# Things to see in East London, South Africa (South Africa): 17 places and when to go

> East London, South Africa is a city in South Africa with around 339,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 17 places in and around it, mainly Nature (11), Wildlife (11), With kids (3). The best known are Umtiza Nature Reserve, Hood Point Lighthouse and Bridle Drift Dam Nature Reserve. The best time to come is October to April; also possible: May to September. In December there are 14 h 10 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 50. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/east-london/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** South Africa · -32.97, 27.87
- **Population:** About 339,000
- **Places:** 17 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/naturaleza/) (11) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/fauna/) (11) · [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/familia/) (3) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/museos/) (2) · [Architecture](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/arquitectura/) (1)
- **Best time:** October to April.
- **Also possible:** May to September.
- **Nearest airport:** PLZ Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), 238 km as the crow flies

## What to see in East London, South Africa

The places in and around East London, South Africa, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Umtiza Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/umtiza-nature-reserve/): Forest nature reserve in East London · 7.8 km
- [Hood Point Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hood-point/): Lighthouse in South Africa · 8.3 km
- [Bridle Drift Dam Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/bridle-drift-dam-nature-reserve/): Nature reserve in the Eastern Cape · 14 km
- [Gulu Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/gulu-nature-reserve/): Coastal forest reserve in the Eastern Cape · 19 km
- [Kwelera Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kwelera-nature-reserve/): Coastal forest reserve in the Eastern Cape · 18 km
- [Nahoon Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/nahoon-nature-reserve/): Riverine nature reserve in the Eastern Cape · 6.4 km
- [Bats Cave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/bat-s-cave/): Cave · 7.6 km
- [Fort Pato Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/fort-pato-forest-nature-reserve/): Forest nature reserve in the Eastern Cape · 19 km
- [Glengariff Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/glengariff-bay/): Bay in Eastern Cape, South Africa · 22 km
- [Potters Pass Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/potters-pass-nature-reserve/): Coastal reserve in the Eastern Cape · 8.1 km
- [East London Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/queens-park-zoological-gardens/): Zoo in East London, South Africa · 5.9 km
- [Queensberry Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/queensberry-bay/): Bay in Eastern Cape, South Africa · 24 km
- [Quenera Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/quenera-nature-reserve/): Riverine nature reserve in the Eastern Cape · 8.5 km
- [East London Aquarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/east-london-aquarium/): With kids · Wildlife · 7.1 km
- [East London Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/east-london-museum/): Museum · 3.8 km
- [Gately House Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/gately-house-museum/): Museum in East London, South Africa · 6.2 km
- [The Lion Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/the-lion-park/): With kids · Wildlife · 7.4 km

## When to go to East London, South Africa

The best time to visit East London, South Africa is **October to April**; also possible: May to September. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 13 h 57 |
| February | Best time | 13 h 10 |
| March | Best time | 12 h 15 |
| April | Best time | 11 h 11 |
| May | Possible | 10 h 18 |
| June | Possible | 9 h 50 |
| July | Possible | 10 h 02 |
| August | Possible | 10 h 47 |
| September | Possible | 11 h 48 |
| October | Best time | 12 h 50 |
| November | Best time | 13 h 44 |
| December | Best time | 14 h 10 |

In December there are 14 h 10 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 50. In January, 17 of the 17 places are at their best.

When to go to South Africa in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to East London, South Africa

The nearest main airport is Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)), 238 km as the crow flies. How to get around South Africa (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-32.97%2C27.87)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-32.97%2C27.87)

## Other towns nearby

- [Port Alfred](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/port-alfred/): 13 places · 116 km
- [Makhanda, South Africa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/grahamstown/): 9 places · 131 km
- [Queenstown, South Africa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/queenstown/): 6 places · 151 km
- [Port St. Johns](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/port-st-johns/): 7 places · 216 km
- [Gqeberha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/puerto-elizabeth/): 20 places · 238 km
- [Uitenhage](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/uitenhage/): 5 places · 247 km

And all of South Africa, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in East London, South Africa?

The best known: [Umtiza Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/umtiza-nature-reserve/), [Hood Point Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hood-point/), [Bridle Drift Dam Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/bridle-drift-dam-nature-reserve/), [Gulu Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/gulu-nature-reserve/), [Kwelera Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/kwelera-nature-reserve/). In all, 17 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit East London, South Africa?

October to April; also possible: May to September. In December there are 14 h 10 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 50.

### How do you get to East London, South Africa?

The nearest main airport is Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ), 238 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-32.97%2C27.87) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with East London, South Africa as the destination and these 17 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).