Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha

Afrikaans name: Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth

Photo © michaeljung - Fotolia.com

Eastern Cape

Port Elizabeth was founded in 1820 and the initial population consisted of British settlers. It is situated on Algoa Bay. It's association with European people goes all the way back to 1497 when Vasco da Gama sailed past this area. Port Elizabeth is now part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was built specifically for the 2010 Football World Cup.

This city is often referred to as the 'windy city' due to the strong winds that it experiences at times. It is also known as the 'friendly city'.

Most of Port Elizabeth's economy revolves around the harbour and the motor industry. The port has one of the biggest facilities to load cars in the southern hemisphere. Other industries manufacture pharmaceutical, leather, paper and many food products.

Tourism has become an important aspect of Port Elizabeth. It is considered to be the gateway to the many attractions on offer in the Eastern Cape province. Port Elizabeth itself boasts some fine beaches, with King's Beach and Hobie Beach being the most popular. Addo Elephant Park is only 72 km away. Other attractions in the city include Fort Frederick, the Horse Memorial, the Bayworld Snake Park and, if you are energetic and don't suffer from vertigo, you can climb the 204 steps up the Campanile Memorial to get fantastic views of the city.

Port Elizabeth

Photo © Joyce van Stan - Fotolia.com

References and further reading

Where to Watch Birds in Southern Africa - Author: A. Berruti and J.C. Sinclair - Published: 1983 - Page: 89

Things ewe never knewe about South African place names - Author: Ann Gadd - Published: 2015 - Page: 179

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 196

The Dive Sites of South Africa - Author: Anton Koornhof - Published: 1992 - Page: 80

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 70

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 134

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 193

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 96

Hit the Road - 2nd Edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2018 - Page: 76

go! - Issue 142 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 104

go! - Issue 103 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 102

go! - Issue 136 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 104

Getaway - Vol 30 No 10 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 54

Getaway - Vol 30 No 12 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 27

Getaway - Vol 32 No 12 - Author: - Published: 2021 - Page: 101

go! - Issue 088 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 45

Getaway - Vol 30 No 06 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 82

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 111

Country Life - Issue 251 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 83

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 61

Country Life - Issue 212 - Author: - Published: 2014 - Page: 40

Country Life - Issue 245 - Author: - Published: 2016 - Page: 36

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 131

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 414

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 138

Birdwatching around Port Elizabeth - Author: Eastern Cape Wild Bird Society - Published: 1985 - Page: 1

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