Things to do in

Port Elizabeth

Enjoy a relaxing river cruise along the majestic Sundays River passing the Alexandria Coastal Dune field and many local birdlife feeding in their natural habitat. The cruise also includes a stop at one of the highest sand dunes. If you climb to the top, you will be treated to spectacular views of the bay. Tours are from 1.5 to 2.5-hours and are perfect for small or larger groups, families, friends, bird watchers or birthday parties, bachelor/ achelorette parties and year-end functions.     Guests are welcome to bring along their own snacks and drinks.  

Get picked up from your hotel in Port Elizabeth. Spend a full day exploring the third largest National Park in South Africa with an expert local guide! The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area.  Nowadays, you can see a variety of antelope and zebra species, as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. The park is also the only one in the world to conserve the “Big 7” – the Big 5 as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast.  An excursion to the Addo Elephant park is a must when visiting this unique area.

Travel down the picturesque Sundays River to the Alexandria Dune field; the largest and most impressive dune field in South Africa. Suited to beginners and experienced sandboarders, choose from 2 or 3-hour sandboarding tours which give you ample time to learn some new skills and have a great time while doing it. If you are not quite comfortable to stand on the board, try a sit down or belly-board ride down the dune. Otherwise the guides will show you how to master the technique of standing on the board as you surf down the dune.

The tour departs from Algoa Bay Yacht Club at Port Elizabeth Harbor in the early morning. Board the catamaran with your guide, and then set sail onto the waters where the adventure begins. As you sail around the coastline, watch out for the vast array of marine life that lives here, as you learn about their mating and migration patterns. The best time for whale spotting begins in June when humpback whales move along the coast as they head up the east coast of Africa towards their breeding grounds. Humpback whales can be spotted in Algoa Bay between June and early January, reaching peaks in July/August, and then again in November/December when they make their return journey with newborn calves in tow. Southern right whales are also usually seen very close inshore nearby to the harbor during July to October as they enter the safety of the bay to give birth. These whales are the most frequently observed whales along the South African coast. Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins also call the bay their home and can be spotted all year round in groups from 10 to 400. These playful dolphins are mostly found in shallow waters either near the beaches or around St. Croix Island, and tend to come right up to the boat and ride along in the bow waves. Common dolphins are also a spectacular sight as they are seen in groups of 1000-2000, swimming along at great speeds. There’s also the chance to see humpback dolphins in Algoa Bay, which usually occur in much smaller groups, anywhere between 1 and 20, and are most commonly seen during the summer months. On the tour, the boat will also sail around St. Croix Island, home to over 20,000 breeding pairs of African penguins, the largest breeding colony found in Africa. Enjoy a close-up encounter with these comical birds and learn about their breeding habits on the island. As well as African penguins, both St. Croix and Brenton Island are inhabited by the endangered African black oystercatcher, white-breasted cormorants and Cape cormorants.

Your experienced and enthusiastic guide will do their best to locate as much of the game available in the area and interpret their behavior for you during your drive. The first few hours of the tour are usually good to see antelope, zebra and lion. As this safari covers all time periods of the day, you should have the opportunity to see most game species. Stopping for a tea and coffee break at around 10:30 AM, you will continue on the game drive for sightings of elephants and buffalo near the watering holes. At lunchtime you can enjoy a delicious South African braai with juice, mineral water, beer and white wine. After lunch continue on the safari before being returned to your place of accommodation. Refreshments will be served throughout the drive.

Spend 2 days exploring the 3rd largest national park in South Africa with a local guide and look for elephants and other animals in the wild. Learn how the park was created in 1931 when only 11 elephants remained in the area, and how the finely-tuned ecosystem is now home to one of the densest elephant populations on earth. Enjoy 2 game drives to look for some of the park's 600 residenct elephants, along with lions, buffalo and endangered black rhino. Marvel at the landscape as you look for spotted hyenas and leopards, along with different species of antelope and zebra. Keep a close look out for the flightless dung beetle found almost exclusively in the area. The park is the only national park in the world to conserve the Big 7 – the Big 5 plus the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast. This 2-day safari includes overnight accommodation, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner.

See local wildlife in its natural habitat on a half-day safari tour. Make your way to the Amakhala Game Reserve, about an hour's drive away from Port Elizabeth. Your experienced and knowledgeable ranger will show you around the malaria-free reserve. Experience unforgettable wildlife sightings and breathtaking scenery from the back of an open safari vehicle. Choose to take an optional 1-hour boat cruise on the beautiful Bushman's River, the lifeblood of the reserve that teems with rich birdlife. Have the chance of spotting hippos in the water and the Big Five on the riverbanks.

Explore one of South Africa's oldest cities on a 2-hour guided walk. Start at Port Elizabeth’s Campanile Memorial, at the entrance to the railway station. Continue to Route 67 and follow a trail that combines both historical and modern-day elements of the culture of the Eastern Cape. It pays tribute to Madiba’s 67 years of service to South Africans. Visit the Donkin Reserve at Belmont Terrace and the old lighthouse. Admire old Victorian churches, newly renovated terraced cottages, and a lighthouse that once guided ships into Algoa Bay. Other attractions include Fort Frederick, City Hall, Market Square, and St. Georges Park, which is the oldest cricket ground in South Africa.

Choose your direction, from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth or vice versa and plan your own itinerary, decide which stops you would like to make, and how much time you want to spend in each town. There is no time limit on your ticket. It will only expire when you reach your final destination Buses are 19-seater buses with on-board Wi-Fi, USB ports, TV, DVD players, air conditioning and trailers capable of carrying surfboards and bicycles.

Choose your direction, from Cape Town to Johannesburg or vice versa and plan your own itinerary, decide which stops you would like to make, and how much time you want to spend in each town. There is no time limit on your ticket. It will only expire when you reach your final destination. Buses are 19-seater buses with on-board Wi-Fi, USB ports, TV, DVD players, air conditioning and trailers capable of carrying surfboards and bicycles.