Nelson Mandela Metropole includes the cities of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch. This popular coastal region is known for its beautiful and safe beaches along the sunny coast of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape province. The region has a good road infrastructure and there is an airport at Port Elizabeth.
This metropolitan area is named after the former president, Nelson Mandela, and the governing administration strives to align itself with this great man’s aspirations and vision he had for South Africa.
The area enjoys warm summers and mild winters, which are favourable for water sport enthusiasts, and those interested in activities on the sea. Various boat trips allow visitors to experience close encounters with sea life such as seals, whales, dolphins and even ragged-tooth sharks. Despite it being a mainly urban area, the Nelson Mandela Metropole is well known for its prolific bird life.
A familiar landmark in Port Elizabeth is the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World which offers entertainment for the whole family including entertainment, shopping, dining and gaming. Other entertainment options in the Nelson Mandela Metro include various modern shopping malls, cinemas and numerous restaurants. Port Elizabeth has a vibrant nightlife as well as annual and seasonal festivals and events.
A popular annual event held in this region is the Splash Festival. This fun filled event takes place over the Easter weekend and combines a family and water sports festival. Live music performances, beach sports, water sports, kiddies programmes, fireworks, food and craft market make this an exciting place to be over this holiday time.
There are great accommodation facilities making it a good base to explore the surrounding regions, especially game viewing opportunities that are within an hours drive from the Metro.
The Nelson Mandela Metro is also known for its motor vehicle manufacturing industry and the harbour is one of the key ore loading facilities in southern Africa.
Copyright © 2008 Mark Thomas