The city was founded by shiploads of British settler families who arrived in the Eastern Cape in the early 19th century hoping to improve their prospects after suffering economic hardship because of the industrial revolution at home.

The settlers also intended to strengthen defences against the local Xhosa people, who had been pushed back beyond the Fish River frontier. They came ashore at Algoa Bay, where there was nothing more than the small British Fort Frederick to welcome them.

The city, from its humble beginnings, has grown into a principal port and manufacturing centre. Although it is very much a working town with a large indigent population living in the outlying township areas, Port Elizabeth draws plenty of tourists because of its proximity to the attractions of the east coast and historically interesting interior.

The city is justifiably known as ‘the friendly city' and Algoa Bay boasts 25 miles (40km) of beautiful sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The attractive beachfront is the venue for the annual ‘Splash' festival and world boardsailing championships, and features a long promenade and pier full of tourist facilities.

Bayworld

Port Elizabeth's most popular attraction consists of a complex on the beachfront that includes the Oceanarium, a museum, and a snake park. The Bayworld Oceanarium is famed for its performing Bottlenose dolphin shows, enjoyed by thousands every year. Besides the large dolphin pool with its underwater viewing area, the oceanarium also features an aquarium tank where visitors can watch a vast array of marine life through glass portholes as they glide by, including sharks, turtles and rays. The snake park contains an impressive variety of indigenous reptiles in natural-looking enclosures. The PE Museum focuses on cultural and natural history with a wide variety of exhibits, from models of sailing ships and period costumes to giant replicas of dinosaurs that roamed the area in prehistoric times; it is the third-oldest museum in the country.

Address: Beach Road, Humewood; Telephone: (041) 584 0650; Opening time: Museum, oceanarium and snake park: daily 9am to 4.30pm (oceanarium closed between 12.45pm and 1.45pm); dolphin and seal shows are twice daily at 11am and 3pm; reptile presentations at 12pm Monday to Friday; Admission: R32 (adults), R15 (children) from 1 December to 31 January, and Easter holidays; R28 (adults), R14 (children) at other times

Market Square

Port Elizabeth's architectural heritage can be traced by taking a walk around the central city Market Square, which features several historic buildings. The centrepiece of the square is the aesthetically pleasing City Hall, dating from 1858, topped with an attractive clock tower. Also in the square is a replica of the Diaz Cross that commemorates the first European to set foot in Algoa Bay in 1488, when Dutch explorer Bartholomew Diaz stopped over on his way east. Alongside the city hall is the Prester John Memorial, dedicated to the Portuguese explorers who landed in South Africa. On the northwest flank of the square is the city's public library, built in 1835 and originally used as a courthouse. The beautiful building is regarded as an excellent example of Victorian Gothic architecture and is interesting in that its façade was manufactured in England and shipped to Port Elizabeth to be recreated piece by piece. In front of the library stands a marble statue of Queen Victoria, which was unveiled in 1903. Slightly downhill from the square, at the entrance to the harbour, stands the Campanile, containing the biggest carillon of bells in the country. Visitors can climb 204 steps to enjoy the view from the top of this monument, which commemorates the landing of the 1820 settlers.

Donkin Reserve

On a hill above the centre of the city stands a stone pyramid monument with an adjacent lighthouse. The open public space was proclaimed in perpetuity by Sir Rufane Donkin, acting British Governor of the Cape, when the 1820 Settlers arrived in Algoa Bay. Donkin named the new settlement after his wife, Elizabeth, who had died in India two years' previously, and erected the pyramid in her memory. The lighthouse was built in 1861, and today houses the city's Tourist Information Centre. Maps are available from the centre describing a three-mile (five km) discovery trail through the hill area and central city, taking in 47 historic sites and architectural delights.

