Port Alfred
Encyclopedia
Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape
province of South Africa
. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km West of Cannon Rocks
.
One of its most distinctive features is a marina with a number of luxurious houses facing on to the canals. Associated with the marina is a small boat harbour, providing mooring for a variety of vessels from luxury yachts and other pleasure craft, to sporting and commercial deep-sea fishing vessels. The city enjoys a mild climate and award winning beaches, Kelly's beach has Blue Flag beach
status, meaning it is one of the top beaches in South Africa. It is growing rapidly due to a high number of retirees and holiday makers building houses there.
Port Alfred is home to Southern Africa's largest air school, 43 Air School In addition, Port Alfred is home to Stenden South Africa, a subsidiary campus of Stenden University in the Netherlands. This campus attracts large numbers of international students to South Africa every year. The famous little village of Bathurst is fifteen km outside Port Alfred and is also becoming a very popular place to live. The area is green, picturesque and is home to South Africa's oldest inn, the Pig and Whistle.
Port Alfred has many activities for visitors including fishing, Scuba diving
, canoeing, water skiing and tubing. Other sporting activities include golf (Port Alfred boasts one of the seven "royal" courses in the country), canoeing, horse trails and surfing, with Port Alfred being regarded by many as one of the best-kept surfing secrets in the country. The town is one of the last few places along the ever increasing coastline. It is unspoilt by overpopulation and commercialism, naturally beautiful and a relaxing place to be.
Port Alfred is home to the Kowie Striders fun run. The event is held on the 26th December annually and is enjoyed by holiday makers from far and wide. Both the 5 km and 8 km routes are well supported and all entrants get a souvenir Kowie Striders glass. The event is characterised by the announcer who welcomes finishers to the line with the catch phrase, "And the crowd goes wild at the Kowie".
as a buffer between the Western Cape and the Ama Xhosa. Originally it was two separate towns (settlers arriving on the west bank in 1820 named their settlement Port Kowie, and those arriving on the east bank named theirs Port Frances). In 1839, William Cock started to block the natural river mouth to the east and canalise the present opening to the sea. This allowed high-masted sailing ships with their heavy cargo to dock at the wharf. Later, in 1860, when Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred visited, the name was changed to honour him.
and R72
roads. The R67 connects Port Alfred with the N2 at Grahamstown
to the north, while the R72 joins the N2 near Colchester to the west and follows the coast to East London in the east.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km West of Cannon Rocks
Cannon Rocks
Cannon Rocks is a small seaside town on the Indian Ocean in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, between Boknes and the boundary of the Greater Addo Elephant Park. It is situated 135 km to the east of Port Elizabeth and 180 km west of East London approximately 15 minutes from the town...
.
One of its most distinctive features is a marina with a number of luxurious houses facing on to the canals. Associated with the marina is a small boat harbour, providing mooring for a variety of vessels from luxury yachts and other pleasure craft, to sporting and commercial deep-sea fishing vessels. The city enjoys a mild climate and award winning beaches, Kelly's beach has Blue Flag beach
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
status, meaning it is one of the top beaches in South Africa. It is growing rapidly due to a high number of retirees and holiday makers building houses there.
Port Alfred is home to Southern Africa's largest air school, 43 Air School In addition, Port Alfred is home to Stenden South Africa, a subsidiary campus of Stenden University in the Netherlands. This campus attracts large numbers of international students to South Africa every year. The famous little village of Bathurst is fifteen km outside Port Alfred and is also becoming a very popular place to live. The area is green, picturesque and is home to South Africa's oldest inn, the Pig and Whistle.
Port Alfred has many activities for visitors including fishing, Scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, canoeing, water skiing and tubing. Other sporting activities include golf (Port Alfred boasts one of the seven "royal" courses in the country), canoeing, horse trails and surfing, with Port Alfred being regarded by many as one of the best-kept surfing secrets in the country. The town is one of the last few places along the ever increasing coastline. It is unspoilt by overpopulation and commercialism, naturally beautiful and a relaxing place to be.
Port Alfred is home to the Kowie Striders fun run. The event is held on the 26th December annually and is enjoyed by holiday makers from far and wide. Both the 5 km and 8 km routes are well supported and all entrants get a souvenir Kowie Striders glass. The event is characterised by the announcer who welcomes finishers to the line with the catch phrase, "And the crowd goes wild at the Kowie".
History
Port Alfred was established in the early 1820s by British settlers who were moved into the area by Lord Charles SomersetLord Charles Somerset
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826.-Background:...
as a buffer between the Western Cape and the Ama Xhosa. Originally it was two separate towns (settlers arriving on the west bank in 1820 named their settlement Port Kowie, and those arriving on the east bank named theirs Port Frances). In 1839, William Cock started to block the natural river mouth to the east and canalise the present opening to the sea. This allowed high-masted sailing ships with their heavy cargo to dock at the wharf. Later, in 1860, when Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred visited, the name was changed to honour him.
Transport
Port Alfred is located on the junction of the R67R67 (Eastern Cape)
The R67 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Port Alfred with Queenstown via Grahamstown.-External links:*...
and R72
R72 (Eastern Cape)
The R72 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects the N2 east of Port Elizabeth with East London via Port Alfred. It provides an alternative to the N2 for travel between Port Elizabeth and East London.-External links:*...
roads. The R67 connects Port Alfred with the N2 at Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
to the north, while the R72 joins the N2 near Colchester to the west and follows the coast to East London in the east.
External links
- Port Alfred town website
- Stenden South Africa
- River Hotels