Port Alfred accommodation

We recommend staying at the Lookout Guest House in Port Alfred, with its views of the marina to the ocean; and being close to restaurants and the shopping mall.

The Look Out Guest House	24 Park Rd Port Alfred Eastern Cape Province South Africa	info@thelookout.co.za www.thelookout.co.za	Tel : 046 624 4564 Fax : 046 624 4564
Port Alfred Panorama	15 Wesley Hill Port Alfred Eastern Cape Province South Africa	marianne.rob@portalfredpanorama.com www.portalfredpanorama.com	Tel : 046 624 5853 Fax : 046 624 5853

Fish River Sun Hotel & Country Club Resort	R27 Great Fish River & Old Woman's River Port Alfred Eastern Cape Province South Africa	fishriver@za.suninternational.com	Tel : 040 676 1101 Fax : 040 676 1115
Mpekweni Beach Resort	R72 coastal road between Port Alfred & East London Port Alfred Eastern Cape Province South Africa	info@mpekweni.co.za	Tel : 040 676 1026 Fax : 040 676 1040
Oceana wildlife Reserve	R72 coastal road between Port Alfred & East London Port Alfred Eastern Cape Province South Africa	reservations@oceanareserve.com www.oceanareserve.com	Tel : 083 616 0605 Tel : 041 407 1000

Mansfield Game Reserve

Experience a piece of history in rustic style, just 150kms from Port Elizabeth. Just outside the sleepy seaside town of Port Alfred, lies Mansfield Game Reserve, a private nature reserve with its own unique attraction. Here, amongst Acacia trees and on the banks of the Kowie River, you can spend the night in an authentic, antique ox-wagon. Pretend you are a European settler from long ago as you look out over the landscape, watch the stars and relax in your very own personal ox-wagon. The ox-wagons date back to the 1800's and their old license discs are still displayed. But, be brought straight back to the 21st Century, as you realise this is camping in style. Mansfield's ox-wagons have been professionally restored and are kitted out with comfy queen size beds, down duvets and your own specially packed picnic basket. Spend the evening around the campfire, braaing with true African flair, surrounded only by the wilderness and its sounds to keep you company. Spend lazy days relaxing on the banks of the river, hiking through the breathtaking Eastern Cape bushveld, and driving yourself through the reserve to view the abundant game on offer. A highlight for all is Mansfield's own tame Giraffe, Gambit, who roams around freely amongst the ox-wagons, even popping his long neck inside to say hello.

History

• 1910. Laurie Green travels during the school holidays (by ox wagon) to Port Alfred, and writes about the town in his book Harbours of Memory: "Close to the camp was a store that could not have changed much since the days of the Settlers. It was a low building like a stable with a stoep displaying felt hats and velskoene, pitchforks and saddles. Packing cases formed the counter and the dark room smelt of moth powders used to protect the woollen goods; moth powders, great bars of soap and roll tobacco. I was interested only in the jars of sweets though I admired the gaudy handkerchiefs and guns...The port was a ghost harbour, a deserted port where the stone embankments, wharves and mooring rings were reminders of the long period when Port Alfred sheltered steamers and square-riggers".

• 1894. The Lily of Cape Town is wrecked on the sandbar with a cargo of cement.

• 1873. Several shipwrecks: African Belle, the Laetitia and the Catherine Marie.

Directions to Port Alfred

Your best bet is to fly to PLZ, and then hire a car from Port Elizabeth Airport and drive to Port Alfred. The map below shows the directions from Europcar at Port Elizabeth Airport to the Lookout Guest House in Port Alfred. On the way you'll pass Colchester, Alexandria (a chicory, pineapple and dairy farming area) and Kwaaihoek (where Dias erected his first stone cross on the 12th March 1488).

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