Port Alfred

Port Alfred is a thriving seaside resort and fishing village situated at the mouth of the Kowie or Qoyi ('rushing') River. It is exactly halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London.

The town was originally known as Port Kowie, then Port Frances, and was finally called Port Alfred to commemorate the visit of Queen Victoria's son in 1860.

Port Alfred is a water-sports paradise, offering both excellent surf and a calm river surface for surfing, yachting and skiing. Visitors can enjoy walks along the long sandy beaches, or venture off into the surrounding countryside for a round of golf or a wander along one of the area'many excellent hiking trails.

The 1820 Settlers made several attempts to turn the river mouth into a harbour, wrecking many ships in the process. The river was rerouted to flow below the west bank, and when the government took over development, the river was dredged to deepen it. The port was in its heyday for about twenty years, but fell into disuse in the 1890s. The harbour now houses small boats and is built up into the Royal Alfred Marina.

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