Durban, South Africa’s third-largest city in area, is an exciting hub around a busy harbour on the edge of the warm Indian Ocean.

The city is well-known for its pleasant climate and welcoming beaches. It also boasts top sporting facilities, world-class resorts and nature reserves. It has a large and diversified economy with strong manufacturing, tourism, transportation, finance and government sectors. Its coastal location and large port gives it comparative advantage over many other centres in South Africa for export-related industry.

Its port is the busiest in South Africa, as well as the busiest container port in the southern hemisphere. Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, forms part of the metropolitan municipality of eThekwini.

This major seaport and tourist destination is set along the dazzling shores of Algoa Bay, and is fondly referred to as the Friendly City.

With numerous beautiful beaches, each with its own attractions and activities, Port Elizabeth is fast becoming known as the Watersport Capital of South Africa. And do not forget the 12 popular surfing-spots in Port Elizabeth and even more surfing in Jeffrey's Bay, just a few kilometers away.

The Algoa Bay National Sailing Week, annually held in May, is a national sailing regatta with top-class racing yachts from all over South Africa competing in the spectacular five-day challenge. The event promises exciting spectator viewing, with most of the races taking place around buoys off Shark Pier.

Port Elizabeth is one of South Africa’s important sea ports. The city, the largest in the Eastern Cape, lies on the south-eastern coastline of South Africa. It is known for its sunshine, temperate climate, exhilarating sea breezes and magnificent golden beaches.

The city forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – which unites, Uitenhage and Despatch – and is named after South Africa's former President, humanitarian and world icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who was born and spent his formative years in the Eastern Cape.

About 1.5 million people inhabit Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality area, making it South Africa's fifth largest city in population size and the second largest in area.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s economy is based primarily on the automotive industry with General Motors, Volkswagen, Ford and others operating from this area. Port Elizabeth is also the closest city to the Coega Industrial Development Zone.

Event experience
Port Elizabeth has excellent and varied sporting facilities. Its many active sports clubs cater for bowling, golf, tennis, badminton, squash, volleyball, pool, darts, athletics, cycling as well as seasonal sports such as soccer, rugby, hockey, roller hockey, cricket, motor racing and more.

Among the major events the city has hosted are:

the 1996 African Cup of Nations
four matches during the 1995 Rugby World Cup
international test cricket and one-day matches
the semi-finals of the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
In 2004, Nelson Mandela Bay hosted the inaugural Ironman South Africa Triathlon championship and was awarded the enviable status of host city until 2008.

Other major events on the Nelson Mandela Bay calendar include the Splash Festival, which is the second largest beach and water sports festival in the southern hemisphere and attracts some 300 000 participants annually.