Port Elizabeth, located on Algoa Bay, is South Africa’s fifth largest city. Washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, Port Elizabeth is one of South Africa’s unknowns, overshadowed by other cities such as Cape Town and its Table Mountain. However, although it is not a city that receives much tourism, partly because of its not inconsiderable danger, there are a number of interesting sights to see in Port Elizabeth that make it worth a trip to the city. Examples include the Addo Park Elephant Sanctuary and some of the wonderful beaches such as Sardinia Bay. Read on to find out more places and tips for a trip to Port Elizabeth.
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5 Places to See in Port Elizabeth
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
1 Kragga Kamma Game Park
One of the greatest beauties of Port Elizabeth is its nature and one of the best places to observe it is at Kragga Kamma Game Park. Here, as well as staying in a privileged setting if you wish, you can see the majestic animals of the African savannah, such as white rhinos, giraffes, zebras and a huge diversity of bird species, among many others.
Walking from your own vehicle along the park’s trails you can get up close and personal with the animals in a respectful manner and see how they live freely in their natural environment in this Port Elizabeth park.
Price: R120 adults (€7), R60 children (€3.50)
2 Port Elizabeth Beaches
In addition to South Africa’s impressive wildlife, Port Elizabeth is home to some beautiful beaches that should not be missing from your travel itinerary. Port Elizabeth’s coastline boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and here are just a few examples:
- Humewood Beach: One of the most popular beaches in Port Elizabeth as it is very close to the town centre. It is a Blue Flag urban beach with stretches of wild beach, but close enough to urban areas with all their amenities.
- Sardinia Bay: One of the best beaches in the country and the perfect place for sports such as snorkelling and scuba diving. Just make sure you bring everything you need because there are no kiosks to buy water or food nearby and, above all, be prepared to see a dazzling sunset.
- Kings Beach: Next to Humewood Beach is another urban beach in Port Elizabeth, Kings Beach. With 1.6 km of golden sand and facilities such as parking, toilets and beach bar.
3 Donkin Reserve
Donkin Reserve is the best place to start a visit to Port Elizabeth and the most romantic spot in the city. Donkin Reserve is a park founded in 1820 by the city’s founder, Rufane Donkin, to commemorate his wife Elizabeth. In the park you can find a monument in the form of a stone pyramid with the inscription: ‘To the memory of one of the most perfect human beings who has given his name to this city’. In Donkin Reserve there is also a beautiful lighthouse which houses a tourist information office.
4 Route 67
Route 67 is one of the most exciting places in the city of Port Elizabeth. In the heart of the city centre just down the road from the Donkin Reserve, this monument made up of 67 works of art created by South African artists was unveiled in 2011. Each celebrates one of Nelson Mandela’s 67 years in public life and the struggle against racial segregation.
5 Bayworld
Visiting Bayworld is one of the best things to do in Port Elizabeth. Bayworld is a unique museum that combines natural and cultural history with the fun of a snake park and aquarium. Always striving to raise awareness of the need to conserve South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage, Bayworld has a variety of activities and exhibitions, as well as research and education programmes on these subjects. Bayworld is one of the best options for what to see and do in Port Elizabeth, especially if you are travelling with children who will enjoy and learn as never before with the animals and activities.
Price: R40 (£2.32), students and pensioners R35 (£2.03), children R30 (£1.74)
What to see around Port Elizabeth?
1 Addo Elephant Park
55 kilometres from the centre of Port Elizabeth is one of the most visited tourist attractions to be seen in the city. It is the Addo Elephant Park, one of South Africa’s 19 national parks. The park was established in 1931 to care for and protect the only 11 elephants left in the region. Today it is a wonderful sanctuary, which, thanks to the efforts of its workers and supporters, is home to 450 elephants and other animals.
At Addo, the safari experience is different from what you might imagine. Instead of riding the trails in a jeep with a tour guide, at Addo you can visit the reserve at your own pace in your own car, driving along the designated roads and stopping for as long as you like at different points in the park, so you can observe the animals at your leisure.
Price: R360 adults (€21) and R180 children (€10).
