Animal Parks
in
Seaview Situated just 25 kilometres from the Port Elizabeth beachfront and associated attractions, Seaview Game and Lion Park offers a unique experience. Visitors can play with tame lion cubs varying in age from four to nine months depending on the time of year.
Along with this rare interaction, guests can have a close-up viewing experience of wildlife such as giraffe, zebra, antelope, jackals and wildebeest in their natural habitat. Lynx, warthogs and meerkat live in large, individual enclosures in the sanctuary area.
Enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the restaurant taking in the panoramic views of the wildlife to the north and ocean to the south. Whales and dolphins can often be spotted from this vantage point.
From the restaurant there is an elevated boardwalk where you can view the animals at close quarters.
Open daily 08:00 – 17:00
Lion feeding time is on Sunday at 12:00
+27 (0) 41 378 1702
Things to do near
Seaview
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Beaches
in
Beachview (2.7 km from Seaview) The attractive beach at Beachview is situated on a section of Port Elizabeth’s coastline that is fantastic for long beach walks. Beachview is a good place for beachcombing and to start hiking to the next beach at Maitlands. Lifeguards are on duty during peak season but swimming is not safe due to strong rip currents and backwash.
Hiking Trail
in
Port Elizabeth (5.7 km from Seaview) This day walk takes about three hours and is 3 km in length. It is an easy circular walk that passes through a portion of the forest and links up with the old wagon trail to a disused lead mine.
Bushbuck, blue duikers, porcupine and rodents, as well as a large variety of birds can be spotted. Hikers should take their own water, as the stream water is not drinkable. This trail is great for children. Information boxes and a small hall for conservation education is situated on the trail.
Beaches
in
Maitlands (6.9 km from Seaview) At the mouth of the Maitland River lies a magnificent bathing beach backed by huge sand dunes stretching for about 5 km West from Beachview to beyond Blue Water Bay.
Kids love the dunes for tobogganing and sand boarding. Maitland River Beach is ideal for leisurely strolls along the waters edge where you can collect sand mussels.
Animal Parks
in
Kragga Kamma (12.2 km from Seaview) At Kragga Kamma Game Park just outside Port Elizabeth all the animals roam freely in natural surroundings. This owner-operated park allows no hunting or other disturbances and that means you can always get close-up views and great photo opportunities of the animals.Lush coastal bush and grassland is home to vast herds of African wildlife including white rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, nyala, bontebok, impala and many more species.Knysna loeries are plentiful and more than 200 species of wild birds and waterfowl have been documented.The Kragga Kamma Game Park is open every day from 08:00 to 17:00 for entry. Gates are locked at 19:00 in summer and 18:00 (from 1 April) in winter.Visitors are welcome to drive around on the well-maintained roads in their own vehicle or opt for a two hour game drive with a professional guide.Also on offer is an up-close interaction with Duma, the tame cheetah. Duma's pen is situated at The Bush Café, which serves light meals and beverages.Bush Café: +27 (0)41 379 5646
Beaches
in
Blue Horizon Bay (15.4 km from Seaview) Van Stadens Beach lies at the mouth of the Van Stadens River and has a wonderful lagoon for swimming, fishing and paddleboats. Tall dunes offer some fun sand boarding. The river is suitable for small boats to navigate upstream to the gorge. Lifeguards are on duty over the peak holiday season.
Beaches
in
Sardinia Bay (16.5 km from Seaview) Sardinia Bay is easily one of Port Elizabeth’s most scenic beaches and best for long walks. It’s a popular surfing spot but is known to be dangerous for swimming due to strong rip tides. Dog walkers and horse riders also favour this spacious sandy beach. Picnic places, braai spots and ablution facilities are available so pack your picnic basket and spend an entire day chilling here with family and friends.
Nature Reserves
in
Port Elizabeth (20.1 km from Seaview) Van Staden's Wild Flower Reserve was established in 1951 and is situated 40 km from Port Elizabeth. It is one of the top places to see lowland fynbos, flowering proteas and a variety of other endemic fynbos. Visitors can see a large variety of vegetation in the various habitats of the escarpment. There is an abundance of succulents, ericas, leucadendrons, and other indigenous flora.
The reserve aims to protect the large variety of bird, plant and animal species within the area. Bird watchers can feast their eyes on more than 170 bird species and a number of raptors frolicking in their natural habitat along the rocky gorge. This includes the forest buzzard, jackal buzzard, booted eagle, African crowned eagle, peregrine falcon, black sparrowhawk, and lanner falcon. There is an indigenous coastal forest along the gorge of Van Staden's River. It is home to the Knysna turaco, the Knysna warbler, and the sombre greenbul, among many others.
