East London

South_Africa

This article is about the city in South Africa. For the East End of London in the United Kingdom, see London/East End. For the Eastern Suburbs of London in the United Kingdom, see London/East.

The town hall in East London.

East London is a city in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

East London is on the east coast of South Africa. It is the main city in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, which includes East London, Bhisho and King William's Town. East London is home to Mdantsane township, once considered to be the second largest township in the country. It has an airport, a deep water port, and a railway link to the national rail network. It is widely held that this area was where the African buffalo was first spotted in the country, hence the name Buffalo City. The name "East London" is an old colonial name, and there is an ongoing debate about finding a suitable name change for the city.

East London has an estimated population of 810,000. It includes extensive tracts of land suitable for grazing and horticulture and is one of the major tomato-growing areas in the country because of its good climate throughout the year. Known for its beautiful beaches, it also boasts great game reserves where the Big Five can be found, including a lion park close to the city. In the sporting world, East London is also known as the Mecca of Boxing due to the number of world champion boxers it has produced and continues to produce.

In 1938 the then-curator of the town museum found an unusual fish in the catch of a local fishing vessel. The fish turned out to be a prehistoric coelacanth, long thought to be extinct.

  • East Londoners are fortunate enough to have access to an amazing coast line with white sand beaches and excellent surfing spots like Nahoon Reef. "Vaalies" (as visitors from Gauteng, formerly Transvaal, are called) flock down to East London for sun, sea and sand over the Christmas/New Year and Easter periods.
  • The East London Harbour is the only natural deep-water port South Africa has. There are restaurants along the waterfront, like the Ballyhoo Bistro, where you can enjoy a very affordable meal with a view of the harbour and the moored yachts right before you. The Ballyhoo offers river cruises and caters for parties and general events.
  • Botanical Gardens.
  • Gately House. Built in the Victorian style. Belonged to the former mayor of East London in the 1870s, now a national monument.
  • Ann Bryant Art Gallery, 9 St Marks Road, Southernwood, +27 43 722 4044. Shows works including those of Thomas Bowler, Maud Sumner, Lawrence Scully, George Pemba, Willie Bester and Norman Catherine.
  • East London Museum, 319 Oxford Street, Southernwood (Entrance from Dawson Road, +27 43 743 0686. The museum summarizes itself as "history, artifacts and customs", and it's well worth a visit on all counts. R12.

Botanical Gardens.

Gately House. Built in the Victorian style. Belonged to the former mayor of East London in the 1870s, now a national monument.

Ann Bryant Art Gallery, 9 St Marks Road, Southernwood, +27 43 722 4044. Shows works including those of Thomas Bowler, Maud Sumner, Lawrence Scully, George Pemba, Willie Bester and Norman Catherine.

East London Museum, 319 Oxford Street, Southernwood (Entrance from Dawson Road, +27 43 743 0686. The museum summarizes itself as "history, artifacts and customs", and it's well worth a visit on all counts. R12.

  • Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve, +27 43 734 3234, email: pdr@inkwenkwezi.co.za, website: www.inkwenkwezi.com. It has the all of the Big Five game animals for a reasonable price.
  • Mpongo Private Game Reserve, +27437429000. Mpongo Private Game Reserve features rolling hills and river valleys on more than 3,500 hectares of conservation land.
  • The Lion Park, +27 43 730 7161. Tu-Su 8AM - 5PM. The Lion Park has a variety of animals for visitors to view, including a pride of white lions, a breeding pair of tigers (white male and Bengal female), Cara the Cheetah, wild dogs and tame Nyala buck. R35.

Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve, +27 43 734 3234, email: pdr@inkwenkwezi.co.za, website: www.inkwenkwezi.com. It has the all of the Big Five game animals for a reasonable price.

Mpongo Private Game Reserve, +27437429000. Mpongo Private Game Reserve features rolling hills and river valleys on more than 3,500 hectares of conservation land.

