is situated 260 km from Knysna and approxiamately 800km from Cape Town. It is known for its sunshine and safe sandy beaches. Port Elizabeth, or PE as it is referred to by residents, has many historical attractions, one the most interesting being 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.
Within the city there are some beautiful parks with well landscaped gardens, two of the larger ones are: , which covers 73 hectares and is home to the world famous Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial and the 1882 Victorian Pearson Conservatory. The other Park being the 54 hectare in the city centre, which is a nature lover's paradise, as it boasts beautiful flora and fauna. Just 73 km from the city is the exclusive, private Shamwari Game Reserve which is home to the "Big Five" of Africa. Early morning and evening game drives are available. Then there is the, dedicated to the preservation of the Eastern Cape Elephant and the Cape Buffalo.
The combination of calm waters and fair breezes in PE are perfect conditions for sailing, and the safe beaches allow for swimming, surfing, body boarding and any kind of water sport. Scuba diving enthusiasts can choose form a number of great spots with lots to see, such as ship wrecks, coral reefs and beautifully coloured fish in the warm waters with up 30 metres visibility. PE is also home to the , exhibits within the Oceanarium include an underwater observation area in the aquarium, a dolphin research centre, various smaller tanks of 40 different species of bony fish as well as two larger tanks which display sharks and stingrays. A large seal pool enclosure houses a small colony of Cape fur seals and a stranded elephant seal. Penguins and other sea birds are on display in a landscaped area including a swimming hole and waterfall.
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