|
Weather
It is currently Summer in South Africa. The weather is warm to hot during the day with temperatures reaching 22 to 30 Degrees Celsius. The evenings do however get a little chilly. It is therefore recommended that you pack a light jacket for the evenings. Also note that it is currently the rainy season in South Africa.
Things to Do
Although we have a very packed schedule during the days of the conference, we realize that many of you might be arriving early due to limited flight schedules. Therefore you may wish to explore some of the sights of Port Elizabeth (PE) during your free time.
PE is South Africa’s second oldest city and also the commercial capital of the Eastern Cape. It is situated on the South Eastern Coast of South Africa (most southern country on the African continent). It forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro with approximately 1.5 million people.
The summers are warm with a very temperate humidity level. Water sports, even surfing, boardsailing and diving, are practised year-round. In all, the visitor soon discovers that the climate is one major contributor to the reputation of the area as offering an outstanding quality of life. PE 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.
This 5 km trail visits 47 historical sites and architectural delights in the Old Hill area of central PE. Within the city there are some beautiful parks with well landscaped gardens, two of the larger ones are: St Georges Park, which covers 73 hectares and is home to the world famous Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, the oldest Bowling Green in South Africa, Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial and the 1882 Victorian Pearson Conservatory. The other Park being the 54 hectare Settler's Park in the city centre, which is a nature lover's paradise, as it boasts beautiful flora and fauna.
International visitors will be happy to hear that even at the seaside you can enjoy the awe inspiring wildlife of Africa, as there are a number of wildlife reserves in the area around PE. 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 Addo Elephant Park, dedicated to the preservation of the Eastern Cape Elephant and the Cape Buffalo.
The area is Malaria Free. One of PE's greatest treasures are the clean beaches and warm water, making it an ideal water sport centre. The combination of calm waters and fair breezes 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 meters visibility. There are one day courses available as well as boat charters and gear for hire.
Take a Virtual Tour of PE: www.gardenroute.co.za/pe/#tourism
Emergency Information
The national emergency toll free number in South Africa is: 10111
This number can be dialled from any South African phone at no charge.
You may also call 112 from any mobile phone for emergencies.
As with any big city, it is advisable to always be cautious of your surroundings. It is also recommended that you leave your valuables in your hotel room, should you leave the hotel on your own.
We also suggest that you use the hotel's transport service should you wish to go shopping, site seeing, etc.
If you have additional questions or needs that have not been answered by the information included on this website, you may send an email with the subject line “African Academy Safari 2009 Port Elizabeth Question” to Alfie Hamid at alhamid@cisco.com
|
