About Port Elizabeth

The city of Port Elizabeth (PE) is located in the Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. It possesses a rich cultural heritage stemming from a diverse and extraordinary past. Port Elizabeth was established in 1820 when 4 000 British Settlers arrived on its shores by boat and became the first permanent British residents in South Africa. Today the city has a population of over one million people, making it South Africa's fifth largest city in terms of population. Furthermore, Port Elizabeth was the first city in South Africa to establish a fully integrated, democratic local authority and has long been a leader in the political transformation of the country.

Port Elizabeth is an important centre for the automobile industry and a major transport hub; its well equipped airport, harbour and port links Southern Africa with other national and international destinations. In recent years, Port Elizabeth has transformed from being predominantly a commercial site into a tourism and adventure hub, with more and more people now travelling to Port Elizabeth for leisure and not just business purposes. Port Elizabeth offers a relaxing and calm atmosphere, whilst also offering all the luxury and entertainment of a big city. Furthermore, Port Elizabeth is regarded as the "official" gateway to the scenic Eastern Cape Province and the world renowned Garden Route. The city is sometimes referred to as the "friendly city" or the "watersport capital of Africa" by those who know it best.

Port Elizabeth is well known for it's over 40 km coastline which boasts a number of Blue Flag beaches and hours of sunshine to enjoy them. The climate in Port Elizabeth is considered to be subtropical, with light rain throughout the year. Under the Koppen climate classification, Port Elizabeth has an oceanic climate. The area lies between the winter rainfall, Mediterranean climate zones of the Western Cape and the summer rainfall regions of eastern South Africa.

The “15-minute city” offers convenience to business travelers as everything is a mere 15 minutes away from the airport. Water sports, game drives, heritage walks and hiking are just a few of the many activities that can be enjoyed in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth is also host to numerous annual and seasonal festivals and events, art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas to keep the cultural mind entertained.

To find out more about Port Elizabeth and the different tourist attractions worth visiting during your stay please visit the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism website.