East London has miles of white, unspoilt and uncrowded beaches. It is a relaxed town with a pleasant climate that offers a host of attractions, adventures and sporting facilities. The first coelacanth was caught off East London in 1938 and is also home to the only dodo egg in the world. East London is South Africa’s only river port city and was originally established as a supply port to serve the military headquarters at King William’s Town. In 1688 the Centaurus was the first vessel to have visited the port in search of survivors of shipwrecks. East London is an ideal holiday destination for the sporty, the fisherman, the historian and the nature lover.


Attractions and Things do in East London

East London Museum
Feautures include the Dodo Egg, Coelacanth, Southern Nguni beadwork and information on fish species and famous shipwrecks for diving enthusiasts
Address: 319 Oxford Street
Tel: (043) 743-0686
Fax: (043) 743-3127
Mon-Fri: 09:30-17:00
Sat: 14:30-17:00
Sun: 11:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

The Calgary Transport Museum
Address: 13km from East London on the Stutterheim (N6) Road
Tel: +27 43 730 7244
Daily: 09:00-16:00
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day

Gately House
Built in 1878 and home to East London’s first mayor, John Gately was declared a national monument in 1973
Address: 1 Park Gates Road
Tel: +27 43 722 2141
Tues-Thur: 10:00-13:00; F: 10:00-13:00
Weekends: 15:00-17:00
Closed: Mondays, Good Friday and Christmas Day

Ann Bryant Art Gallery
Built in 1905 an exquisite Edwardian House and fine example of late Victorian architecture.
Upper Oxford Street
Tel: +27 43 722 4044
Open Weekdays 9.30am-5pm; Saturday 9.30am-12pm; Every Third Sunday only.
Entry is free.

The City Hall
Situated in Oxford Street
Tel: +27 43 705 2235
The foundation stone was laid in 1897 it has a beautiful marble staircase, a Victorian hall and quadrangle

German Settlers Memorial
Located on the Esplanade it commemorates the 1858/9 arrival of more than 2000 German men, women and children.

Lock Street Gaol
Fleet Street, Quigney, East London, South AfricaSouth Africa's first woman's gaol was built in 1880 famous for housing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (ex-wife of Nelson Mandela) and Daisy de Melker, the woman who poisoned three husbands with arsenic. Today it is a shopping centre and the original gallows are open to the public.

Queens Park Zoo
Park Avenue, East London, South Africa
Box 984, East London, 5200, South Africa
Tel: +27 43 722 1171
Open 365 days a year - 9am-5pm.
Night walks (maximum 40 people) are available twice a month - can be booked by phoning.

Umtiza Nature Reserve (Previously Fort Grey Nature Reserve)
Located 15km from East London.
Tel: +27 43 736 9909

St. Peter's Church
Situated in High Street, West Bank, East London, South Africa
Tel: +27 43 722 2277
East London’s oldest church was built in 1857.

Nahoon Fossil Footprints
Nahoon Beach. 200 000 year old homo sapien footprints can be viewed at Bats Cave. When visiting the site you are stongly advised to walk in groups, park at Nahoon Point and walk to Bats Cave.

Mpongo Park
29km from East London and situated in the Umpongo River Valley.

Hood Point Lighthouse
Directions: Travel to the West Bank take the Dr Zahn Road into Bank Street and turn right into Hood Street of High Street and continue past the Golf Course.
Tel: +27 43 700 3056
Hood Point Lighthouse was built in 1895.
Visiting days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2pm-4pm. Saturday 9am-11am

Gonubie Nature Reserve
Tel: +27 43 740 4000
Open Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 7.30am-1pm and 2pm-4.30pm.
Sundays 11am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm.

Bridle Drift Dam
25km outside of East London on the Mount Coke Road.
Tel: +27 43 745 1729
Facilities are available for boating, yachting, wind-surfing, and angling.

Bridle Drift Nature Reserve
Tel: +27 43 745 1576

East London Aquarium
Beachfront, Esplanade, East London, South Africa
Tel: +27 43 705 2637
Open daily: 9am-5pm.
Fish Feeding daily at 10.30am and 3pm.
Seal Show daily at 11.30am and 3.30pm.
The East London Aquarium is the oldest aquarim in the country.