The Lion Park, +27 43 730 7161. Tu-Su 8AM - 5PM. The Lion Park has a variety of animals for visitors to view, including a pride of white lions, a breeding pair of tigers (white male and Bengal female), Cara the Cheetah, wild dogs and tame Nyala buck. R35.

  • East London Guild Theatre, Corner Union Avenue & Dawson Road Selborne East (Buffalo City, +27 43 743 0704.

East London Guild Theatre, Corner Union Avenue & Dawson Road Selborne East (Buffalo City, +27 43 743 0704.

  • Buyel’ Ekhaya Pan African Music Festival, 357 Rivonia Boulevard Rivonia 2191, +27 11 884 0277. A major music festival that features artists from throughout the African continent.
  • FNB Eastern Cape Wine Festival, Hemingways Casino, cnr Western Ave & Two Rivers Drive, East London, +27 11 482 5936. A great festival of wine tastings. R170.
  • Daily Dispatch Cycle Tour. Buffalo City’s most important cycling event. Roads are closed to all by bicycle traffic during the race.

Buyel’ Ekhaya Pan African Music Festival, 357 Rivonia Boulevard Rivonia 2191, +27 11 884 0277. A major music festival that features artists from throughout the African continent.

FNB Eastern Cape Wine Festival, Hemingways Casino, cnr Western Ave & Two Rivers Drive, East London, +27 11 482 5936. A great festival of wine tastings. R170.

Daily Dispatch Cycle Tour. Buffalo City’s most important cycling event. Roads are closed to all by bicycle traffic during the race.

  • Hemingways Mall, Cnr Western Avenue and Two Rivers Drive (Corner of Western Avenue and Two Rivers Drive, just off the N2 Highway, +27 43 555 0077, +27 43 721 3181. M-Sa 9AM - 7PM; Su 9AM - 5PM.
  • Vincent Park, Devereux Avenue, +27 43 783 6700. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa 9AM–5PM; Su 9AM–1PM; public holidays 9AM–3PM. Vincent Park provides secure and hassle-free shopping, with a choice of over 75 stores.
  • Gillwell Taxi Retail Park, Corner Gillwell Road and Fleet Street, +27 43 703 3000. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa 9AM–3PM; Su and public holidays 9AM–2PM. Mixed-use shopping centre offering a variety of choices including food, groceries, restaurants, health & beauty, IT services, fashion and banking.
  • Beacon Bay Retail Park, +27 43 748 4660. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa and public holidays 9AM–3PM; Su 9AM–1PM.
  • Beacon Bay Crossing, c/o N2 & Bonza Bay Rd, Beacon Bay. Described locally as a mixed-use, one-stop destination centre.
  • Mdantsane City, Cnr Billie Road and Qumza Highway, Mdantsane, 5225, +27 43 762 4110. M-Th 9AM-6PM; F 9AM-7PM. At the heart of the township lifestyle. Mingle with the people.

Hemingways Mall, Cnr Western Avenue and Two Rivers Drive (Corner of Western Avenue and Two Rivers Drive, just off the N2 Highway, +27 43 555 0077, +27 43 721 3181. M-Sa 9AM - 7PM; Su 9AM - 5PM.

Vincent Park, Devereux Avenue, +27 43 783 6700. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa 9AM–5PM; Su 9AM–1PM; public holidays 9AM–3PM. Vincent Park provides secure and hassle-free shopping, with a choice of over 75 stores.

Gillwell Taxi Retail Park, Corner Gillwell Road and Fleet Street, +27 43 703 3000. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa 9AM–3PM; Su and public holidays 9AM–2PM. Mixed-use shopping centre offering a variety of choices including food, groceries, restaurants, health & beauty, IT services, fashion and banking.

Beacon Bay Retail Park, +27 43 748 4660. M-F 9AM–6PM; Sa and public holidays 9AM–3PM; Su 9AM–1PM.

Beacon Bay Crossing, c/o N2 & Bonza Bay Rd, Beacon Bay. Described locally as a mixed-use, one-stop destination centre.

