The location is on the Swartkops River, 11 km north of Port Elizabeth and 1,6 km from the Indian Ocean. Swartkops means "black hills" in Afrikaans, and the name is said to refer to surrounding hillocks crested with dark shadows.[2]
The main route through Swartkops is Grahamstown Road (R102 regional route) which leads southwards to Deal Party and Port Elizabeth and northwards to Motherwell and Markman.
The M17 route, named Dibanisa Road, passes Swartkops to the west running northwards to Markman and southwards to iBhayi. The M19 route, named Trunk Road, passes Swartkops to the south running westwards to Redhouse, Perseverance, Despatch and Uitenhage.