St George's Park

St George's Park has been a recreational centre for the city for more than 150 years, boasting well-landscaped gardens covering 73 hectares. On site is the world famous Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, scene of many an exciting test match series, and the oldest bowling green in South Africa. The park also features the 1882 Edwardian Pearson Conservatory, a national monument filled with orchids, water lilies and other exotic plants. Every second Sunday of the month the park plays host to a vibrant arts and crafts fair. The other major park in Port Elizabeth is Settler's Park, set in the Baakens River valley, which boasts indigenous flora and fauna and offers a delightful stroll along the riverbank.

Addo Elephant Park

The most popular game reserve in the Port Elizabeth area is the Addo Elephant Park, just a 45-minute drive from the city. There are currently more than 300 elephants in residence in the park, which was recently enlarged. Addo was proclaimed in 1931 in an effort to save the remaining 11 elephants indigenous to the area. The elephants are drawn to watering holes at certain times and sightings are virtually guaranteed all year round. There are other animals in the park too, including black rhino, buffalo, zebra, warthog and several types of buck. Guided game drives are available or visitors can do a self-drive tour using the map issued at the entrance. Serviced accommodation is available and there is a restaurant and picnic site at the Park.

Telephone: (042) 233 0556;Opening time: Daily 7am to 7pm; Admission: R80 (foreign adult), R40 (foreign child); South African residents pay R20 per day

Shamwari Game Reserve

The multi-award winning private game reserve of Shamwari lies less than an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth and has been responsible for re-introducing numerous species into the Eastern Cape plains, including all of the Big Five - lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo . The reserve offers luxury accommodation, but also hosts visitors on day trips from the city. Day tours include a visit to an African art and culture village to sample Xhosa culture and traditionally brewed beer, and a visit to the Born Free centre for abused animals.

Grahamstown

The historic settler town of Grahamstown, 78 miles (125km) northeast of Port Elizabeth, is presided over, from the top of Gunfire Hill, by the 1820 Settler's National Monument, an arts and theatre complex which forms the focus of the town's annual internationally recognised Arts Festival held in July. Grahamstown was founded in 1815 as a garrison to drive the Xhosa eastwards across the Fish River frontier, giving rise to a century of frontier war. The town has an English colonial flavour, and is home to the renowned Rhodes University and some top private boarding schools. There are several museums, including the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology where two stuffed specimens of the coelacanth are on display. The town also boasts the only Victorian camera obscura in the southern hemisphere.

Jeffrey's Bay

A short drive to the west of Port Elizabeth is the surfing Mecca of Jeffrey's Bay (known colloquially as 'J-Bay'). The seaside town plays host to the world Billabong Professional surfing contest every July, and is famed for its 'supertubes', South Africa's perfect wave. The town is bustling, with several stores selling branded surfing gear, and several flashy cafes and restaurants. The long stretches of sandy beach around the town are also renowned for their shells.

Time: GMT +2.
Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. Round, three-pin plugs are standard.
Money: South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is required. Visitors should take care and be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs as there is a high incidence of credit card fraud involving the use of ATMs. Travellers cheques and some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops, but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will exchange them.

Rates subject to change at any time

ZAR 1.00	ZAR 5.00	ZAR 10.00	ZAR 100.00	ZAR 1,000.00
AUD 0.22	AUD 1.09	AUD 2.19	AUD 21.90	AUD 218.96
CAD 0.19	CAD 0.96	CAD 1.92	CAD 19.23	CAD 192.31
GBP 0.09	GBP 0.47	GBP 0.93	GBP 9.32	GBP 93.19
USD 0.16	USD 0.82	USD 1.65	USD 16.46	USD 164.56

