Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is a relaxed coastal lifestyle city, also known as the Friendly City or PE by locals. The numerous beaches, easily accessible coastline, warm Indian ocean waters, affordable accommodation and laidback local culture help make Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) a family-friendly, outdoor lifestyle holiday destination. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) along with Colchester, Uitenhage and Despatch forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
A family-friendly holiday destination
The locals enjoy their outdoor sport and lifestyle activities, as seen most days on the beachfront between Kings Beach and Pollock Beach. Taking advantage of the warm waters of Algoa Bay, there are plenty of beaches to choose from. Enjoy safe swimming on patrolled beaches, walks on long untouched beaches, sunset picnics, fishing, snorkelling, paddling and surfing all along the coastline. Go for a sunset walk from Shark Rock pier at Hobie Beach along the Summerstrand beachfront.
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) boasts plenty of quality restaurants and coffee shops, catering to all palates and preferences. The general price of eating out in Port Elizabeth is good. There are several restaurants that offer a great meal for a family and are well priced. See our top 4 favourite restaurants below.
For visitors interested in game viewing, safari experiences or hunting, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is a great base to start from. There are several malaria-free game reserves within a comfortable travelling distance from the Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) airport. Book a guided tour to get up close to some of our incredible wildlife – it’s an experience you will never forget. Most reserves offer luxury accommodation that includes professional guided game drives.
Kragga Kamma Game Park is a small reserve in the city, and well worth a visit, especially for families with young kids. Another favourite wildlife experience is the Addo Elephant National Park. About a 40-minute drive from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Addo offers incredible elephant, lion, and buffalo viewing experiences, along with many other indigenous species. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) has several biomes of South African flora that can be explored at the Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve, The Island Nature Reserve, The Cape Recife Nature Reserve and Groendal Nature Reserve. The Sacramento Trail is an 8 km hike through coastal vegetation and dunes of the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve.
During whale season, take a tour on a whale-watching charter. It is a privilege to see Southern Right whales visiting the coastline every year. The whales migrate to South Africa’s warm waters to give birth to their calves. They can be spotted from the shores of Hermanus, Stilbaai, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Throughout the year you may see dolphins, seals, rare seabirds, and sharks during your trip. If you enjoy fishing, try some deep-sea fishing through one of the charter companies. Scuba diving is another popular option in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Explore our ocean reefs and marine life in our safe waters. If you have never scuba dived before, I highly recommend the experience. There are several diving companies that offer beginner scuba diving courses, it is well worth taking a short course.
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) hosts several international sporting events each year, including the South African leg of the Ironman. Watch a rugby match at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, or cricket at the popular St Georges Park Stadium. There are also plenty of cycling, running, mountain biking, trail running and other local events throughout the year. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) has several golf courses, so bring your clubs with and book a round of golf. The Eastern Cape is a popular responsible hunting destination during the annual hunting season.
Off-road biking, quad biking and 4×4 trails are another popular weekend activity among locals. The Baviaanskloof is within an hours drive as well as some local routes and trails near the city. For caravan and camping folk (good people), there are a few options in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), the most popular being Willows Resort. There are several other sites (more for camping) in the Baviaanskloof, Off-camber, Addo, Maitlands, and Sundays River.
Best times to visit Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is a summer destination and the best time to visit is between November and April, December and January being the most popular time.
For a quality experience, I recommend staying at the Anchorage Guesthouse on the Summerstrand beachfront in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Friends run this 4-star accommodation B&B, and we have enjoyed our time staying there as a family, especially being so close to the beach. Lindie and Nick have a passion for tourism and Nick also runs an Adventure Tourism business. His knowledge and expertise guarantee that you will have an amazing experience in and around PE. You can get hold of Nick through Get Real Adventure Breakaways.
Our Top 4 Favourite Restaurants
- Charlie’s Pizza & Pasta Restaurant
- Natti’s Thai Restaurant
- Shanna’s Portuguese Restaurant
- Asada Restaurant
Highlights
- Self-drive through Addo Elephant National Park, stopping for a braai at Jack’s Picnic Site in the park.
- Game viewing at Kragga Kamma Game Reserve
- Hiking the Sacramento Trail
- Picnic at Kini Bay or Sacramento.
- Pollock Beach on a hot sunny day.
- Hiking Groendal Trail
- It is a good starting point for several routes, especially the Garden Route to Cape Town. Fly into Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and hire a car from here to drive these suggested routes.
Points to consider
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), due to its coastal position, is a windy city. As a result, the earlier part of the morning and late afternoon are the best times to go to the beach.
- Many of the adventure attractions are outside of Port Elizabeth, within a comfortable driving distance of under 2 hours.
- If you want to cycle around the coastal peninsula, or do any hikes, I suggest you go in a group. Always check with your tour operator or at the service desk where you are staying.
Outdoor things to do in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- Hikes and Trails
- Sacramento Trail
- Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve
- The Island Nature Reserve – Bushbuck Trail
- Roseate Tern Hiking Trail – Cape Recife Nature Reserve
- Alexandria Hiking Trail
- Wildlife and Nature Reserves
- Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve
- Settler’s Park
- Maitlands Nature Reserve
- The Island Nature Reserve
- Kragga Kamma Game Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Groendal Nature Reserve
- St Croix Island – see the largest breeding colony of African penguins
- Cape Recife Nature Reserve & Penguin Rescue
- Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area
- Beaches
- Hobie Beach
- Pollock Beach
- Kings Beach
- Summerstrand Beachfront
- Schoenmakerskop
- Sardinia Bay
- Kini Bay
- Van Stadens
Suggested Routes from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to:
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Addo Elephant National Park (Colchester Gate) – 42 km / 28 min
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Sacramento Hiking Trail – 13 km / 20 min
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Groendal Nature Reserve – 49 km / 50 min
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Storms River – 180 km / 1 h 46 min – Storms River Mouth Nature Reserve
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town (via the Garden Route) – 749 km / 8 h 20 min
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Cape Town (via Langkloof, Oudtshoorn and R62) – 780 km / 8 h 42 min
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to Port Alfred (via Kenton) – 154 km / 1 h 41 min
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Photo Gallery
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