Why go
- City in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Served by East London Airport (ELS).
History
East London, officially KuGompo City since February 2026, is a city on the southeastern coast of South Africa, in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, 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. As of 2011, East London had a population of over 267,000 with over 755,000 in the surrounding metropolitan area.
Where to stay
9 Malone Heights St, Blue Bend, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa · blueview.co.za
1a Park Ave, North End, KuGompo City, 5200, South Africa · dreamsleep.co.za
80 Quartzite Dr, Baysville, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa · quarrylakeinn.co.za
38 Galway Rd, Nahoon, KuGompo City, 5210, South Africa · the-terrace.co.za
79 Devereux Ave, Berea, KuGompo City, 5247, South Africa · devereuxlodge.co.za
3 Gleneagles Lower Rd, Bunkers Hill, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa · thehilleastlondon.co.za
30 John Bailie Rd, Bunkers Hill, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa · jemimas.co.za
17 Botha Rd, Selborne, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · palmtreemanor.co.za
Western Ave, Ocean View, KuGompo City, 5200, South Africa · tsogosun.com
22 Esplanade, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · premierhotels.co.za
22 Seaview Terrace, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · theparalian.co.za
21 Blue Bend Pl, Blue Bend, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa · bluelagoonhotel.co.za
Corner John Bailie And, Moore St, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5200, South Africa · southernsun.com
331 Esplanade St, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · katleisure.co.za
22 Esplanade St, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · premierhotels.co.za
Court Cres, Esplanade, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · katleisure.co.za
Allenby Rd, Selborne, KuGompo City, 5213, South Africa · citylodgehotels.com
cnr &, Moore St, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · katleisure.co.za
2 Bank St, West Bank, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · oceanichoteleastlondon.co.za
19A Kenyon Cres, Bonnie Doon, KuGompo City, 5241, South Africa
17 Chestnut Cres, Beaconhurst, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · riverviewgh.co.za
47 Inverleith Terrace, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa
14 Montrose Ave, Bunkers Hill, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · see-more.co.za
120 Tennyson St, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa
2 Marine Terrace, Quigney, KuGompo City, 5201, South Africa · thehampton.co.za
Indoor
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-20:00; We 09:00-22:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-17:00 Features: takeaway,… · location.steers.co.za
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:30-20:30 Features: takeaway · Amalinda Main Road, KuGompo City, 5252 · locations.debonairspizza.co.za
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-20:30 Features: takeaway · Amalinda Main Road, KuGompo City, 5252 · locations.fishaways.co.za
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway, delivery · 10 Morris Road, KuGompo City, 5210 · order.kfc.co.za
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-21:00 · East London · spursteakranches.com
Pie, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · KuGompo City
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Features: takeaway · KuGompo City
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · KuGompo City
Italian, Restaurant · Features: takeaway
Indian, Fast Food · Indian fast food · KuGompo City
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · KuGompo City
Breakfast, Cake, Coffee Shop, Deli, Restaurant · Breakfast/Cake restaurant · Frere Road, KuGompo City
Pies, Fast Food · Pies fast food
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant
Restaurant · Features: takeaway · KuGompo City
Cafe · Features: outdoor seating · Tecoma Street, East London, 5241
Fast Food · fast food
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-17:30 Features: takeaway · Esplanade Street, KuGompo City · locations.wimpy.co.za
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Keats Street, KuGompo City
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 08:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-19:30; Su 08:00-19:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Douglas Smith Highway, KuGompo City,… · order.kfc.co.za
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-21:00 · KuGompo City · spursteakranches.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Coffee Shop cafe
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant
Restaurant · Features: takeaway
Cafe · cafe
Fast Food · fast food
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Devereux Avenue, KuGompo City, 5217 · mcdonalds.co.za
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: delivery
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Fish And Chips fast food · KuGompo City
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Fleet Street, KuGompo City, 5201 · order.kfc.co.za
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · KuGompo City
Cafe · cafe
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Bonza Bay Road, KuGompo City
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Chicken/Portuguese restaurant · Oxford Street, KuGompo City · nandos.co.za
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe · 49 Tennyson Street, 5201
Burger, Restaurant · Burger restaurant · KuGompo City
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
13 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
East London Airport (ELS) 8 km to the centre
East London, EC, ZA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 2 airlines (South African Airways, Comair) · direct flights to 4 destinations incl. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 4 direct destinations
- South African Airways SA (CRJ-200, A319, A320, Dash 8-400, J41) · 4 routes: Cape Town*, Durban*, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth*
- Comair MN (737-800) · 1 route: Johannesburg
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Bisho Airport (BIY) 60 km to the centre
Bisho, EC, ZA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Komga Airport 46 km to the centre
Komga, EC, ZA
Keimouth Airport 55 km to the centre
Keimouth, EC, ZA
Trennery's Airport 63 km to the centre
Qolora, EC, ZA
Stutterheim Airport 65 km to the centre
Stutterheim, EC, ZA
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is East London Airport (ELS); 14 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: ELS has direct flights to 4 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for East London, South Africa. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Charter, FBO · Managed fleet · Charter and FBOs at Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.