Seven Cool Places to Visit in Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth sits at the eastern tip of the famous Garden Route, making it the ideal start or end to an epic South African road trip. With its unspoiled beaches, rolling sand dunes and warm Indian Ocean, Port Elizabeth is heaven on earth for a nature lover.

Addo Elephant National Park

Explore a world of exotic plant and animal life at Addo Elephant National Park where you can be rest assured to delight in fun activities. The park is home to roughly 550 African Elephants! It is the third-largest national park in South Africa, and is strategically located within the scenic Alexandria Forest. Most guests visit the Sundays River valley to experience the park’s biodiversity, including Antelope species, black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, foliage, ferns and gigantic mushrooms.

Donkin Heritage Trail

Located in Port Elizabeth, specifically at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro city, the Donkin Heritage Trail takes in varieties of momentous Victorian constructions and monuments. This amazing trail passes through 47 landmarks positioned around the Old Hill region. One of the most exciting historical treasures is the lighthouse, which was erected in 1861. You can choose to go on a self-guided tour to explore the depths of the architectural delights that were inhabited by the country’s first 1820 British Settlers.

Happy Valley

This picturesque destination is the perfect getaway for the whole family. The serene environment of Happy Valley promises an enchanting experience with its flamboyant scenery filled with decorated illuminations of nursery rhymes from dust to dawn. If the board game of chess is your passion, you must look forward to enjoying the thrill of mating your opponent on a giant chessboard laid out on the lawn.

Kragga Kamma Game Park

Enjoy an exciting African Safari at Kragga Kamma Game Park, which endows its guests with comfortable accommodation facilities, attractive game viewing, along with exhilarating game drives. Visitors flock the pack to see some of Africa’s wildest species in their natural surroundings. The Cheetah Tours enable you to interact with the beautiful predator species in their own enclosure. Over 200 bird species inhabit the park, which draws crowds of bird-watching enthusiasts to enjoy an up-close view of yellow-billed kites, sparrow hawks, fish eagles etc.

Mannville Open Air Theatre

Established by Bruce and Helen Mann in 1971, the Mannville Open Air Theatre is set in a luxurious and green environment at St. Georges Park. This amazing outdoor theatre annually celebrates Shakespearean plays, which you can enjoy on mild summer evenings. The Parks and Recreation Committee of the city approved the construction of Mannville Open Air Theatre as requested by Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival. Event organizers love to hire the lush theatre, especially due to its large stage and stunning grassed tiers under the seats.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum

Strategically situated at the backdrop of St. Georges Park, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum attracts loads of art enthusiasts due to its large collection of art and craft. The gallery opened its doors for the public on 22 June 1956 as the King George VI Art Gallery, but the government changed its name in December 2002. The beautiful artworks inspire many guests and invites large cohorts to appreciate the blissful city of Port Elizabeth. The renowned art museum has three exhibition halls that display the revered collections including both local and international art.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Nelson Mandela Bay was one of South African stadiums to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stunning football arena was the first to be made public for the global event, which attracted thousands of fans. Exquisitely located at the heart of Port Elizabeth, the stadium has an attention-grabbing roof structure, which is complemented by the impressive view of the coastline. It stands adjacent to the Bay on one side and the North End Lake on the other side. The architectural splendour of the six-level ultramodern stadium endows it with a full capacity of 46, 000 people.

Getting around?

Are you visiting Port Elizabeth this holiday and wondering what options you have in getting around? Most travellers opt for car hire. You can book your vehicle with Drive South Africa today.