Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port Elizabeth is a seaport of South Africa in the Eastern Cape Province. Located 770 km (478 mi) to the east of Cape Town, it covers 335 sq km (129.3 sq mi) and has a population of 238,000 people (2011 estimate) within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality with 1.3 million inhabitants. It is the third largest seaport and fifth largest city in South Africa.

The tourism board of Port Elizabeth promotes it as the Friendly City, the Windy Cindy and Africa's Watersport Capital. The city faces the 60-km (38-mi) stretch of Algoa Bay. The coastal area has been developed for recreation with many open, windswept beaches that are popular with both the locals as well as visitors.

The first European to pass through the Port Elizabeth area were Portuguese explorers Bartholomew Dias and Vasco da Gama. The area was not settled by Europeans until Uitenhage was established in 1804. Port Elizabeth was founded in 1820 with British settlers. It was established to enforced a British presence in the area between Cape Colony and Xhosa.

Donkin Reserve, Port Elizabeth
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Port_Elizabeth_Donkin_Reserve.jpg
Author: Picman


Fort Frederick, Port Elizabeth
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Port_Elizabeth_Fort_Frederick.jpg
Author: Andrew Higgs


During the apartheid era, the non-white population of Port Elizabeth was forcefully relocated. Prime real estate locations were given over to white population and anti-apartheid activism was dealt with brutally. In the post apartheid era, the area surrounding Port Elizabeth was named the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Port Elizabeth experiences a subtropical climate. January to March are the warmest months, when the average high temperature hovers around 25°C (77°F). Coldest months are June and July, when the average low temperature drops to -1°C (30°F). August is the wettest month receiving 64 mm (2.52 in) of precipitation.

Horse Memorial, Port Elizabeth
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horse_Memorial-002.jpg
Author: NJR ZA

Visiting Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth Airport receives flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other cities in South Africa. Alternatively, you can take the Shosholoza Meyl train from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Kimberley or Durban.

Places of Interest in Port Elizabeth

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