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Port Elizabeth is South Africa's fifth largest city, situated on 16km of coastline along Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is also referred to as "PE", "The Friendly City", Madiba Bay, The Windy City", Die Baai (Afrikaans) and Ibhayi (isiXhosa). Port Elizabeth forms part of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.
Port Elizabeth is situated in Algoa Bay on South Africa's east coast, about half-way between Cape Town and Durban.
Port Elizabeth boasts a moderate subtropical climate all year round. Summers are warm with relatively low humidity, while winters are cool but mild. There is year-round rainfall.
Click here to see Port Elizabeth's latest weather forecast.
Click here to see Port Elizabeth's historical temperature and precipitation averages per month.
Port Elizabeth Airport is not an international airport, but has regular commercial flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. In preparation for the Soccer World cup 2010 the runway is being extended with a view to accomodating international flights.
Translux, Greyhound, Intercape and the Baz Bus connect Port Elizabeth to the major South African cities.
Port Elizabeth can be reached by car via the N2 highway, running from Cape Town to Durban.
The train station offers connections to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Starlight cruises offers occasional cruises to Port Elizabeth, as a stop between Durban & Cape Town.
List of hotels in Port Elizabeth
The Boardwalk casino
Beaches - King's Beach, Humewood Beach & Shark Rock Pier/Hobie Beach |
Addo Elephant National Park (042-233-8600), 72km to the north of PE |
Historic attractions - the bell tower built in 1923 to commemorate the arrival of the 1820 settlers (at the entrance to the harbour), the city hall (completed in 1862), the old stone Fort Frederick, the PE museum (3rd oldest in South Africa), the Donkin Reserve and the Cannon from "The Sacremento". |
Bayworld |
Seaview Game and Lion Park |
Sahara Oval St George's & the War Memorial at St George's Park |
Kragga Kamma Game Park |
King George VI Art Gallery |
Walk 8km of Sacramento trail from Schoenmakerskop along the coast to Sardinia Bay |
McArthur Pool and Leisure Centre |
Holmeleigh Farm Yard |
Shopping at Walmer Park and Greenacres. |
Township tours with Calabash Tours, or just drive through the township of Kwanobuhle. |
The "Apple Express" |
Mauro's Italian (041-582-2700) at King's Beach |
The Coachman (041-373-3440) at 103 Cape Road |
Gondwana Cafe (041-585-0990) at the Dolphin's Leap Centre (Beach Road, Humewood) |
Dagwood Diner & Pub (041-373-0936) at the corner of Cape & Eastwood Road (do great seafood) |
Captain's Bar & Grill (041-582-2238) at the Dolphin's Leap Centre (Beach Road, Humewood) |
Jacksonville (Florida) and Palm Desert (California) are sister cities to Port Elizabeth, whilst Gothenberg (Sweden) has a friendship relationship.
1968 |
The dolphin lake is completed, and the pool is reestablished as a fish tank. |
1959 |
The Oceanarium's 750,000 litre main fish tank is built (used to house dolphins up to 1968). |
1923 |
A bell tower (Campinile) with 204 steps is completed near the entrance to the harbour, to commemorate the arrival of the 1820 settlers. The tower contains the biggest carillon of bells in the country. |
1903 |
A marble statue of Queen Elizabeth is unveiled. |
1861 |
A lighthouse is built near the pyramid monument (which was built in honour of Elizabeth Donkin). The lighthouse today houses PE's Tourist Information Centre. |
1858 |
The City Hall is completed. |
1835 |
The city's public library is completed. |
6 Jun 1820 |
Port Elizabeth is founded as a town to house British settlers as a way of strengthening the border region between the Cape Colony and the warlike Xhosa tribe. Sir Rufane Donkin names Port Elizabeth after his late wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth had died in India 2 years earlier, and Donkin erected a pyramid in her honour above the centre of PE and proclaimed the surrounding open space a public area in perpetuity. |
1795 |
The Cape falls into British hands, and they build a stone fort overlooking Port Elizabeth. |
1482 |
The Portuguese first visit the area which would later become known as Port Elizabeth |
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