Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Often bombarded with nicknames such as 'The Friendly City', 'The Windy City', 'Die Baai', 'Ibhayi' or simply "PE", the city of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape is a world by itself.

It is the second oldest city in South Africa besides being the commercial capital of Eastern Cape. Located on the southern eastern coastal side of South Africa, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape shows a rare contrast of a booming economy and yet reflects a home town feeling. It covers a 16km long stretch along the Algoa Bay and is considered a major seaport of South Africa.

Founded in 1820, the town of Port Elizabeth was inhabited by the British settlers initially in order to strengthen the border area between the Cape Colony and Xhosa tribe. At present it is a part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality having a population of more than 1 million. The city is a sister city to Jacksonville, Florida and Palm Desert, California which are popular American cities. Riding on the waves of time, Port Elizabeth has rapidly developed into a modern day metro and is slated to host the Soccer World Cup 2010.

Being a major seaport, Port Elizabeth, provides substantial ore loading facilities in the world. The motor vehicle industry is an important industry in South Africa. A lot of automotive companies have found a strong foothold here and being an important motor vehicle industry, this place is frequented by the vehicle manufacturers for various motor parts ranging from wiring harnesses, catalytic converters, batteries to tyres.

Whether or not you are a great sports lover, you are likely to fall in love with the amazing range of facilities offered here. From catering to different sports like, cricket, rugby, football, hockey to grooming the upcoming players, everything is taken care of by various organizations.

The coastal location mainly caters as a water sports base. The oldest cricket ground is St George's Park cricket ground, it is officially known as Sahara Oval St George's.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape is a popular tourist hub, the prime attraction being the fine beaches near the city area. The ideal location at the end of the beautiful Garden Route along the Cape has contributed to the place being opted by many for spending a vacation. Some of the historic attractions are concentrated around the CBD and linked by the Donkin Heritage Trail. These comprise Campanile (bell tower), city hall, Donkin Reserve park and monument and the old stone Fort Frederick.

St George's Park, the King George VI Art Gallery, the museum and oceanography room at Humewood are other attractions. For great game viewing opportunities, visiting the famous Addo Elephant Park located near the Zuurberg mountain range and National Park is a great idea. You can also check out the cruise offers and take on a dolphin or whale watching tour.

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