Travel in Port Elizabeth
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Port Elizabeth, also called "The Friendly City" or just "PE" is South Africa's fifth largest city and is located on the Indian ocean coast half way between Cape Town and Durban. The tourist information is in the Donkin Reserve in the town centre and another office at The Boardwalk (Marine Drive).
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Understand
Port Elizabeth was founded by British settlers in 1820 and was named after the wife of Rufane Donkin, Acting Governor of the Cape Colony at that time. The city is located on the Algoa_Bay and forms together with the neighbouring towns of Uitenhage and Despatch the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.
Get in
By plane
Port Elizabeth Airport (http://www.people.freenet.de/copilot/PortElizabeth-eng.htm) is located just a few kilometres out of the city and has regular flights to Johannesburg, Durban and other South African airports. See also Discount airlines in Africa.
By train
The central train station is in downtown PE and offers connections to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
By car
PE is easily accessible by motorways from Cape Town (790 km) via the Garden Route, Bloemfontein and East London (310 km).
By bus
All major South African coach companies offer regular schedules from / to PE
Get around
There is a public bus transport system within the city.
See
- Beaches
- Donkin Reserve and Donkin Heritage Trail
- Bayworld (http://www.bayworld.co.za), Beach Road, has a museum, oceanarium and snake park
- Townships: organized tours are offered by the Tourist information
Do
- Surf the beach
- PE is a wonderful jumping-off spot for game viewing. There are elephants and other birds and animals at Addo Elephant National Park and many privately owned game reserves.
Buy
- The Boardwalk, Marine Dr., offers several shops. fast-food restaurants and a casino
Eat
Blackbeards Tavern does a splendid Seafood Extravaganza.
Drink
Sleep
Accommodation ranges from hostels to more luxury accommodation. Whatever you want, you can find without trouble.
- Lungile Backpackers, 12 La Roche Drive (Tel: 585 2042; Fax: 585 2083) offers private single/ double rooms as well as dorms and has a pool.
- Edward Protea Hotel, Belmont Terrace (Tel: 586 2056; Fax: 586 4925) is located on the northern end of the Donkin Reserve. May have seen better times but still offers Edwardian style and wonderful views over the Donkin Reserve to the Ocean.
- The Admiralty Beach House (http://www.safarinow.com/go/theadmiraltybeachhouse/?a=10986) is located 100m from Summerstrands Beach, near Marine Drive. It features a wonderful garden and some rooms have sea-view. ADSL is available in all rooms. Prices start from R340.
Get out
- Visit Addo Elephant National Park.
- Visit Mountain Zebra National Park.
- Visit Tsitsikamma National Park.
- Go to Jeffrey's Bay for surfing.
- Tour the Garden Route on your way to Cape Town.
- Drive to the City of Saints (Grahamstown) and back through pineapple plantations and along the rugged coast.
External links
- Port Elizabeth official home page (http://www.pecc.gov.za/1.htm)
- Port Elizabeth Airport information (http://www.people.freenet.de/copilot/PortElizabeth-eng.htm)