Port Elizabeth is often just the starting or finishing point for the Garden Route, but has more to offer than just a bed for the night. It has interesting museums and historical town tours. Once you have made it all the way to Port Elizabeth, you might as well go that little bit further east and visit Addo Elephant National Park - an absolute must for elephant lovers!

Things to do
Weather
Self-Drive Safari

BAOBAB trips to Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant Park can be arranged on a tailor-made and self-drive basis. Please examine the accommodation guide for our choice of guesthouses with guideline prices and itineraries and then contact us for a precise quote for your chosen holiday (or for further assistance to help you make up your mind!!).

Accommodation & Activities in Port Elizabeth and Addo

In contrast to the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape is a largely undeveloped province that is often passed over by tourists. Part of the reason for this is the historical legacy of the region, which has seen it carved into black and white areas in a more consolidated manner than elsewhere in the country. The Eastern Cape has thus developed an excessively political culture. The region played a pivotal role in the struggle against Apartheid with many key figures in the freedom movement hailing from the region. Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko both originate from this region.

The journey from Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth is unspectacular but easy. The only real town of note along the way is Humansdorp. It is a gateway to the coastal resorts at St Francis Bay but is also a useful stopping point for refuelling on the way to Port Elizabeth. One site of interest is the Kouga Cultural Centre, promoting cultural tourism in the region and selling local craftwork, is on the right hand side as you enter the town. You will see the characteristic dark brown domed roof as you approach the centre.

Things to do
Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant National Park and Shamwari Game Reserve easily offer an additional 3 action-packed days at the end or start of your itinerary. Activities and places of interest include:

Port Elizabeth Real City Tour: The purpose of this tour is to inform tourists of the city's history and to narrow the divide between wealth and poverty that still exists. The Calabash guides will cover the harsh reality of the Apartheid past but also focus on the successes of the present, such as the thriving township artists and community run schools. The tour also covers the history of the settlers and ventures into the 7 townships to the north of PE, that together house 400,000 people. More info..

Shebeen Tour: An alternative to the Real City Tour is the Shebeen Tour, which lasts for 4 hours and starts late afternoon. Shebeens are previously illegal drinking houses particular to South Africa. They are the vibrant heart of township life. This township tour culminates in a visit to a shebeen where dinner is provided.More info..

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum: This museum houses a collection South African Art in two buildings on either side of the entrance to St Georges Park, PE. British & Oriental art is also displayed although the collections are continuously rotated. Open weekdays (09.00-17.00 hrs) and weekends (14.00-17.00 hrs) and admission is free.

Donkin Heritage Trail: A 5 km self-guided walking tour, which links 47 sites of historical interest in central PE. Follow the blue painted line on the pavement to view the remaining colonial architecture of the city.

Addo Elephant National Park: During the 1800’s most elephants were hunted almost to the point of extinction in the Cape, not only for their ivory but also because they were regarded as a hazard to crops and buildings. In 1931, Addo Elephant Reserve was created when there were just 12 animals left. Now there are around 350, together with amongst others black rhino, Cape buffalo, zebra, warthog, eland, bushbuck and hartebeest. More info..

Shamwari Game Reserve: Shamwari (30 km east of Addo) is a private game reserve boasting the Big Five. It is dedicated to restocking the region with animals that have become scarce as humans moved in. The day includes lunch at the Shamwari/Born Free education centre, a visit to the village of Khaya Lendaba to experience traditional rituals, customs and dress codes, and of course a game drive in an open land rover. More info..

Port Elizabeth is always a pleasant place to visit, whether summer or winter it is generally warm & dry. It recently won the honour of the city with the world’s 5th best climate!

The region of Addo and Shamwari is also blessed with a great climate. Even in winter, when the occasional night frost occurs, the daytime temperature is nearly always pleasantly warm and sunny.

As you probably know by now, self-drive is very common in South Africa, but so are self-drive safaris - an extraordinary experience. The roads and tracks in Addo Elephant Park are of good enough quality for any type of vehicle, however high vision vehicles such as 4x4's or sport utility vehicles will give you a better game viewing experience.