2 Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve
There are many botanical gardens in the world, but the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve is probably unique in the world. Located 40km east of Port Elizabeth, this reserve is responsible for protecting and conserving a wide variety of endemic and endangered plant species. Its 600 hectares, which are cared for by volunteers who also provide environmental education, are traversed by well-marked, easy-to-follow trails that wind through woodland areas and offer a wonderful nature experience. There is also a picnic and barbecue area where you can eat surrounded by wildlife.
Where and what to eat in Port Elizabeth?
South African cuisine has been influenced by many peoples throughout history, from the traditional cuisine of the indigenous peoples to that brought by the European colonisers. Typical dishes include the Bobotie, a meat pie with egg, nuts and sultanas; the Bunny Chow, a bread traditionally filled with curry, although nowadays it is served with different types of breads and fillings; and among the desserts, the Koeksuster, a fried bun glazed with syrup.
- Muse Restaurant: A fabulous European and fusion restaurant just steps from the beach. The dishes, service and family atmosphere make Muse Restaurant one of the best places to eat in Port Elizabeth. Price range: €5-9.
- De Kelder: Varied and hearty food with a very good selection of meats, fish and wines in one of Port Elizabeth’s best restaurants. Price range: €20-25.
Where to sleep in Port Elizabeth?
- Singa Lodge – Lion Roars Hotels & Lodges: A fantastic four-star hotel in Summerstrand, 100 metres from the beach. The rooms are decorated in a combination of Oriental and African styles and all have a private patio overlooking the garden. Price per night: 63-121€
- Treetops Guesthouse: A friendly, family-run accommodation that is absolutely ideal. Treetops Guesthouse offers stylish and comfortable rooms surrounded by gardens. It features an outdoor swimming pool and free parking. Price per night: 47€
What to do in Port Elizabeth in 1 day?
Port Elizabeth is not a city for long trips. When asked the question ‘how many days to see Port Elizabeth?’ the answer varies greatly depending on the type of trip you make and what your interests are. In Port Elizabeth you won’t find beautiful neighbourhoods to wander around and streets to stroll and enjoy the sights, the atmosphere in the city is generally not very safe and not very inviting for this type of activity. In this case, we suggest a one-day trip that’s not to be missed:
- Addo Elephant National Park.
- Port Elizabeth Downtown: Donkin Reserve, Route 67 and Humewood Beach.
If you have more time, we suggest you visit other places such as Sardinian Beach and above all, make the most of the mornings of your trip so as to avoid walking around the city at night.
What should I consider before a trip to Port Elizabeth?
- The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand.
- At most tourist sites, cards are accepted.
- Tipping 10% is the norm.
- The best time to travel to Port Elizabeth is from October to March.
- In South Africa, tap water is safe to drink in the main urban centres.
- If you want to travel around South Africa, the most convenient way is to hire a car.
- There are many languages spoken in the country, with English being the second official language, so you’ll be able to communicate in English without any problems.
- If you are travelling as a Spanish citizen, you will only need a valid passport with an expiry date of more than 30 days from the date of departure from the country.
- Hedge against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Download Passporter to create your Port Elizabeth travel itinerary and save all the places to see in the city.
How to organise what to see on a trip to Port Elizabeth?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Port Elizabeth.
However, if you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Port Elizabeth
The climate in Cape Town is mainly temperate all year round. The coolest months are June, July and August, with lows of 8ºC to 12ºC and highs of 21ºC. Summer, from December to March, is dry and hot with minimum temperatures of 17ºC and maximums of 26ºC. The likelihood of rainfall is generally low, but the wettest months are November, August and March.
The best time to travel to Port Elizabeth is from October to March, especially from December when summer begins. This is when the weather is most conducive to enjoying the sun and the beach. However, the pleasant temperatures invite you to stroll around all year round.
Port Elizabeth has an airport, Port Elizabeth International Airport, a few kilometres from the city centre. Although it’s an international airport, tourist flights tend to be domestic, so it’s usually necessary to make a stopover in Cape Town or Johannesburg (flights from Cape Town start at €60 and take 1hr 20min). Another option is to travel overland from another city in the country. South Africa has a good network of trains and buses, but the journey is very long and if you don’t have a rental car to drive around the country, this option is less advisable. Bus journeys take 11-13 hours and cost around €30.
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