Language: South Africa has 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely spoken.
Entry requirements for Americans: United States passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or touristic purposes.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days if passport is endorsed British Citizen or British Overseas Territories citizen. Those whose passports state British National (Overseas) may stay up to 30 days without a visa. All others require a visa. Visa extensions are possible if applied for at least 30 days before expiry date, and cost ZAR425.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans who hold dual nationality should note that they are required to enter and leave the country on their South African passports.
Passport/Visa Note: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the period of intended stay. An onward or return ticket is required, as well as sufficient funds and documents needed for further travel. Note that visitors to South Africa must have at least one free page in their passport for endorsements.
Embassy or Consulate in US: South African Embassy, Washington, United States: +1 202 232 4400
Embassy or Consulate in UK: South African Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7451 7299
Embassy or Consulate in Canada: South African High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 744 0330
Embassy or Consulate in Australia: South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2424-7
US Embassy or Consulate: United States Embassy, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 1048
UK Embassy or Consulate: British High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 421 7733
Canadian Embassy or Consulate: Canadian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 422 3000
Australian Embassy or Consulate: Australian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 3740
Getting around:
Health: Travellers arriving in South Africa from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Otherwise no vaccinations are required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal, and precautions are advised when travelling to these areas. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Tap water is safe in urban areas but sterilisation is advisable elsewhere, as there are periodic outbreaks of cholera in the poor communities of rural South Africa, particularly in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Food poisoning is rare. Medical facilities in South Africa are good, but medical insurance is strongly advised as private hospitals expect cash upfront and public hospitals are best avoided.
Tipping: If a service charge is not included in the bill, waiters expect a tip of 10%. Tipping for services rendered is widely anticipated by porters, taxi drivers, golf caddies and petrol attendants. 'Car guards' operate in the city centres and tourist spots and will offer to look after your parked car; they are usually immigrants from neighbouring countries looking for work and will expect anything from R2 upwards on your return.
Safety: Visitors to South Africa should be aware of the country's high incidence of crime. Although this tends to be concentrated in pockets throughout the country, for example in the township areas, opportunistic crime is fairly widespread. Travellers should always be aware of these risks and exercise the necessary precautions. Doors should be locked when driving and one should not walk alone at night in city streets, isolated beaches or remote areas. Berea and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are high risk areas and visitors should be cautious in the area. There have been recent incidents on hikers walking on Table Mountain in Cape Town and visitors should avoid walking alone on the mountain. One should be vigilant when using ATMs and carrying valuables. It is worthwhile noting that the South African authorities do give high priority to the protection of tourists.
Communications: The international access code for South African is +27. The outgoing code is 09 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0944 for the United Kingdom). South Africa also has city codes. International phone cards cannot be used in South Africa. The country is served by three GSM mobile phone networks. Mobile service providers offer 'pay-as-you-go' Sim cards, which are a good option for visitors staying for some time. Internet cafes are widespread.
Duty free: Travellers to South Africa do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1 litre spirits; perfume up to 50ml and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods to the value of R3,000. All other goods brought in from abroad by residents of South Africa must be declared on arrival. These will be subject to import duties. For goods to be re-imported, travellers must complete a DA65 or NEP-form that is issued on departure. Prohibited items include meat and dairy products, all medication except for personal consumption, flick knives, ammunition, explosives and pornography containing minors and bestiality.

Port Elizabeth Climate and Weather

South Africa is a large country and has diverse climactic regions, but in general the weather is sunny and hot in the summer months (December to April), and mild during winter (May to November). Winters in the Cape are cold and wet, and snow falls on the mountain ranges here and in Natal. Gauteng and the northern areas experience thunderstorms regularly during evenings in the summer months, and winters are usually warm during the day and cold at night.

Port Elizabeth	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	31	33	48	46	61	46	48	51	58	56	56	43
Rainfall (inches)	1.2	1.3	1.9	1.8	2.4	1.8	1.9	2	2.3	2.2	2.2	1.7
Min Temp (°C)	16	17	16	13	10	7	7	8	10	12	14	15
Max Temp (°C)	26	26	24	23	22	20	19	20	20	21	22	24
Min Temp (°F)	61	63	61	55	50	45	45	46	50	54	57	59
Max Temp (°F)	79	79	75	73	72	68	66	68	68	70	72	75