What's on in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), South Africa through the year

Peak crowds — Eastern Cape summer holidays, Term 4–1 (summer, year-end) break in South Africa

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: The windy months (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually)), Eastern Cape summer holidays (15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: The windy months (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Busy — Term 1–2 (autumn) break in South Africa, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Peak crowds — Ironman African Championship, Term 1–2 (autumn) break in South Africa

• Festival

  Ironman African Championship

  19 AprMajor festivalCrowdedClosuresBook early

  The swim goes off Hobie Beach and the bike takes the coast road, which closes for most of a Sunday. Beachfront rooms are booked from the previous year's race. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Sardine run past Algoa Bay

  15 May – 31 Jul · usuallyWildlife season

  Shoals move up the coast from late May with gannets diving on them and dolphins working from below. It is a boat trip and a lottery — some years it barely shows off this stretch. Source ↗

Busy — Term 2–3 (winter) break in South Africa, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Addo's dry season

  1 Jun – 30 Sep · usually

  Addo, an hour inland, thins out through the winter and the elephants concentrate at the waterholes. Coldest mornings of the year and the easiest game viewing to go with them.

• Nature

  Whales in Algoa Bay

  1 Jun – 30 Nov · usuallyWhale season

  Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring. The resident bottlenose pods and the gannet colony on Bird Island are there whatever month you turn up.

Still on: Sardine run past Algoa Bay (15 May – 31 Jul (usually))

Busy — Term 2–3 (winter) break in South Africa, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sardine run past Algoa Bay (15 May – 31 Jul (usually)), Addo's dry season (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Whales in Algoa Bay (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Addo's dry season (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Whales in Algoa Bay (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Term 3–4 (spring) break in South Africa

• Hazard

  The windy months

  1 Sep – 28 Feb · usuallyWind season

  The city earned its nickname honestly, and spring into summer is when it blows hardest. It decides which side of the bay you swim on and takes the umbrellas off the beachfront most afternoons. Source ↗

Still on: Addo's dry season (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Whales in Algoa Bay (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Term 3–4 (spring) break in South Africa, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Whales in Algoa Bay (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)), The windy months (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Whales in Algoa Bay (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)), The windy months (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — Eastern Cape summer holidays, Term 4–1 (summer, year-end) break in South Africa

• Holiday

  Eastern Cape summer holidays

  15 Dec – 15 Jan · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The province's beach fortnight. Hobie and Kings Beach fill, the boardwalk queues, and families arrive from Graaff-Reinet and the rest of the Karoo. Source ↗

Still on: The windy months (1 Sep – 28 Feb (usually))