The Best of Port Elizabeth Walking Tour
Discover the rich history, culture, and art of Port Elizabeth on a guided sightseeing tour around the city. Explore Port Elizabeth aka the Windy City, Ibhayi (‘the bay’ in isiXhosa), or the Friendly City as it is affectionately known by locals. This coastal hub in the Eastern Cape has many hidden treasures and some amazing history. One of our major attractions is the Donkin Reserve, one of Port Elizabeth’s most important historical draws. Climb the narrow wooden steps of an 1861 lighthouse and catch views of the Amazing city from high above. Visit other exquisite attractions including The Campanile, Fort Frederick, City Hall, and Market Square. Join us on this fascinating tour and discover why Nelson Mandela chose to have his name bestowed upon this amazing city.
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Saint George's Park
St George's Park is a municipal park with a variety of uses. It was created in 1860 and is most generally linked with the St George's Oval cricket fields, which are located inside the park. The Park also has the oldest bowling green in South Africa (dubbed "Founders Green"), Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial, and the 1882 Victorian Pearson Conservatory, which was created for the growth of exotic plants, water lilies, and magnificent orchids.
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DONKIN RESERVE
Sir Rufane Donkin has declared the Donkin Reserve, Pyramid, and Lighthouse to remain open space in perpetuity. Sir Rufane Donkin constructed a Stone Pyramid Monument with a heartfelt inscription in honor of his late wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city was named, as well as palm-lined walkways and benches. The Pyramid is around 10 meters tall, with sides at the base measuring roughly 8 meters each. The 1861 Lighthouse also houses Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, the official Tourist Information Centre. It is available to the public on weekdays between 08h00 and 16h30 and Saturdays between 09H30 and 15H30.
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No 7 Castle Hill
Number seven Castle Hill is a historical folk museum that dates back to 1832. In 1962, it was designated as a National Monument. Reverend Francis McCleland, an Irish clergyman, erected the home on land purchased in November 1827. This charming Georgian-style home is one of Port Elizabeth's oldest existing dwelling buildings. To depict nineteenth-century household life in Port Elizabeth, it is furnished in an early Victorian style From 1840 to 1870. The collection of predominantly English furniture and household items was mostly donated. The house was rebuilt by the Historical Society in 1965 and inaugurated as a museum in 1968. It is an expansion of Humewood's Bayworld/Port Elizabeth Museum.
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Fort Frederick
Fort Frederick at Port Elizabeth was established in 1799 to prevent the French from invading the Cape Colony during the Napoleonic Wars and, together with the Battle of Blaauwberg, played an important part in securing British sovereignty in South Africa. The fort has several key design features, including the powder magazine, the blockhouse (which has lost its timber upper story), and its original armaments of two 8-pounder guns and one 5.5-inch Howitzer, and the museum collection now includes a diverse selection of muzzle-loaders dating from the late eighteenth century.