Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) & Addo

The eastern gateway to the Garden Route, with elephants and the Big Five in Addo Elephant National Park north of the city, and beaches and the Jeffreys Bay surf break all within an hour's drive.

Port Elizabeth, officially renamed Gqeberha in 2021, lies on the western shore of Algoa Bay in South Africa's Eastern Cape. It is the heart of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa's fifth-largest city, and the eastern gateway to the Garden Route. The city can be explored in three parts: first, the Central district's old town, where the Donkin Reserve, the Route 67 public art trail, No. 7 Castle Hill and Fort Frederick make up a walking heritage route; second, Summerstrand on the southeastern coast, with Hobie Beach, Kings Beach, the beachfront boardwalk and the Bayworld museum, ideal for strolling, surfing and watching the sunset; third, the Red Location Museum in the northern township of New Brighton, which tells the story of apartheid and resistance. The highlight is Addo Elephant National Park, about 70 km north of the city, where you can self-drive to see hundreds of African elephants; nearby private reserves such as Shamwari and Amakhala offer Big Five safaris. About 75 km west is Jeffreys Bay, a world-famous surf spot. St Croix Island in Algoa Bay is an important African penguin breeding site, and boat trips can also spot dolphins and (Jun–Nov) humpback whales. The climate is mild and the city can be visited year-round; it's nicknamed the "Windy City", with strong winds often picking up in the afternoon. In winter (May–Sep) the vegetation thins out for better game viewing, while summer (Dec–Feb) is good for the beaches. Getting there: the city airport has direct flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban; sights are spread out, so renting a car is strongly recommended. Allow 3–4 days: 1 day in the city, 1–2 days at Addo, and half a day at Jeffreys Bay or out at sea. Note: some townships and the city center can be unsafe at night, so don't leave valuables in your car; book Addo through the SANParks website in advance during peak season and holidays.

Top sights

• Addo Elephant National Park – South Africa's third-largest national park, where more than 600 African elephants roam through the bush. Self-drive visitors can get close…
• Donkin Reserve – A hilltop park at the city's birthplace, with a pyramid monument, an old lighthouse, and a colorful flag avenue overlooking the bay. It is…
• Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay – A world-class right-hand reef break with perfect winter tubes, located in a surf town packed with surf brands.
• Shamwari Game Reserve – The most prestigious private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, where you can see the Big Five. It also has a wildlife rescue centre and a s…
• Amakhala Game Reserve – A private reserve formed by several family farms working together. Apart from Big Five game drives, it offers river boat trips on the Bushm…
• Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve – One of the earliest private reserves in the Eastern Cape, famous for its afternoon-to-night game drive packages and often combined with day…
• Route 67 – A public art trail commemorating Mandela's 67 years of service, with 67 artworks lining steps from the old town up to Donkin Reserve.
• No. 7 Castle Hill Museum – A stone house from the early colonial period, built in the 1830s and furnished with Victorian-era furniture, one of the oldest residences i…
• Fort Frederick – A small stone fort built by the British in 1799, the oldest British building in the Eastern Cape, with views over the Baakens River mouth a…
• Red Location Museum – A museum dedicated to the anti-apartheid struggle in New Brighton township, celebrated for its rusted-iron architecture and "memory box" ga…
• South End Museum – A small community museum documenting the forced removals of residents from the multiracial South End neighbourhood during the apartheid era.
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum – A municipal art gallery in St George's Park with a collection of contemporary South African and Eastern Cape art, along with some Asian pri…
• Hobie Beach & Boardwalk – The busiest beach in Summerstrand, with Shark Rock Pier, the seaside promenade and the Boardwalk entertainment complex all in one place.
• Kings Beach – A long Blue Flag beach near the harbour, with lifeguards, a children's playground and a seafront promenade, ideal for family paddling.
• Bayworld – A combined museum complex with a natural history museum, a snake park and an aquarium. It houses one of the most complete sperm whale skele…
• Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – A venue built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with a petal-shaped roof reflected in the lake at the northern end, now a modern landmark of the…
• Cape Recife Nature Reserve – A nature reserve on a headland at the southeastern tip of the city, with rocky coastline trails, an old lighthouse and a seabird rescue cen…
• Sardinia Bay – A pristine bay on the city's southwestern edge, where towering dunes meet a long beach. It lies within a marine protected area and is ideal…
• Kragga Kamma Game Park – A small game park just 20 minutes from the city centre, where you can drive up close to giraffes, white rhinos and cheetahs.
• Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve – A fynbos reserve on the edge of the Van Stadens Gorge, home to proteas and other wildflowers, with views of the spectacular railway bridge.
• St Croix Island – A granite island in Algoa Bay that was once one of the world's largest African penguin breeding sites. Best viewed from a boat circling the…
• Alexandria Dunefield (Woody Cape) – One of the largest and most pristine active coastal dune fields in the Southern Hemisphere, part of the Woody Cape section of Addo Elephant…

Where to eat

• Royal Delhi Restaurant – A family-run Indian curry house founded in 1991, which locals consider the best curry in Gqeberha.
• The Coachman – A long-established steakhouse on the Summerstrand seafront, known for its T-bone steak, fillet, and lamb chops, with vi…
• Vovo Telo Bakery Café (Walmer) – The first branch of South African artisan bakery brand Vovo Telo, known for its wood-fired sourdough and breakfasts.
• Something Good Roadhouse – A seaside family restaurant recreating a 1950s roadhouse, with a terrace facing Pollock Beach.
• Natti's Thai Kitchen – A Thai restaurant run by a Thai chef in an old house near St George's Park. Guests may bring their own alcohol.

Itineraries

• Whale Coast to Addo: Garden Route – Drive east along the coast from Cape Town, passing through Hermanus, the Little Karoo, and Knysna, ending with elephant…
• Cape Town, Garden Route & Kruger Panorama – The ultimate first-time South Africa itinerary: Cape Town, Winelands, the Garden Route, and a flight to the northeast f…