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KKing’s Beach in Port Elizabeth (the largest city in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality), is one of three beaches in the city to have been awarded Blue Flag status in recent years, meaning that in addition to its scenery and its array of activities and attractions, it is safe, clean and environmentally friendly.
The other Port Elizabeth beaches with Blue Flag status are Hobie Beach and Humewood Beach. Beaches around the world are required to meet high international standards of safety, cleanliness and facilities before they can be certified as Blue Flag destinations by the Foundation for Environmental Education, a global non-profit NGO.
King’s Beach, popular because of its warm waters and its proximity to various amenities, is a vision of pale, glistening sand stretching for 1.6km – literally, a golden mile – between Humewood Beach and Port Elizabeth’s harbour wall. It’s ideal for families, with plenty of space and well-maintained change rooms and ablution facilities – plus it has loads of parking across the road.
The warm waters of the Indian Ocean make for great swimming, and this is the perfect spot to learn bodysurfing. Qualified lifesavers watch over those enjoying the surf 7 days a week.
The McArthur Baths Swimming Pool Complex on King’s Beach promenade caters for family fun and those seeking serious exercise alike, with two warm open-air freshwater pools and a larger pool for doing laps, plus a water slide and splash pool for the kids. It has two upmarket restaurants as well, so you can enjoy the view while you eat.
Other activities within easy walking distance of King’s Beach include mini-golf and go-karting, and an assortment of restaurants along the promenade ensures plenty of food options, even if your budget doesn’t extend to fine dining.
Port Elizabeth is a laid-back, casual and fun-loving beach city. King’s Beach embodies all these aspects – but in busy seasons like the December and April holidays, it can get very crowded, so you’ll need to get to your favourite attractions early if you visit at these times.
Did You Know?
TTravel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
Tel: +27 (0)41 582 2575
Garden Court King’s Beach Hotel
Tel: +27 (0)41 582 3720
Conifer Beach House
Tel: +27 (0)41 585 5959
Lungile Backpackers
Tel: +27 (0)41 582 2042
How to get here
King’s Beach is less than 10 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth Airport. You can hire a car at the airport, take a metered taxi, or hail an Uber.
Best time to visit
Although the summer stretches from October to April, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean ensure that there is never a bad time of year to visit King’s Beach.
Where to stay
The Garden Court King’s Beach Hotel is a 4-star establishment that offers rooms with views across the promenade and oceanfront. Lungile Backpackers, 5 minutes’ walk from King’s Beach, is a budget option to consider, while those seeking a bit of Port Elizabeth history could try Conifer Beach House just two streets away from the beach: a guest house in two restored cottages that still display the seaside architecture of 1926, when they were built.
Around the area
Bayworld in Humewood combines an oceanarium, natural and cultural history museums and a snake park, making it a fun and informative day out for the whole family.
Tours to do
Nelson Mandela Bay offers a wide range of tours in and around the city, from township tours in which you can get to know the locals, or haunted graveyard tours in Port Elizabeth’s spookier locales, to bird-watching safaris, game reserve drives, marine reserve hikes and shipwreck tours further afield. Even would-be bow hunters are catered for, so check out the options on the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism website.
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