Flight Destinations

Flights to East London

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East London is an important port city on the south-east coast of South Africa, at the mouth of the Buffalo River. Though the city is a major industrial port, there are many tourist attractions in East London as well.

Flights to East London

Flights to East London Airport (airport code: ELS) are typically domestic, so nearly all routes will transfer in Johannesburg before arrival. For a one stop flight to East London, you can fly from London with Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, BMI or South African Airways. They all connect in Johannesburg. There are 2-stop options as well, such as a flight to East London with Egyptair that connects in Cairo and then again in Johannesburg. Either way, your trip will take between 14 and 18 hours.

East London Tourist Attractions

East London Zoo

The East London Zoo is at the south end of the city, not far from the harbour. The animal enclosures are all set in a very natural environment with an impressive collection of native and endangered plants. Their animal collection includes many African species such as lions, chimpanzees, antelope, giraffes and more. A playground is fun for small children and some of the animals can be fed by hand.

East London Aquarium

For a little more animal-watching, you can head right to the coast above the harbour and visit the aquarium. They have seals, penguins, turtles and tanks filled with fish, coral and other sea life. You can also watch for whales right from their outdoor boardwalk over the beach. You'll find the most whales between August and November.

Great Fish River Nature Reserve

If you want to get outside the city to see a little of the local countryside, the Great Fish River Nature Reserve is not that far west of East London. There is a large population of wildlife here, and you will have a good chance to see buffalo, zebra, ostrich, baboons, rhinos, hippos and many more African species. You can also stay at the park if you wish at one of their fully-equipped lodges.

More Wildlife Parks

There are actually too many parks near East London to list them all, but you should have no trouble finding some natural spots within a short drive of the city. The East London Coast Nature Reserve is a small park, but it is right on the edge of the city for easy access. To the north-west, you can find the Kubusi Indigenous State Forest and the Hogsback Nature Reserve. South of the Great Fish River park is the Trumpeter's Drift Game Farm and Hunts Hoek Safaris Game Farm. And if you head up along the coast, you can find the Kei Mouth State Reserve and the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve. You'll never run out of new scenery!

When Should You Visit East London?

Though there are some climate variations through the year, the weather is mostly consistent in East London. It's usually warm with a few months of hotter temperatures. June through September will reach a comfortable 21C (70F) and then it gets up to 26C (79F) from December until February. Spring and autumn can be a bit rainy but not excessively so. You can really visit East London anytime for good weather.