More holiday bang for your buck in Nelson Mandela Bay

SUMMER’S here, the holidays are upon us and it’s time for us all to enjoy a much needed break. But times are tough and we’re all feeling the crunch financially. So getting more bang for your buck this festive season is certainly a priority.

For families looking for a holiday at the coast, where you can laze on golden beaches, spend as little time as possible driving around and be able to choose from lots of fun activities and entertainment – Nelson Mandela Bay, situated on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean – is an obvious choice.

Generally, Nelson Mandela Bay’s prices – including accommodation, restaurants and the like - are lower than other bigger cities in South Africa. Although Nelson Mandela Bay does offer upmarket luxury accommodation, there are plenty more affordable options such as homely Bed and Breakfasts, self-catering units, budget hotels, caravan and camp sites, beachfront rondavels or township homestays.

“Another incredible plus about this beautiful city is that it literally takes 15-minutes to get from one place to the next – so petrol consumption here is considerably lower. And for families who want to enjoy the luxury of spending lazy days on the beach – while still enjoying all the mod-cons of city life – Nelson Mandela Bay is the place to be,” said Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism CEO Mandlakazi Skefile.

The city’s main attractions are geared towards entertaining families, but it is also an ideal place for young couples, with its nightlife, beachfront restaurants and bars and shopping.

“To help ensure that visitors don’t miss out on what’s on offer in Nelson Mandela Bay, which incorporates Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch, NMBT has compiled a comprehensive guide with a list of no less than 20 full day itineraries, providing a diverse package of great ideas of what to do and see. Visitors can contact one of NMBT’s Visitor Information Centre’s (VIC) to find out more about these options,” said Skefile.

‘The Number One’ option of course – which costs nothing, except for your sunblock - includes soaking up the sun on one of the city’s three Blue Flag beaches, awarded for their excellence in safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. On a Sunday morning, families can also browse through the colourful Kings Beach flea market, looking for bargains, arts and crafts and inexpensive treats for the kids.

The wind does tend to pick up in the afternoons, so choosing to spend the morning at the beach and then doing some exploring later on – is generally a good idea. However, the McArthur Pool and Leisure Centre, ideally situated along the King’s Beach promenade is also a great ‘sand-free’ alternative. The complex comprises of three large pools, including a waist-deep children’s pool with water slides, spacious sun-bathing areas, large changing rooms and two upmarket restaurants.

“A visit to Bayworld across the road will also keep the kids enthralled all afternoon. Unique in Southern Africa, it embraces a natural and cultural history museum combined with an oceanarium and snake park,” said Skefile.

Finishing the day off by dining at a medium-priced but superb restaurant overlooking the sea or selecting any other of the city’s diverse and huge choice of well-priced, top restaurants, won’t leave you disappointed. The up-and-coming yuppie eatery retreat in Richmond Hill, which is becoming a restaurant and small business Mecca, is the perfect place to eat the summer nights away. Port Elizabeth actually boasts the highest per capita ratio of restaurants in South Africa. So you are literally spoilt for choice!

There’s so much else to do it’s impossible to mention it all. From late night music spots, cultural township tours, theatre and cinema, children’s entertainment, upmarket shopping malls, art galleries and museums to game drives, eco-excursions and ocean adventure – there’s something for everyone – and, even better, it wont break the bank!

Here’s just a few other affordable family options to explore:

Option 1:
AM: Explore all the city’s places of interest on a guided tour.
PM: Go on a township tour with a visit to the world renowned Red Location Museum.
Evening: Enjoy a wholesome meal and drinks at a lively township shebeen.

Option 2:
AM: Drive along Port Elizabeth’s rugged coastline, taking in the Maitland sand dune, unspoilt lush vegetation and picturesque smallholdings.
PM: Drive through the Kragga Kamma or Seaview game parks.
Evening: Savour a sumptuous meal at a country restaurant.

Option 3:
AM: Visit the world renowned Addo Elephant National Park, which has the biggest concentration of African elephants in the world and is the only Big Seven reserve in the world – including elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whales and great white sharks.
PM: Cruise leisurely down the picturesque Sundays River before disembarking and tackling the biggest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere.
Evening: Relax and have a braai (barbeque) on the banks of the river.

Option 4:
AM: Play a round of golf at one of the city’s renowned golf courses.
PM: Take a flip in a helicopter with views of the city, Swartkops River Estuary and Cape Recife lighthouse.
Evening: Dine at a restaurant alongside the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Centre’s man-made lake and browse through speciality shops, enjoy great children’s entertainment facilities and take in a cinema.

For further information on what to see and do, contact NMBT on tel: +27 (0) 41 582 2575 (Mon. to Fri. 08h00 to 16h30), info@nmbt.co.za / bookings@nmbt.co.za / www.nmbt.co.za or contact a VIC:

• Airport VIC, Arrivals Hall, Tel: +27 (0) 41 581 0456/7 (Mon. to Fri. 07h00 to 19h00)
• Donkin VIC, Donkin Reserve Lighthouse Building, Belmont Terrace, Central, tel: +27 (0) 41 585 8884 (Mon. to Fri. 08h00 to 16h30, Sat. to Sun. 09h30 to 15h30)
• Boardwalk VIC, Boardwalk Complex, Marine Drive Entrance tel: +27 (0) 41 583 2030 (Mon. to Sun. 08h00 to 19h00)
• Uitenhage Information Office, 73B Graaff-Reinet Road, Uitenhage, tel: +27 (0) 41 922 5214 (Mon. to Fri. 08h00 to 16h30)

Author: Angela Zachariasen