Events Calendar

2010 World Cup Soccer 2010-08-00 Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) will be hosting various Fifa World Cup Tournament matches during 2010. Click "more info" (PDF 1.5 MB) for a complete guide assisting your with the planning of your trip to World Cup Soccer in South Africa. more info

Nelson Mandela Bay

Welcome to Nelson Mandela Bay, an excellent value-for-money-family-fun-in-the-sun-holiday destination, named after Nelson Mandela - humanitarian and world icon of peace - is located on the south east coast of South Africa. Port Elizabeth, known as the friendly city, is the "official" tourist gateway to the scenic Eastern Cape Province, world renowned Garden Route, the Sunshine Coast, Frontier Country, Sundays River Valley, Kouga / Tsitsikamma as well as the Karoo Heartland Routes and Route 62. A million hectares of malaria free game reserves include the Addo Elephant National Park, as well as numerous private and upmarket reserves offering the 'big five" experience.

Major regular events in Port Elizabeth include the annual "Splash Festival" and the Iron man. During 2010 the city will also host a number of World Cup soccer events.

The estimated population of Nelson Mandela Bay, home to Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch comprises over 1, 5 million, making it South Africa's fifth largest city in terms of population and the second largest in terms of area. Situated on the shores of the Indian Ocean, overlooking Algoa Bay, this bustling seaport city and 'water sport capital of Africa' flaunts an atmosphere of relaxed year-round fun and excitement. Warm, dry Summers and mild Winter temperatures entice water sport lovers to Algoa Bay throughout the year. The breathtaking seashores boast a perfect combination of warm water, protected beaches and invigorating sea breezes.

Here you will find some of the world's best sailing venues, first-rate scuba diving with colourful coral species, beautiful reefs, shipwrecks, "in-bay" seals, whales, dolphins and near perfect conditions for wind-surfing, angling, snorkelling, kite-surfing, fly-fishing and canoeing. Nelson Mandela Bay received the "Cleanest Metro in South Africa Award 2002" and "Blue Flag Status" has repeatedly been awarded to Humewood Beach. This is an international award only given to those beaches that meet excellence in safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. The active tourist can enjoy the excitement of the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World on the beach front; boasting a full mix of family fun, entertainment, shopping, dining and gaming. Other entertainment options in the metro include cinema complexes, numerous sophisticated shopping malls, restaurants to suit any palate, a vibrant nightlife as well as annual an seasonal festivals and events.

Another draw-card to the metro is the charming architectural profile which follows a chronological historical pattern through out the city - starting with Victorian styles, followed by art nouveau, art deco and modern buildings. The biggest number of art deco buildings in South Africa is to be found in the city centre of Port Elizabeth!

The commercial, industrial and agricultural infrastructure of Nelson Mandela Bay is well established. With its proximity to heavily industrialized and intensively farmed areas, Port Elizabeth has port facilities for the handling of bulk, general and container cargo. Being the centre of the country's motor vehicle manufacturing industry - dubbed the little Detroit of South Africa - employment in the metro is mainly by the automotive and auto components followed by food, pharmaceutical, tourism, agriculture, textile and rubber industries.