“Heart of the Sunshine Coast”

Port Alfred is a thriving seaside resort and residential town on the sparkling Sunshine Coast of South Africa. It is situated on the east and west banks of the beautiful Kowie River, exactly halfway along the coastal road R72 between Port Elizabeth and East London, 150 km’s from each city and 58 km’s south of Grahamstown on the R67. It is often nicknamed “the Kowie after the wide tidal river which runs through the town.

Every year Port Alfred welcomes a wealth of day visitors, weekenders, travellers, tourists, holidaymakers, conference delegates, and students some of whom have become residents as they fall under the spell of this small charming and friendly Sunshine Coast resort, with its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings.

The beaches are magnificent long stretches of golden sand where you can walk in solitude for miles at the edge of the Indian Ocean, or perhaps enjoy an exile rating swim with other bathers at the popular beaches. Surfers come from wide and far to ride the waves, scuba divers can enjoy excellent year round diving among some of the most colourful reefs of South Africa, a dive school offers courses and equipment hire at special rates for students.

The beautiful Kowie River which is navigable for some 28km’s, flows from wild indigenous forest, through farmland, past riverside homes under two bridges in the town centre and out to sea. In its tidal waters people enjoy boating, cruising, waterskiing, fishing and swimming, while canoeists on the Kowie Canoe Trail paddle at their own pace to their overnight shelter in the forest, passing hikers on the riverside Kowie Hiking trail or picnickers at the waterside.

In addition to the water sports in the river and sea one can enjoy hiking, scenic drives, history seeking in the surrounding Settler Country, and the beauties of nature. For sports lovers Port Alfred offers a magnificent 18 hole golf course at the royal Port Alfred Golf club, and just 28km’s away the Fish River Sun Hotel boasts of their wonderful course with spectacular sea views. There is also riverside tennis, and two bowling clubs, as well as croquet, road running, squash, hockey, rugby, cricket, horse riding, and fitness centre all within easy reach of EISS International campus. 

Port Alfred is a well known Mecca for anglers with its river, rock and surf fishing, deep sea angling, and big game fishing far out to at sea, the Port Alfred River and ski boat club is the centre of the recreational fishing activities, competitions are regularly held and the clubhouse is the social gathering place.

The climate of Port Alfred is mild all year round, falling between the humidity of Kwa Zulu Natal and the cold winters of the Western Cape. Christmas to Easter is the main holiday season, with particularly lovely months from February to June when the days are calm and sunny and the nights just beginning to get crisp.

Holidaymakers have a wide choice of accommodation from hotels to self catering chalets, cabanas, flats and beach cottages, plus caravan parks, camping and backpackers. Many people own holiday homes ranging from simple cottages to the luxury homes on the Royal Alfred Marina.

The marina is a unique feature of Port Alfred with its open ended waterways and its graceful arched bridges linking four of its five islands, next to it is the small boat harbour and hotel offering waterfront hospitality.

Historically Port Alfred is linked with the 1820 British Settlers, and there is much interest to explore including the Kowie History Museum with its index system of all 4000 1820 Settlers, much used by genealogists and there are many historical sites in town and countryside.

Set astride the wide and wandering Kowie River the town itself has shops, offices, banks, restaurants of many kinds, an excellent library and most of the services needed for small town living, with the big city of Port Elizabeth only 90 minutes away, and the Festival City of Grahamstown nearby. It also has a high school with classes from pre primary to matric, and a number of other schools and nurseries.

A small general hospital has been opened, other medical services include doctors, dentists, vets, opticians, chiropodist, a chiropractor, physiotherapist, homeopath and an excellent ambulance and rescue service. The luxurious St Francis Health Centre just outside Port Alfred offers holistic health care and stress relief on a beautiful settler farm.

Port Alfred can be reached by road from either East London or Port Elizabeth, coach services run along the coastal road and there are care hire companies located in town. Just outside town there is an airfield for private planes and is the home of the world famous 43 Air School where pilots come to train and obtain their pilots licence.