Mdantsane City, Cnr Billie Road and Qumza Highway, Mdantsane, 5225, +27 43 762 4110. M-Th 9AM-6PM; F 9AM-7PM. At the heart of the township lifestyle. Mingle with the people.

The Guidos beach front should be visited while here, not forgetting the Milkshake Shop and the locally legendary Windmill.

  • Cafe Neo, Windmill, 128 Moore Street Quigney (From East London Central drive along Fleet Street, turning left into Fitspatrick Road. Turn right into Moore continue straight ahead until Windmill Park., +27 43 722 4531. 7:30AM-10:30PM. Greek cafe, opened in 2017. R28.
  • Sanook Eatery, 13A, Beacon Bay Crossings, Bonza Bay Rd, Beacon Bay (ravel on the N2 from East London and take exit 1051 for Bonza Bay Road toward M8/Beacon Bay/East London. Turn right onto Bonza Bay Road. At the circle, take the first exit to your left and you will find Beacon Bay Crossing Shopping Centre., +27 43 748 2494. 11AM-10PM. Thai eatery that serves simple, tasty food. R49.
  • Cantina and Craft, Shop i&j Beacon Bay Crossings Bonza Bay Road Beacon Bay, +27 43 748 2636. 11AM-10PM. Traditional Mexican food and a lot of craft beer.
  • Grazia Fine Food and Wine, Upper Esplanade/Beach Front Rd, +27 43 722 2009. noon-10:30PM.

Coffee Stops

  • Cafe Bella, Shop G3839 Hemingways Mall, Two Rivers Drive, Vincent, +27 43 721 3117. Home roasted coffee, and lots of frozen treats.

Cafe Neo, Windmill, 128 Moore Street Quigney (From East London Central drive along Fleet Street, turning left into Fitspatrick Road. Turn right into Moore continue straight ahead until Windmill Park., +27 43 722 4531. 7:30AM-10:30PM. Greek cafe, opened in 2017. R28.

Sanook Eatery, 13A, Beacon Bay Crossings, Bonza Bay Rd, Beacon Bay (ravel on the N2 from East London and take exit 1051 for Bonza Bay Road toward M8/Beacon Bay/East London. Turn right onto Bonza Bay Road. At the circle, take the first exit to your left and you will find Beacon Bay Crossing Shopping Centre., +27 43 748 2494. 11AM-10PM. Thai eatery that serves simple, tasty food. R49.

Cantina and Craft, Shop i&j Beacon Bay Crossings Bonza Bay Road Beacon Bay, +27 43 748 2636. 11AM-10PM. Traditional Mexican food and a lot of craft beer.

Grazia Fine Food and Wine, Upper Esplanade/Beach Front Rd, +27 43 722 2009. noon-10:30PM.

Cafe Bella, Shop G3839 Hemingways Mall, Two Rivers Drive, Vincent, +27 43 721 3117. Home roasted coffee, and lots of frozen treats.

  • The Buccaneers
  • Mans Tavern
  • Champions,Vincent
  • Corner Pocket
  • Bernies,Vincent
  • Que Bar

  • Go west to Port Elizabeth and the Garden Route driving through Port Alfred.
  • The Wild Coast is a rough and spectacular coast line to the east
  • Go north to Bloemfontein, inside the Karoo.
  • Heading in the direction of Cape Town, you will travel along Settlers Way through the semi-industrial area of the West Bank. Settlers Way becomes the R72 again as you pass the airport through the traffic lights.
  • If leaving toward Durban, the Wild Coast of the Transkei lies before you. The Kei Bridge marks the entry into what used to be the Transkei.
  • Stutterheim is the first small town one encounters following the N6 toward Bloemfontein. Take the North-East Expressway from Fleet Street or Pearce Street off-ramp.

Go west to [[Port Elizabeth]] and the [[Garden Route]] driving through [[Port Alfred]].

Go north to [[Bloemfontein]], inside the [[Karoo]].