collapsed Information

This game reserve is a luxurious place with its own spa. A big attraction is its white lions, with the reserve running a breeding programme for this endangered species. It has all the big five, two luxury lodges hiding in the bush, five-star food and a full range of spa treatments.