THINGS TO SEE & DO IN PORT ELIZABETH
PORT ELIZABETH ATTRACTIONS
Port Elizabeth is an excellent holiday destination, with a year-round temperate climate, many local attractions and landmarks. Port Elizabeth also plays host to various national and international sporting events at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Admiral’s Lodge is located within a 10-minute drive from Port Elizabeth International Airport and less than an hour’s drive from the well-known (malaria-free) game parks: Addo Elephant National Park, Kragga Kamma, Seaview Lion Park, Schotia Safari’s and Shamwari.
Apart from being close to some of the finest beaches in Port Elizabeth, Admiral’s Lodge offers complete convenience that means your voyage of discovery can begin right on your own doorstep.
Port Elizabeth is often referred to as the ‘water-sports capital’ of South Africa and makes the perfect base for a holiday that would be heaven for anyone with a passion for surfing, and when you won’t have to walk far to the nearest beach where you can learn how to kite-board, plan a scuba-diving excursion or charter a boat for game fishing.
PORT ELIZABETH BEACHFRONT
Algoa Bay, which is a favoured draw-card for beach and watersport enthusiasts is fast becoming known as South Africa’s watersport capital and offers activity throughout the year, especially wind-surfing and fishing. In fact, Algoa Bay is regarded as one of the best sailing venues in the world, while scuba diving is of world-class quality with beautiful reefs, shipwrecks, fish and colourful coral species.
HOBIE BEACH
All the rage for swimming, sunbathing and body surfing, Hobie Beach is the venue for the annual Splash Festival as well as the Beach Volleyball and World Boardsailing Championships. The calm seas, blissfully warm water (between 18 to 21 degrees in summer) and beaches patrolled by professional lifeguards provide the perfect combination for a family holiday. Hobie Beach is a good choice for swimming or simply sunbathing but if you’re a water sports junkie there’s no end to the thrills here – choose from scuba diving, windsurfing, kiting, surfing, jet skiing or surf skiing. At low tide the Shark Rock Pier side of Hobie Beach is a great place to explore, offering sheltered rock pools with interesting inter-tidal sea life. Kids love spending time here looking for creatures like starfish and octopus. Hobie Beach is situated in Summerstrand a short walk from Admiral’s Lodge.
HUMEWOOD BEACH
Humewood Beach is one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s numerous golden sandy beaches offering excellent swimming and amenities. Lifeguards are on duty from November to April during the peak holiday season (Blue Flag season). Facilities for the disabled are outstanding. This includes special wheelchairs that can be used on the beach and in the sea. Lifeguards are ready to assist if required. A promenade runs along the beachfront linking the beach, swimming pools and facilities.
POLLOCK BEACH
Pollock Beach is yet another beautiful Sunshine Coast beach that stretches from the Summerstrand lifesaving club to the beacon at the bottom of Admiralty Way. Beachcombers will find numerous shells walking along this wild shore. There are some good snorkelling spots close to the Humewood golf course – rated one of South Africa’s Top 10 Golf courses. Pollock Beach is favourite for swimming, sunbathing and body surfing. It also offers sheltered rock pools with interesting inter-tidal sea life. Known locally by surfers as the “Pipe” because of its excellent waves and surfing opportunities. It is the first place to pick up swell and the last place to lose it. Pipe is a sand-covered reef that delivers a very decent left as well as a right. Along the beach, you will find a cyclist path and new walkway stretching from within the dunes all the way to Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk.
PORT ELIZABETH ATTRACTIONS
The malaria-free Greater Port Elizabeth area offers Admiral’s Lodge guests a vast selection of Game Farms, Game Reserves and Wildlife Parks. The moderate weather provides great all year round conditions for viewing Game on a day trip.
SANCCOB
SANCCOB is a registered non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds – especially endangered species like the African penguin.
The organisation identifies birds in need of care in the wild and bring them to the centre for rehabilitation. SANCCOB treats up to 2 500 seabirds, which includes African penguins, various cormorants species (including the endangered Bank cormorant and Cape cormorant); various species of terns; pelagic birds such as albatrosses, gannets and petrels; oystercatchers, gulls, pelicans and other coastal birds found in the region. On average, 24 different seabird species are rehabilitated every year.
DONKIN RESERVE
Donkin Reserve which overlooks Port Elizabeth was proclaimed an open space in perpetuity by Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city was named.
The Donkin Reserve includes a Lighthouse and Stone Pyramid Monument with a touching inscription erected by Sir Rufane Donkin. The Pyramid is approximately 10 meters high and the sides at the base measure about 8 meters each. The Lighthouse, which was built in 1861, also houses Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, the official Tourist Information Centre. The Lighthouse is open to the public on request between 08h00 & 16h30 weekdays and Saturdays 09H30-15H30.
PORT ELIZABETH GAME RESERVES
The malaria-free Greater Port Elizabeth area offers Admiral’s Lodge guests a vast selection of Game Farms, Game Reserves and Wildlife Parks. The moderate weather provides great all year round conditions for viewing Game on a day trip.
SEAVIEW LION PARK
The Seaview Lion Park is located about 30 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth’s city centre. Set in 120 hectares of superb bush and grassland, the Wildlife Park offers the unique experience of close-up game-viewing. Seaview Lion Park has a very successful White Lion breeding project – plus tigers, caracals, leopards and a variety of other animals in our wildlife sanctuary area. It’s not just about lions at Seaview Lion Park with most cat species, giraffe, zebra, various antelope (Nyala, Impala, Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Duiker, Blue Duiker, Grysbok, Blesbok) and monkeys roam free. Your game drive is the first part of your Seaview Lion Park experience and at the lion/tiger camp, you’ll be able to get out of your vehicle and take a walk on your own to see some of the 50-plus lions, many of them White Lions and Siberian Tigers.
KRAGGA KAMMA GAME PARK
Kragga Kamma Game Park is home to vast herds of African game, including White Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, Nyala, Bontebok, Lechwe and many more species. All the animals roam freely, unrestricted in natural surroundings. The owner-operated animal-friendly park, where no hunting or other disturbance of the game is permitted, means that you always get close up views and great photo opportunities. Take a drive in your own vehicle through the park on the well-maintained roads (no need for 4×4) and enjoy viewing the game in any weather conditions from the comfort of your car. For those really close encounters, choose the 2 hour 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.
NEARBY GAME RESERVES
The Addo Elephant Park Day Trip is the ideal way that Admiral’s Lodge Guesthouse guests can enjoy a self-drive or guided tour of the famous Addo Elephant National Park, situated an easy 36 min (48.0 km) drive away.
ADDO ELEPHANT PARK
If it is elephants you want to see then head to Addo Elephant Park. Now South Africa’s third largest national reserve, Addo Elephant National Park lies in the malaria-free Sundays River valley. The Mathyolweni Gate is an easy 36 min (48.0 km) drive away from Admiral’s Lodge.
Addo Elephant National Park is home to one of the densest African Elephant populations on earth, of more than 600. The Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to become the only park in the world to lay claim to Africa’s ‘Big 7’ which include elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark. It has done this by expanding along the coast to include an offshore marine reserve, an essential breeding grounds for gannets and the largest African penguin colony in the world.
