The Vuyisile Mini Square - formerly known as Market Square - is to be found in front of the City Hall in Central, Port Elizabeth. The Square is one of the most noteworthy landmarks of Port Elizabeth. The ships landing beach was nearby in the early days and the handling of most of the goods in and out of the city was done through the Square, turning the square into a busy trading ground for local farmers. The naming of Market Square is a bit of a misnomer as history tells us that the … [Read more...] about Vuyisile Mini (Market) Square, Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
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Happy Valley, Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
Designed for children and adults alike, Happy Valley is ideal for family strolls in pleasant surroundings and offers a delightful fairy-tail and nursery rhyme setting of colored lights in the evenings. There are lily ponds, rockeries, gigantic palms and peaceful retreats in which to sit. A large chessboard has been laid out in the valley on the lawn and visitors interested in playing the game may acquire the chess pieces from the Beach Manager's Office. Happy Valley is connected to … [Read more...] about Happy Valley, Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
The Horse Memorial is a provincial heritage site in Port Elizabeth in memory of the horses that served and died during the Second Boer War. During that conflict Britain brought a large number of horses to South Africa; it is estimated that the total cost of all the horses acquired for the war was around 7 million pounds. More than 300,000 horses died in British service in South Africa. The Horse Memorial, designed by Joseph Whitehead and cast in bronze by Cox and Company, Thames Ditton … [Read more...] about Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
Surf Spots in Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
Surfing in Port Elizabeth dates back to 1962 with first organised surfing competition taking place in 1964 to be followed by the creation of the Eastern province Surfing Association in 1965. Leo Davis was Chairman from 1965 to 1971. The first Eastern Province Team to take part in the 1965 South African Championships consisted of: Ken Noble, Dave Young, Roy Marais, Bruce Mathews, John Heath, Steward Hickson-Mahoney, Viv Spindler, Peter Morgan, Mush Hide, Peter McLeleand and Gavin … [Read more...] about Surf Spots in Port Elizabeth – #MustSeeinPE
Port Elizabeth Beaches – #MustSeeinPE
The shores along Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth boast 40 km of magnificent golden beaches. A perfect combination of warm water, calm sea and fair breezes, prevailing offshore westerly breazes Algoa Bay is acknowledged as one of the best sailing venues in the world and a Mecca for all beach and water sport enthusiasts. Water temperatures vary between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius during summer and 14 to 19 degrees Celsius during winter. Swimming beaches are patrolled by fully trained professional … [Read more...] about Port Elizabeth Beaches – #MustSeeinPE
St Georges Park Cricket – #MustSeeinPE
The St George's Park Cricket Ground (also known as St George's Park, Crusaders Ground, Crusaders, Axxess DSL St Georges) is a cricket ground in Central, Port Elizabeth - home of the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, the second oldest cricket club in South Africa, and the Eastern Province Club. It is also one of the venues at which Test matches and One Day Internationals are played in South Africa. The ground is notable for its brass band that plays during major matches, adding a unique flavor to its … [Read more...] about St Georges Park Cricket – #MustSeeinPE
Sailing Clubs – #MustSeeinPE
Port Elizabeth is served by two sailing clubs - Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) and Redhouse Yacht Club (RYC). ABYC is sitauted in the Port of Port Elizabeth and caters for ocean going sailing as well as for dinghy sailing. RYC is situated on the banks of the Zwartkops River in the village of Redhouse and caters exclusively for Dinghy Sailing. The Algoa Bay Yacht Club incorporates the Zwartkops Yacht Club which closed it's club house doors in 2001 and amalgamated with ABYC. Port Elizabeth has … [Read more...] about Sailing Clubs – #MustSeeinPE
Shark Rock Pier – #MustSeeinPE
