Those of us lucky enough to live at the coast have a constant flow of visits from our landlocked friends and family. Sometimes we have the time to show them around our lovely city, but most often we are working and are unable to take leave and play tour guide. So, the million dollar question is “what do we do with them?”
Most visitors are looking for a mix of relaxation, entertainment and exploration. You need to spend some quality time with them, but also steer them in the right direction to go off and enjoy your city by themselves. Here is our guide to showing your visitors the best of Port Elizabeth:
Day 1:
With chatting and catching up being top of the priority list, start by joining your guests for dinner out at one of the trendy restaurants in Richmond Hill. The streets are literally buzzing at night, with the eateries and street café’s brimming with jovial laughter and a hum of chatter. It is worth booking ahead – this vibey area is always packed. Try well-known Fushin, Flava, Yiayias, Two Olives, Le Med, Mellas Noodle Bar or Angelos Artisan. Newcomer Spanish restaurant and tapas bar, Todos Locos is also superb.
Stanley Street by Port Elizabeth Daily Photo
Day 2:
Start out early with a walk along the Summerstrand promenade. For the energetic, park at Something Good, and walk to Shark Rock Pier and along the beachfront to McArthur’s baths and back. Stop for coffee or breakfast along the way at one of the restaurants or hotels with the best view in PE.
Kick up your heels and soak up the sun on Humewood, Hobie or Pollok beach for the morning. These incredible beaches are after all one of the major drawcards for visitors to Port Elizabeth. You can also rent a stand up paddle board or bicycle and even take a surfing lesson at Oceanside surf store.
Home for lunch and an afternoon nap, and then off to Donkin reserve to see PE’s most famous view of the pyramid and lighthouse, with incredible mosaic art under the largest South African flag in the world. Have a mosey around the incredible Route 67 public artworks, and take your pic holding Nelson Mandela’s hand in a silhouette of South Africa’s first democratic voting line.
Spend the evening braaing some local calamari and fresh fish from the PE harbour.
A busy Hobie Beach by mype.co.za
Voting line with Nelson Mandela
Day 3:
Back to the beach for active visitors – this time to one of South Africa’s most pristine wild coastlines at Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve. Be prepared for the hike up and down the dune mountain to get to the sea. Even though it may not seem like it at the time, it is well worth it! Turn right and walk along the beach as far as you feel like. If the sea is calm, take along a snorkel and goggles and enjoy the undersea life at “duck pond” – a series of natural ocean pools sheltered by a rock reef (at the first point about a kilometer up the beach). End off your morning with a sublime foot long hot dog at the Wurst Wagen in the parking lot. Austrian Gunter has the best German sausages, Dutch croquettes and hot chips in town.
For the not so active, take a drive along PE’s Sunshine Saunter, where you can stop off along the way to spot some whales or dolphins and enjoy an ice cream or meal at one of PE’s country restaurants.
Sardinia Bay beach
Addo Elephant Park should be top of the list. It is a whole day activity, but so well worth the trip. For adventure junkies, it is fun to do the Addo Adrenalin double zipline on your way to the park. It is the longest double zipline on the whole of Africa, and guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Zipline at Adrenalin Addo
If you don’t have a full day to spare, then Kragga Kamma Game Park is worth a visit. It is right on the outskirts of PE, and boasts an impressive variety of game as well as the opportunity to get up close and personal with some cheetah.
For beer lovers, there is a hop on hop off beer tour where you visit some craft breweries, see how they make the golden beverage and taste a whole lot of beer.
A cruise on the Sundays River Ferry is the most magic way to spend an afternoon with friends and family. You can do some sand sledding down the steep dunes if you choose, and the views and wildlife along the way are incredible.
The Sundays River Ferry
Why not take a bucket and fishing net and go to Kini Bay or Seaview to explore life in the rock pools and collect some sea shells?
Or head off to Uitenhage for a tour of the VW factory and a visit to some of the historical museums.
Recommend to your guests that they purchase a Nelson Mandela Pass – This will give them a selection of over 45 local activities at a fraction of the regular price. It also comes with a fantastic little guide book which will help them choose activities which suit them best.
Port Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela Bay are sure to delight your visitors, and have them coming back time and time again. You should also try and enjoy being a tourist in your city – we do live in an amazing little place, and sometimes it takes seeing it through a visitors eyes to appreciate it!
Do you have any recommendations for visitors to PE? Please share them in the comments section below.
Leave a Reply