MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Making Family Holidays more Fun in Port Elizabeth

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Port Elizabeth, South Africa is known as ‘The Friendly City’ because we are always willing to provide a helping hand to visitors. Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s second oldest city and the commercial capital of the Eastern Cape.

The best attractions for families visiting Port Elizabeth are the great and moderate weather, beautiful beaches (including the Blue Flag beaches of St Georges and Humewood), low crime rate, a variety of family accommodation, restaurants, attractions and of course very little traffic congestion (PE is also known as the 10-minute city, as this is the time it will take you to travel to most places within the city!)

In the immediate surrounding areas of Port Elizabeth, you and your family can enjoy;

  • Going for a tour at SAMREC, where you can visit their bird hospital and also watch the penguins being fed.
  • If you wish to see and experience the unique natural and cultural history of Southern Africa then it would be interesting for you to visit Bayworld Museum with all its artefacts and the Snake Park and Dinosaur Park.
  • A short walk up the road from Bayworld and you will find the Boardwalk with a wide choice of restaurants to suit the whole family. The lake’s retail complex will delight you with a range of shops and speciality stores. As you peruse the complex, let the kids enjoy the fun activities offered by the Magic Company or enjoy a movie at the cinema.
  • Close-up game viewing is available at the Seaview Lion Park. Watch the big lions being fed, or get a glimpse of some of the young cubs while enjoying a delicious meal at their restaurant.
  • Should you wish to take a drive in your own vehicle through a game park and enjoy viewing the game in any weather conditions you should then also include the Kragga Kamma Game Park on your itinerary (there is the option to take a guided tour in an open Landrover with a professional guide, providing you with interesting information on the animals and the historical background to the area).

With more than enough interesting Museums to choose from in Port Elizabeth, The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum is ideal for families to view collections consisting of South African, British, International Printmaking and Oriental Art.

Families can also take a tour of the South End Museum that immerses one into the lives, cultures, challenges, tragedies and victories of those that experienced Apartheid at its most intense.

The Red Location Museum represents the past as a set of memories that are disconnected yet bound together by themes, offering a set of different memories of struggle in South Africa that your family can view.

Regarded as one of the oldest surviving Settler dwellings in Port Elizabeth, No 7 Castle Hill Museum, presents a picture of domestic life enjoyed by an English middle class family in Port Elizabeth in mid-19th Century.

The South African Air Force Museum is famous for their total of 11 aircrafts, two of which are in flying condition. There are many other related artefacts on display, including a large collection of model aircraft.

Stars in Transition, the Family Travel Specialist based in Port Elizabeth, also offers great opportunities for family-friendly day excursions outside of the city, catering to all family members needs, such as; Addo National Elephant Park, the world renowned surfing town of Jeffrey’s hay, Historical Grahamstown and Graaff Reinett, a number of Malaria-free Big 5 Game Reserves such as Shamwari and Kuzuko and of course numerous hiking and eco walks. Stars in Transition’s top priority is Safety and Quality of the excursion when choosing what they offer your family, providing luxury transport and SATOUR registered English Tour Guides on each excursion, ensuring your family is given only the best of service.

Family-Friendly Accommodation in Port Elizabeth ranges from high quality to mid-market accommodation. The Radisson Blu Hotel welcomes you to pure relaxation at the Camelot Spa, families enjoy complimentary access to premier hotel services, where you can stop by the Space Gym for a state-of-the-art workout or visit the in-house Ritter’s Jewellers and select a gift to immortalise the trip to Port Elizabeth. Or of course you could wake up to panoramic views of the azure Indian Ocean at the Brookes Hills Suite and take long walks along the unspoiled beaches. The Coral Tree Guest House offers three-star affordable excellence and caters specially for families with little children, travellers with pets and guests in wheelchair. They are close to the Greenacres Shopping Centre, hospital, gym and Newton Park Pool and many more. The Sir Roys Bed and Breakfast facility is near the airport, close to shopping centres, golf courses, restaurants and the beachfront. Families can choose between the Sir Roys at the sea or Sir Roys in Walmer.

Families wishing to eat out and looking for Family-Friendly Restaurants can choose between Admirals, a large buffet area with a great kiddies area to keep your children entertained. The Grillers American Diner says everything from 1950’s to 1960’s America with impressive attention to detail and comfortable, private booths with fantastic kiddies area and well thought out kiddies menu. Cobblestone Bakery serves fresh bread daily, coffee, cappuccinos, breakfasts and healthy lunches, with a must try pizza and pita pockets made from their Ciabatta dough as well as a kiddies menu and play area. With fine dishes to bring you true home-style meals made to absolute perfection, Sue-Anne’s Food in Theescombe will bring you pastas, sushi, seafood, matured beef steaks and many more as well as a kiddies menu and play area. Primi Piatti Coastal is fresh and fast, comforting and healthy, with all menu items freshly cooked from scratch providing a kiddies menu and play area.

Author: Marina Doms

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.