©
East London trip planner
Create a fully customized
day by day itinerary for free
day by day itinerary for free
East London
East London is a city on the southeast coast of South Africa in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality of the Eastern Cape province. The city lies on the Indian Ocean coast, largely between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River, and hosts the country's only river port. East London today has a population of over 267,000 with over 755,000 in the metropolitan area.HistoryLieutenant John Bailie of the Royal Navy, one of the 1820 Settlers, surveyed the Buffalo River mouth and founded the town in 1836, a memorial on Signal Hill commemorating the event. The city formed around the only river port in South Africa and was originally known as Port Rex. This settlement on the West Bank was the nucleus of the town of East London, which was elevated to city status in 1914.During the early to mid-19th century frontier wars between the British settlers and the local Xhosa inhabitants, East London served as a supply port to service the military headquarters at nearby King William's Town, about away. A British fort, Fort Glamorgan, was built on the West Bank in 1847, and annexed to the Cape Colony that same year. This fort is one of a series of British-built forts, including Fort Murray, Fort White, Fort Cox, Fort Hare and Fort Beaufort, in the border area that became known as British Kaffraria.Take stress off the schedule by using our South Africa trip planning site.
Source
Create a full itinerary — for free!
Plan your trip to East London
Get a personalized trip
A complete day by day itinerary
based on your preferencesCustomize it
Refine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedulesBook it
Choose from the best hotels
and activities. Up to 50% offManage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Top East London tours
Popular things to do in East London
Side trips from East London
Hidden gems in East London
Shopping in East London
Kid-friendly things to do in East London
Parks in East London
Places to visit with East London
Tsitsikamma National ParkTrip planner
BEST FOR: Zipline, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Bridge
Port ElizabethTrip planner
BEST FOR: Nature / Park, Casino, Safari
Graaff-ReinetTrip planner
BEST FOR: Nature / Park, Specialty Museum, National Park
GrahamstownTrip planner
BEST FOR: Monument, Religious Site, Specialty Museum
CradockTrip planner
BEST FOR: National Park, Historic Site, Nature / Park
Recently planned trips to East London
10 days in East London
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Floradale Nurseries
Steve Biko Centre
Pumba Private Game Reserve
6 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
East London
Port Elizabeth
Mossel Bay
3 days in East London
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Ann Bryant Art Gallery
Mpongo Park Game Private Reserve
Hemingways Mall
3 days in East London & Hogsback
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
East London
Hogsback
3 days in East London
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Hemingways Mall
East London Lion Park
Mpongo Park Game Private Reserve
5 days in East London & Port Elizabeth
BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA
East London
Port Elizabeth