There is also a nursery in the reserve which sells indigenous flora, and scenic picnic sites on the plateau that are perfect for relaxing over a meal. There are two hiking trails for those who want to explore the reserve. The River Walk is four kilometres long and the Forest Walk is six kilometres. Mountain bikers can explore the plateau section of the reserve, and there are easier sections which are ideal for families to cycle on.
Beaches
in
Schoenmakerskop (21.2 km from Seaview) The pretty coastal village of Schoenmakerskop is perfect for families offering a number of picnic spots, coves, rock pools and a few small sandy beaches. The sandy coves provide safe paddling for little kids. Look out for playful schools of dolphins who frequently surf the waves.
Big Event Venues
in
West End (PE) (23.3 km from Seaview) Varsvlei Commonage is the venue for the annual Northern Arts Festival. This unique event celebrates the heritage and culture of Nelson Mandela Bay and the broader Eastern Cape. Growing bigger and better every year, organizers focus on keeping it fun as well as bridging the divide between community development and the arts.
Golf Courses
in
Walmer (24.7 km from Seaview) The congenial atmosphere of Walmer Country Club and the challenging course present an attractive golfing experience in the leafy suburb of Walmer, Port Elizabeth.
Dense coastal scrub, tree lined fairways and the prevailing winds all contribute to testing amateur players.
The standard 18-hole course has fairways running mostly in westerly or easterly directions. The first shot starts with a demanding Par 4, frequently into the teeth of south-westerly gales.
Walmer Country Club house offers a restaurant, Pro shop, modern changing rooms and golf cart hire.
+27 (0) 41 581 3401
1 Victoria Drive, Walmer, Port Elizabeth
Galleries and Museums
in
Newton Park (25 km from Seaview) The St. Croix Motor Museum has a fine private collection of vintage and classic vehicles dating back to 1901.
If you have an interest in classic vehicles, then this is the place to visit. About 80 cars are on show, dating from the early century to the 1960's. Many other items related to the motor industry are also on display.
The museum is open on Saturday afternoons.
Weekday visits are by appointment only.
Galleries and Museums
in
Port Elizabeth (25 km from Seaview) The St. Croix Motor Museum is located in St Georges Park. On display is a private collection of vintage and classic motor vehicles, dating as far back as 1901. Many of the vehicles are for sale. The museum was created by Eben de Vos and is housed in an airplane hangar beside Mill Park.
There are about 80 vehicles on display, ranging from the early 20's to the early 60's. Many artifacts related to the motor vehicle industry are also on display.
Hiking Trail
in
Port Elizabeth (25.2 km from Seaview) The Guinea Fowl trail is located in the Baakens River Valley at the centre of Port Elizabeth. The walking trail is divided into an upper and a lower section.
The Upper Guinea Fowl trail is six kilometres long and takes approximately two hours to walk. The trail starts at 3rd Avenue in Walmer and ends at Sunridge Park at Kragga Kamma.
The Lower Guinea Fowl trail is seven and a half kilometres long and takes you downstream to Settler's Park. The trail meanders along the Braakens River and passes through a steep-sided valley below the city suburbs. Visitors can see wildflowers, trees and blue water lilies along the walk, as well as dassies, tortoises and lizards. The trail is not circular so walkers will have to organise transport for the way back.
There are ablution facilities and water available along the trails.
Hiking Trail
in
Schoenmakerskop (25.9 km from Seaview) Cape Recife Lighthouse is the third oldest lighthouse on the South African coast and was built in 1851. Stay on the beach past the lighthouse and go towards the car park at Chelsea Bay. From here you follow the gravel road. Then it will be a short climb to ruins of historical lookout buildings. Continue on the gravel road to the gate. Take drinking water. Difficulty is moderate.
The trail is 9 km long and takes approximately three hours. Vehicles need a permit that can be obtained at the entrance to the reserve. No permit is required for hikers who leave their vehicles by the gate. Please enquire.
Shopping Malls
in
Walmer (26 km from Seaview) Walmer Park Shopping Centre offers everything under one roof. Clothing, home interior, jewellery, grocery, stationery, pet, music shops as well as various eating establishments and movie theatre.
www.walmerparkshoppingcentre.co.za