Port Elizabeth is situated on the East Coast of South Africa in the Eastern Cape Province. It is some 800 km's North-East of Cape Town and with it's population of 1,2 million inhabitants is the fourth largest city in South Africa. It is a major port that handled 1,390 ships during the 2005/06 financial year and the Eastern Cape's 
industrial power house having two major car manufacturing plants in the area,General Motors South Africa and Volkswagen South Africa. Port Elizabeth is justifiably known through out South Africa as the "friendly city" where the locals will make you feel more than welcome. Located at the Southern end of a 300 km stretch of coast line known as the "Sunshine Coast" , which starts at St Francis Bay in the South and ends in East London in the North, with 300 days a year of sunny weather it is easy to see where the name comes from and with it's hundreds of kilometers of unpolluted un-crowded beaches is a major tourist destination for local South African and overseas tourist alike.
Port Elizabeth has the distinction of been called the "water sports capital" of South Africa and has numerous world class and even "Blue Flag" status beaches to enjoy. These range from the more "wild" Northern beaches outside of Algoa Bay to the protected lifeguard patrolled Southern beaches. Bathing, surfing, diving, sailing and every imaginable water sport is enjoyed through out the year in the warm Indian Ocean. Every Autumn, in the month of March, a festival is held on one of Port Elizabeth's beaches and is called the Splash Festival during which varies activities like beach ruby, beach soccer, a Easter egg hunt, different live performances and the crowning of Mr and Miss Splash as well as stalls for local vendors and food catering services are set up and that night a fantastic fireworks display.
Nelson Mandela Bay, which unites Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch bears the varied legacy of an area which saw the first meetings of Khoisan, British, Dutch, German and Xhosa people. Port Elizabeth has a rich history which
allows culturally-inclined
visitors to follow the Historic Donkin Heritage trail, which allows the visitor to follow in the footsteps of the 1820 Settlers on their journey of discovery and settlement. While on the five kilometer trail you will visit 47 historical significant sites and architectural interesting buildings in the Old Hill area of central Port Elizabeth.
In the city itself there are two beautiful parks with landscaped and maintained gardens. The best known one, St Georges Park which has the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1866, incorporated and the world class Sahara Oval cricket grounds into it and covers more than 72 hectare, it also boasts a public swimming pool and acres of lush green grass. In the lower Baakens River Valley which runs right through the center of Port Elizabeth you will find Settlers Park, a 80 hectare nature reserve that has an abundance of indigenous flora and is a favorite for local bird watches with more than 140 species to be found. A small population of a diminutive antelope, the klipspringer, makes this park its home and although very shy can be seen by the lucky few.
Port Elizabeth is the gateway to the Eastern Cape with it's abundance of wildlife, the nature reserves managed by the Eastern Cape Parks cover an area of some 438000 hectares alone, not to mention the 20 odd private game reserves in the area, one seems to pop up every other day, all which are malaria free. The Eastern Cape, been the second biggest province in South Africa, stretches from the lush semi-tropical coast to the arid interior and contains all seven of South Africa’s biomes or ecological zones and hence boasts the"big seven", one cannot forget whales and the Great White Shark.
One could not mention Port Elizabeth without bringing up the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World, a large complex situated in Summerstrand on the beach front. Boasting everything you would need for a night on the town or a day outing, it is a favorite amongst locals and tourist alike. Port Elizabeth boasts more restaurants per resident than any other South African city and you are sure to find something to suit your palette in the city be it a luxury five star meal prepared by a renown chef or a packet of "slap chips" (French Fries) from a street vendor.
Port Elizabeth, with Despatch and Uitenhage have been incorporated into the greater Nelson Mandela Bay Municipally district, to find out exactly how this area is governed please visit http://www.mandelametro.gov.za
