Port Alfred Snapshot
Port Alfred has come a long way since its days as a sleepy little fishing village containing a scattering of weather-beaten holiday cottages for summer use only. Although it bares little resemblance to it's wild and wooly past, past the shopping malls, small boat harbour, golf courses and boutique stores, coffee shops and branded eateries, there are still pockets of chilled holiday vibe to be found. For this precious commodity head to the beach, take a boat (better still, a canoe) up the Kowie River, or head out to sea on a fishing charter. Driving out of town, there's an abundance of nature trails, reserves and mountain bike routes. All said and done, Port Afred offers a good mix of beach, river, nature and retail therapy. Try it.
Things To Do
- Shake off that urban dust and hit the beach! Kelly’s is a gorgeous stretch of golden sand flowing off the Kowie River Mouth, with safe swimming conditions. Several viewing decks offer seasonal whale- and dolphin-spotting.
- Visit the big pineapple at Bathhurst, a small hamlet 11km from Port Alfred. This massive structure is a tribute to the success of pineapple farming in the area. Be sure to drop in at The Pig and Whistle Pub for an ale in SA’s oldest licensed inn.
- Visit the Kowie History Museum for an insight into the area's social history. The British settlers and coastal shipwrecks are the focus. The museum is housed in the town's original train station.
- Take on the Kowie Canoe Trail. This is a manageable 21km canoe trip which takes you up the Kowie River, with an overnight option at Watermeetings Nature Reserve. A must-do.
- Walk the easy-going 8km Kowie Hiking Trail, which offers some fantastic birding - so we are told.
- Try a horseback trail. Three Horse Trails offer a combination of beach and forest trails.
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland