Situated along Algoa Bay with miles of magnificent coastline and protected beaches, Port Elizabeth is the fifth largest city in South Africa with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. The city boasts a vibrant cultural life, beautiful beaches, first-class entertainment, and a wide variety of interesting architectural and historical sites. CEA’s Port Elizabeth program is the perfect destination to explore the many fascinating aspects of South African history and culture.

Once in Port Elizabeth, you will find yourself in a beautiful coastal city that has more sunshine than any other coastal town in South Africa. The climate is mild and invites to outdoor activities ranging from hiking and mountain biking to a multitude of water sports. Scuba divers in particular will enjoy the ship wrecks, coral reefs and colorful fish that the waters off Port Elizabeth’s shores have to offer. With its location in the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth is also an ideal starting point for venturing to other South African attractions such as the famous Garden Route, national parks such as the Tsitsikamma National Park or one of the many game reserves boasting the Big Five of South Africa, elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, and rhinos.

While being a port city and important center for the South African motor industry, Port Elizabeth has retained a laid-back attitude that has given it the nickname “the Friendly City.” A great number of tourists from within South Africa as well as Europe and the United States make their way to this beautiful city every year, taking adventure of the location, weather, numerous attractions, and traditional South African food and wine.

Port Elizabeth, while a modern city, is steeped in history, reaching back to the times of the Khoe tribe who grazed their cattle along the Bakens River. A few centuries later, the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias was the first European to venture into the bay in 1488. The city of Port Elizabeth was officially founded in 1820 when the British settlers landed in the bay. Port Elizabeth and its neighboring cities Uitenhage and Despatch are also famed for being situated in the home province of South Africa’s former president and anti-Apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela. Port Elizabeth’s long-standing history can be observed in its many historical sites as well as its great ethnic diversity, reflecting the many groups that have made this city their home.