Fort Frederick

Fort Frederick is a stone fortress built on a rise overlooking Algoa Bay and the Baakens River mouth. The structure includes original powder magazines, blockhouse buildings, and fortification walls arranged to defend the entrance to the harbor.

British forces built the fort in 1799 to defend against French naval threats during the Napoleonic Wars. It then became the foundation upon which Port Elizabeth developed as a colonial settlement.

The fort marks the beginning of British military settlement in the Eastern Cape and shaped how Port Elizabeth grew as a colonial port. You can sense how this stronghold anchored the city's early development.

The fort is open daily from sunrise to sunset with no entrance fee and parking available nearby. You can walk freely around the grounds and explore the buildings and fortification walls at your own pace.

The fort displays original 18th-century cannons on site, including two 8-pounder guns that you can see up close. These weapons show the actual firepower that once protected the harbor entrance.