What to do in Port Elizabeth Archives

ANN’S VILLA – A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

This national monument, formerly known as Webster’s Hotel, was built in 1864 and lies at the foot of the Zuurberg Pass has a colourful history spanning decades. The year 1867 marks the year that diamonds were discovered along the Orange River and fortune hunters flocked to the mining sites via every known route. The Webster Hotel was conveniently situated and benefitted from this as they offered accommodation, food, a smithy and a well-stocked retail shop on the premises. Business was good. When and how the name changes from Webster’s hotel to Ann’s Villa came about is not clear from old papers, but today it is still known as Ann’s Villa. From old records it seems that a school was started 24 years after the villa was built. The teacher for the school, stayed in the first room upstairs in the villa. It seems that the Websters also paid the teacher’s… Read more >

THE TALE OF THE SACRAMENTO

Like many old artefacts there is a story behind the story and so does the Sacramento canon also have a back story. This canon was on the deck of the Portuguese galleon Sacramento when it ran aground on 30 June 1647 off the coast of Port Elizabeth – for those of you who do not know Jan van Riebeeck only arrived in 1652 in the Cape of Good Hope so five years prior to old Jan setting foot ashore at the Cape of Good Hope. What caused the disaster and how many people were aboard the Sacramento is unknown, but 72 made it to shore. After 10 days the group decided to walk from Port Elizabeth to Maputo – which is about 1 300 km away by the way – from where they planned to get a ship to Europe. It must have been hostile and wild country back then… Read more >

FREE HOLIDAY FUN IN THE FRIENDLY CITY

Seeing that the schools are closing today for a six weeks summer holiday break, I am putting up some holiday fun activities to do in and around Port Elizabeth. RISE AND SHINE! Get up nice and early. Go for a stroll along Shark Rock Pier to watch sunrise over the Indian Ocean. What a better way to start your day? BE A VOLUNTEER Sancobb (but you will probably still remember it as Samrec) is always looking for volunteers of any age to help with daily tasks caring for the penguins at the centre as well as to help protect our precious marine life. A GIANT FLAG Did you know that Port Elizabeth is home to the largest flag in South Africa? Take a walk around The Donkin and watch the giant flag of 12 meters by 8 meters, sitting on a 65 metre high pole, fly in the wind. It… Read more >

SANCCOB PORT ELIZABETH (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS SAMREC)

SAMREC (SA Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre) is Port Elizabeth’s marine rehabilitation centre situated in the Cape Recife Nature Reserve. At the centre you can interact with some African penguins, (also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin) a ganet and cormorant or whatever type of bird that they rescue and is on the road to recovery. Once extremely numerous, the African penguin is declining in numbers due to a combination of threats and is classified as endangered. (In fact more endangered than our precious rhinos). Penguins mate for life and they recognize each other according to the amount of black spots on their chests – it works something like the human’s fingerprints – not one penguin’s marking is the same than the next one. Penguins have an average life span of 10 to 27 years, but in captivity they easily reach the age of 30. The African penguin is only found… Read more >

GRYSBOK TRAIL @ NMMU

It was an early rise and shine on a Saturday morning for a walk on the Grysbok trail. The whole of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) campus was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. The 830 ha is dominated by the St Francis Dune Thicket vegetation. This fynbos vegetation is highly threatened due to agricultural clearing and coastal development. Despite some problems with invasive Australian Acacias the vegetation is in very good condition. The trail meanders through the reserve, providing opportunities for observing the exciting fauna and flora of the area. Do take time to visit the reserve on different times of the year to experience the whole spectrum of the flora and fauna. There are two trail options that can be walked, a 3.2 km or a 2.5 km loop. Both trails cover relatively flat terrain and are suitable for moderately fit people and no bundu… Read more >

A WALK IN ST GEORGE’S PARK

Today we opted to walk instead of drive in our exploring stint. A leisurely afternoon stroll (actually in search of a geocache) took us to the historic St George’s Park and surroundings to learn and appreciate a bit of history. Our first stop was at the historic Port Elizabeth Cricket Club (PECC) which was established in 1859 where a club match was underway. The grounds boast a couple of unique achievements such as: being the second oldest cricket club in South Africa; being the venue for the first cricket test the first women’s international Test the last Test before South Africa was expelled from world cricket the first ever test series win against Australia the first Rebel test was played here and last but not least it is the sixth oldest cricket ground in the world In 2003 it was only the second season that PECC and Crusaders Rugby Club… Read more >