Port Elizabeth – the Watersports Capital of Africa
Port Elizabeth is the Water Sports Capital of Africa!
Port Elizabeth is beach-front city from end to end, with 40km of beach and coastline, a yacht harbour, good waves, good winds, warm Indian Ocean water and a multitude of watersports on offer for anyone who wants to get wet or take on the wind – from first time jet-skiers to experienced sailors
The most popular beaches are found centrally, thanks to the fact that they are relatively safe and are patrolled by lifeguards. These beaches are easily reached and most likely not far from where you are staying. You can probably see them from your hotel window. Besides a bunch of bikini clad bodies on the beach, you will spot surfers, body-boarders, kayakers, boardsailers, jet-skis, the bright sales of hobie cats and bigger sailing boats further out on the Bay…but the fun really starts on the ‘Wild Side’ – the areas of coastline on either side of PE’s ‘main drag’.
Algoa Bay can be windy, but this makes for the best windsurfing conditions along the South African coastline. Only 8km west along Marine Drive from the central beaches, Noordhoek Beach is one of South Africa’s most challenging and best beaches for very experienced (‘hardcore’) boardsailers. It is totally exposed to the ocean, there are great reef breaks and the cross-swells can get insane!
Both surfing and kitesurfing are popular along the entire length of the Sunshine Coast. The most popular beaches in Port Elizabeth for kitesurfing are King’s Beach (central PE) and Sardinia Bay, 20 mins drive from Port Elizabeth just past Schoenmakerskop and Noordhoek Beach.
There are many great surf breaks in Port Elizabeth – highly dependent on conditions though. Pollock Beach in Summerstrand is one the most popular surf spots in PE. The break there is known as ‘Pipe’, but there are many more suited to all levels of experience, and the International surfing Mecca of J-Bay is an hour’s drive along the coast…
You can hire surf boards, boogie boards, kite-boards, jet-skis, hobies, kayaks and other equipment, and lessons are also offered in most watersports disciplines.
The ocean is not the only place to play. The Swartkops River and River Mouth are popular windsurfing spots, and there are many other river mouths in and around Port Elizabeth that throw up surf breaks.
Fishing – whether from the beach, rocks, river shore, ski-boat or deep sea – there’s plenty, though, like everywhere else in the world these days, licences are required and there are very strict regulations on catch quantities, size and species.
There are many scuba dive sites and reefs in the Bay and on the wild side of Port Elizabeth. Many of these sites are more suited to experienced divers as they are at depth, and there is often a strong surge, but they are in pristine condition, with colourful reef life and lots of fish.
If sailing takes your fancy, see our section on Boating & Yachting in Port Elizabeth for the details of yacht clubs and cross chartering yachts. Sailing is popular in Algoa Bay and also in some of the Rivers.