Car hire East London

Introduction

The South African city of East London draws more and more tourists. It's no longer an independent city, but it's part of Buffalo City which also includes Bhisho and King William’s Town. The tourist office therefore promotes the entire area as Buffalo City, a bit confusing if you want to go to East London. Most tourists are attracted by the beaches east of town.

Population

East London has approximately 400,000 inhabitants.

Location

East London is located on the southeast coast of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape Province, on the Indian Ocean. The city is built between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River.

Economy

East London is an industrial center with an emphasis on car industry. The Daimler plant near the port produces Mercedes cars for the local market and for export to the United States. Other industries in East London include clothing, pharmaceutical industry and food-processing companies. There's a tax-free Industrial Development Zone between the port and the airport to attract investors. 

Airports

East London Airport is situated 5 kilometers southwest of the city center, on the other side of the Buffalo River. It's easily reachable by rental car via Settlers Way.

Public Transport

Officially East London has no public transport system. There are so-called minibus taxis, but they are often crowded and not safe. There are, however, bus connections with other cities in South Africa, exploited by the companies Translux and Greyhound.

Traffic and Parking

Finding your way around East London isn't difficult, but as in many other South African cities you need to be on the alert not to jeopardize your own safety. Always close your windows and lock your doors when driving. Only park your rental car at official, guarded parking lots.

Hotels

The city itself has very few accommodations and they mainly consist of basic guesthouses and bed & breakfasts. Most tourists stay at one of the many holiday hotels and resorts in one of the villages along the East Coast, including Yellowsands, Glen Eden, Gonubie, Queensbury Bay, Cintsa-West and Cintsa-East.

External Sources

For more information about East London, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, East London
• Official website Buffalo City
• Tourist Information East London (Buffalo City)