AFRICAN DREAM *

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

PORT ELIZABETH – FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW


Port Elizabeth, situated at the foot of South Africa and fondly known by many diverse names such as The Windy City, The Friendly City, PE, The “Lost City” of South Africa and too many more to mention on a first outing. Locals refer to it simply has PE so you will always identify a local by their fond use of PE.

A typical introduction to PE would be that we are the proud host city to Shamwari Game Reserve, Addo National Elephant Park and Kariega Game Park and I would imagine that most wannabe PE tourists make a turn at at least one of these parks but perhaps they forget to investigate the other fun things to do which is sad really because besides all the mean names we are labeled with here in PE, we are in fact a truly fun lot. As a true PE patriot, I will allow you into the inner PE circle and allow you access to vital fun information, but I am not going to bore you or myself all at once with too much detail but just enough to wet your appetite….

For those of you who travel with kids, I will include places that are entertaining for children (and adults).

NO 7 CASTLE HILL, a monument which is like a demo to what life was like in the early days of PE

MUSEUM, SNAKE PARK AND OCEANARIUM, Complete with penguins, dolphin shows (with an underground viewing pit) and an indoor fish/shark tank, but no swimming with the sharks I’m afraid….


GHOST WALKS through some of the oldest areas in PE complete with guide and all
ART IN THE PARK, situated in St Georges Park but get your timing right for this one as it is only on the first Sunday of each month


KRAGGA KAMMA GAME PARK, and in this park, you are normally very lucky and nearly always see animals





SEAVIEW GAME PARK, this ones a winner because you get to see lions albeit in a caged areas but you can’t feed or stroke the cute kitties, no!! But if you pick the time of year correctly, the kids can pet the lion cubs



HOLMELEIGH FARM is a touch farm, where kids can feed and touch the animals, such as horses(yawn), donkeys, goats, ostrichs, ducks, bunnies(cute), cows(and you can milk her), tortoises and pigs to name a few, and it’s a real farm style experience. For mom and dad, there is a tea garden and huge play area with tractor rides and pony rides

THE BOARDWALK COMPLEX which has go-carting, mini-golf, movies and an amusement arcade. Ten-pin bowling is also great family fun and the tiny tots can be safely amused in Ruff & Tumble
MCARTHUR BATHS which has a warm water pool as one attraction and two water slides. There are also two very cool restaurants where you can munch in the sun or have cocktails. The baths have their own lifeguards
BUSHBUCK RIDGE another game reserve and an awesome eating house

FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART
BOARDWALK CASINO – gamble your heart away
BEACHFRONT PUBS AND GRUBS, too many to mention
DEEP SEA FISHING, catch tuna, yellow tail and more
MAITLAND MINES, for an all out 4 x 4 experience and even rent your own quad bike in the bush right near the beach aswell
SUPPER AT NOSH RESTAURANT, a new funky spot to eat and drink
THE BOMA - to be featured soon, which is a real boot camp style experience complete with rock climbing, quad biking, bon fires and starlight camping....


May 19th

A thought to folk who don't live near the ocean, we have to boast about the most stunning beaches, which literally stretch on for miles and miles, with interesting ship wrecks, awesome surf spots and rock pools for the kiddies to collect starfish - but remember to always put them back where you found them!!! Most of the pristine beaches are marine sanctuaries and protected by the ever present nature conservation officials.

One such spot is Noordhoek, which not only has great seashore fishing/surf fishing, surfing and rockpools, but there is also a beautiful lighthouse. And whats more is that on a clear day, which is often, you will see the splendour of Bottlenose Dolphins surfing the waves just off the shoreline. Situated on the outskirts of PE, Noordhoek is the ideal area to pack a picnic basket and choose from one of the many picnic spots along the coastline. Being a stones throw from PE's main beachfront and many hotels and guesthouses, it is an essential part of any visit to Port Elizabeth.