If you’re reading this blog to help decide whether you should study in South Africa, I’m going to do my best to convince you.
When choosing where I wanted to study abroad, I knew I didn’t want to go to Europe. I also took into consideration my majors (ecology/biodiversity and communications) and the fact that I had to go somewhere where English was common. All of these factors led me to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, called PE by the locals. PE feels like a small place at first; in its own right, it is. But once you know where to look, there are a ton of fun things to fill your time with.
Food
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, I’d suggest checking out a neighborhood of PE called Walmer. There are a ton of places with food ranging from sushi to Indian and even a Mexican restaurant. What’s even better about these places is that they’re no more than 15 minutes away from the city center. Taking an Uber here is super common and affordable.
In the closer vicinity to where I stay (a neighborhood called Summerstrand), you can walk to a couple of sweet places. My favorite spot in walking distance is called Something Good, which is right on the beach and has its own ice cream shop. My overall favorite place here is Beer Yard, which is a cool restaurant a bit outside of Summerstrand but still easily accessible by Uber. The food is fantastic, and the vibes are so fun (there’s literally a pool in the restaurant).
Other restaurants I’d highly recommend are Holiday Coffee Co., Richmond Hill Brewing Company, Bridge Street Brewery, and Remo’s Italian. Each has a wide variety of food options and unique atmosphere. Restaurants here also tend to have specials depending on the day, so be sure to check those out before you go.
Outdoor Activities
PE has so much to offer outdoors. Since it’s on the ocean, there are tons of different water sports and activities. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or just looking to get started, you can get involved at any level. Down the road from where I stay, the surf shops offer lessons and any supplies that you might need. A lot of exchange students heading home will sell their surfboards to the incoming group, so keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace to find some great deals.
If surfing isn’t exactly your speed, you can always take a beach day, which is a personal favorite activity of mine. I’d highly recommend checking out Sardinia Bay for its fantastic sunsets.
Other outdoor activities include hiking trails and a climbing gym. The Sacramento Trail is an enjoyable, easy hike right outside of PE. It’s basically a beach walk that takes you to the opposite side of Sardinia Bay. The hike itself isn’t long. You can take great photos along the trail as well as hunt for pretty seashells.
The climbing gym is called Valley Crag and is a super welcoming environment for both experienced and beginner climbers. If you’re looking for a way to be active and/or meet some great people, check it out.
Shopping
On the retail front, there are plenty of fun places to go shopping. The closest option is Boardwalk Mall, which offers a variety of restaurants and shops to cover your basic necessities. An even bigger mall with additional stores can be found in Walmer.
For those who like thrifting, thrift stores here are called charity shops. They’re all over PE and can make for really unique souvenirs. Weekend markets are also very common, which are also great spots to buy trinkets and meet locals.
If there’s one thing I would suggest above all else though, it’s attending a braai. A braai is the South African equivalent of an American barbecue. There, you can meet people, experience South Africa at its core, and just have a good time. I believe that you could walk up to almost any braai and, as long as you brought something with you, be welcomed with open arms. You can’t come to South Africa and not attend a braai.
While there are a lot of other things I’d love to write about what PE has to offer, these are some of the most quintessential places and things to do. If you’re still on the fence or even just starting to look into where you want to study abroad, I can’t recommend PE enough.
Stella Olson is a student at the University of Denver and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.