A short history of the Shark Rock Pier: In the mid 1980's the City of Port Elizabeth commissioned Watermeyer Halcrow and Partners, a former entity to Watermeyer Prestedge Retief and Prestedge Retief Dresner Wijnberg, to conduct an investigation into beach erosion of the Southern Beaches. This led to the subsequent design of the proposed Shark Rock Pier and submerged groyne to contain the natural beaches sand loss and consequent exposure of underlying cobbles and bedrock at times. As is … [Read more...] about Shark Rock Pier – #MustSeeinPE
Scuba Diving – #MustSeeinPE
Divers in the know rate Port Elizabeth's Algoa Bay as one of the best dive spots in the world. Algoa Bay is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone, and much of the shoreline is sandy beaches. The greater metropolitan area extends some distance to the west of Cape Recife, and this rocky part of the coastline includes a number of the most popular dive sites. "The Friendly City" has a subtropical climate with light rain throughout the year. The area lies between the … [Read more...] about Scuba Diving – #MustSeeinPE
Golf Clubs – #MustSeeinPE
The Port Elizabeth Golf Club (PEGC) is conveniently situated in the heart of the city, along Westview Drive, Mill Park. This long-standing Port Elizabeth Golf Club offers an outstanding golf course and first class facilities. Having been in existence for over 100 years, it is steeped in tradition and is known to locals as "The Hill". The length of the Course is 6117 Meters with 18 holes / Par 72. In 2015, the Club celebrated it’s 125th year of existence as the 2nd oldest Club in the … [Read more...] about Golf Clubs – #MustSeeinPE
Sacramento Trail – #MustSeeinPE
The Sacramento is a popular 8 km round trip coastal walk through the Schoenmakerskop-Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve and is accessed by traveling along Sardinia Bay Road. The trail is suitable for moderately fit persons who are advised to walk in a group, wear stout shoes, take a sun hat and drinking water. Dogs are permitted on the lower (coastline) part of the trail. The area offers attractive seascapes, landscapes and, depending on the season, some remarkable displays of dune vegetation and … [Read more...] about Sacramento Trail – #MustSeeinPE
Sundays River Mouth – #MustSeeinPE
The source of the 250 kilometre long Sundays River is in the Sneeuberge (the highest mountain range in the former Cape Province) near Nieu-Bethesda. The river then flows in a general South/Southeasterly direction, passing the town of Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo before winding its way through the Zuurberg Mountains and then past Kirkwood and Addo in the fertile Sundays River Valley. It empties into the Indian Ocean at Algoa Bay after running through the village of Colchester, 40 km east of the … [Read more...] about Sundays River Mouth – #MustSeeinPE
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – #MustSeeinPE
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a 46,000-seater stadium in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The five-tier, R2 billion (approximately $159 million) Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was built overlooking the North End Lake, at the heart of the city. It is one of three coastal stadiums built to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It regularly hosts large-scale rugby union and football (soccer) matches. The stadium has also been used as a concert venue. The stadium was designed to depict … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – #MustSeeinPE
Taverns and Shebeens – #MustSeeinPE
Shebeens played an essential role in South Africa’s pre-democratic social and political history. During apartheid, shebeens came to be associated with the townships, where they served as meeting places for political dissidents, but they have since crossed over from makeshift taverns to mainstream venues for relaxing and socialising. The English word shebeen may be derived from the Irish-Gaelic word síbín. The Zulu word shibhile, meaning 'cheap', is another possible source. In apartheid … [Read more...] about Taverns and Shebeens – #MustSeeinPE
Horseback Ride on the Beach – #MustSeeinPE
Heavenly Stables offer scenic two and a half to three hour horse rides through the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve where one could catch a glimpse of bushbuck, duiker, grysbok, ververt monkeys and a large variety of bird life and other smaller animals. Then enjoy a relaxing ride along the beautiful Sardinia Bay beach or for the more experienced a nice canter along the beach, if arranged in advance. Heavenly Stables Equine Training is horse trainer Jackie De Lange’s horse training, riding … [Read more...] about Horseback Ride on the Beach – #MustSeeinPE
