A Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park Travel Portal is whl.travel's Eighth in South Africa

A Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park Travel Portal is whl.travel’s Eighth in South Africa

whl.travel
29 January 2010

SIEN ONDER VIR DIE BOODSKAP IN AFRIKAANS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN AFRIKAANS

Notable as the locations of some of Africa’s preeminent water-sport destinations, Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park lie halfway between Cape Town and Durban on South Africa’s Eastern Cape. With a moderate climate and pleasant temperatures all year round, Port Elizabeth – more affectionately known as P.E. or the Friendly City by locals – and the surrounding region also offer exciting activities to terrestrial sports enthusiasts, nature lovers and history buffs alike.

Traditional wear in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is still regularly seen. These two ladies are a prime example of the Xhosa heritage common throughout the province and in cities like Port Elizabeth.

Port Elizabeth enjoys the natural shelter of Algoa Bay, the sight of which is enhanced by the city’s distinctive Victorian architecture. Up close, the discerning traveller can get the best sense of the area by taking a Port Elizabeth tour, such as the Real City Tour, which gives visitors a true taste of South Africa and its contrasts, or the Shebeen Tour to pay a visit to some local townships and their historic taverns. A visit to a local museum, a hike on one of the region’s many nature trails, a day of whale watching or a round of golf at the Humewood Golf Course are also holiday favourites.

About an hour’s drive north of Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s third largest park, Addo Elephant National Park. Established in 1931 to save elephants on the verge of extinction, it is a refuge for elephants, as well as black rhinos, Cape buffalos and others. A safari game drive is a must for animal lovers and anyone wishing to catch a glimpse the Big Five. Whether you decide to stay near the park in an Addo-area forest lodge or other Port Elizabeth hotels found in nearby game reserves and towns, you’re never far from great animal action.

www.travel-easterncape.com is whl.travel’s eighth destination portal in the Republic of South Africa and now connects travellers to the Eastern Cape and some of the country’s most beautiful beaches through Lyon Tours & Safaris. Speaking on behalf of the team, Neil Lyons says “One can find the world in the Eastern Cape and yet you will not find another Eastern Cape in the world. We are very positive and excited about our partnership with whl.travel and are looking forward to an extremely successful website. It is great to know that whl.travel is passionate about sustainable development.” (Neil and the team actively strive to promote sustainable tourism establishments by recommending them to clients.) “We hope, together with whl.travel, to improve the lives of some of the underprivileged individuals in the Eastern Cape. In creating awareness through travel and tourism, we can help benefit local communities and create enhancement programmes for these communities. This in turn, helps conservation throughout the communities, protecting our natural and cultural heritage.”

Port Elizabeth is a proud host city of the World Cup in 2010, along with Cape Town, Johannesburg and Nelspruit, which is near the Panorama Route and Western Kruger. Other whl.travel South African destinations include the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route.

For more articles about South Africa, visit the whl.travel blog’s regional page on Southern Africa. See our whl.travel Flickr photostream for pictures from South Africa.

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IN AFRIKAANS

Port Elizabeth en Addo Nationale Park word gesien as twee van Afrika se mees prominente watersport bestemmings. Dit le halfpad tussen Kaapstad en Durban in Suid-Afrika se Oos-Kaap en spog met ‘n goeie klimaat en aangename temperature reg deur die jaar. Port Elizabeth, of P.E en die ‘Vriendelike Stad’ – so genome deur sy inwoners – en die omringende omgewing bied ‘n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite aan sport entoesiaste, natuurliefhebbers en diegene met ‘n belagstellin in die geskiedenis van die area.

The Eastern Cape of South Africa has some excellent young talent in its rural areas, as demonstrated by the wire cars these boys have made for their enjoyment. The whl.travel local connection would like to harness this talent to empower the local communities by giving them the opportunity to sell these crafts.

Port Elizabeth geniet die natuurlike hawe van Algoa Baai en hierdie uitsig op die baai word gekomplimenteer deur die stad se ken merkende Victoriaanse argitektuur. Vir ‘n naderby kyk, kan die berese reisiger ‘n goeie gevoel van die area kry deur een van die Port Elizabeth stadstoere, soos die Real City Tour, mee te maak. Hierdie toere gee die besoeker ‘n ware smaak van Suid-Afrika en die kontras tussen die mense en kulture. Die Shabeentoer besoek van die nabygelee ‘townships’ en hulle historiese tavernes. Ander vakansie gunstelinge in Port Elizabeth sluit in ‘n besoek aan een van die stad se museums, ‘n staptoer op een van die menigde natuur roetes in die omgewing, ‘n dag van walvisbesigtiging of ‘n rondte golf by die Humewood Golfbaan.

Sowat ‘n uur se ry noord van Port Elizabeth vind mens Suid’Afrikas se derde grootste park, die Addo Olifant Nationale Park. Hierdie park is in 1931 gestig om olifante op die rand van uitsterwing te red en is vandag nog ‘n veilige hawe vir olifante sowel as swartrenosters, Kaapse buffels en ander diere. ‘n Safari wildbesieningstoer is ‘n moet vir diereliefhebbers en elkeen wat graag die Groot Vyf te sien wil kry. Dit maak nie saak of jy kies om naby die park in die Addo area of een van die Port Elizabeth hotelle op nabygelee wildsplase of dorpe te bly nie, mens is nooit ver van waar die aksie is nie.

www.travel-easterncape.com is whl.travel se agste bestemmings portal in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika en verbind nou reisigers met die Oos-Kaap en van die land se mooiste strande, deur Lyon Tours & Safaris. Neil Lyon, hoof van die Lyon Tours & Safaris span noem “Mens kan die wereld in die Oos-Kaap vind, maar mens sal nie nog ‘n Oos-Kaap in die wereld vind nie. Ons is baie positief en opgewonde oor ons vennootskap met whl.travel en sien uit na ‘n uiters suksesvolle webtuiste. Dit is wonderlik om te weet dat whl.travel passievol is oor volhoubare ontwikkeling.” (Neil en die span streef aktief daarna om volhoubare toerisme ondernemings te bemark deur hulle aan kliente voor to stel.) “Ons hoop dat ons in samewerking met whl.travel, die lewens van sommige van die minderbevoorregte individue in die Oos-Kaap kan verbeter. Deur bewustheid met toerisme te skep, kan ons die plaaslike gemeenskappe help en verrykkings programme vir hierdie gemeenskappe skep. Hierdie programme het die potensiaal om konservasie in die gemeenskappe te help en so ons natuurlike en kulturele erfenis te bewaar.”

Port Elizabeth is ‘n trotse gasheerstad vir die Sokker Wereldbeker in 2010, naas Kaapstad, Johannesburg en Nelspruit, wat naby die Panorama Roete en Westelike Kruger gelee is. Ander whl.travel Suid-Afrikaanse bestemmings sluit in, die Kaapse Wynland en die Tuinroete.

Vir meer inligting en artikels oor Suid-Afrika, besoek die whl.tours blog se area bladsy oor Suid-Afrika. Gaan na ‘whl.travel Flickr photostream’ vir foto’s van Suid-Afrika.