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Experience the best of Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth, also known as Gqeberha, is a sunny city on Algoa Bay in South Africa's Eastern Cape, with long beaches and wildlife parks nearby.

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Port Elizabeth lies on Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape, and since 2021 the city has also been called Gqeberha, a name from the Xhosa language; the surrounding municipality is Nelson Mandela Bay. British settlers landed here in 1820. The Donkin Reserve, a hilltop park with a stone pyramid and a lighthouse, overlooks the centre, and Route 67 is a walk lined with public sculptures. Beaches such as Hobie Beach and King's Beach run along the bay.

Addo Elephant National Park lies about seventy kilometres north, with large herds of elephants. Jeffreys Bay, to the west, is a famous surfing spot, and the forests and gorges of Tsitsikamma mark the eastern end of the Garden Route further along the coast. Dolphins and whales are often seen in Algoa Bay, and St Croix Island holds a colony of African penguins. The settler town of Makhanda lies inland.

Chokka, the local squid, is grilled or fried, and the braai, the South African barbecue, is a social ritual. Xhosa cooking adds dishes such as umngqusho, samp and beans. A steady wind off the bay has earned the city its nickname, the Windy City.

  • Free cancellation on 85% of experiences
  • 4.7 across the top 19

Top experiences in Port Elizabeth

Day trips from Port Elizabeth

63

Guided tours in Port Elizabeth

51

Walking and bike tours in Port Elizabeth

6

Outdoor and adventure activities in Port Elizabeth

10

Nature and wildlife tours in Port Elizabeth

45

Desert and safari experiences in Port Elizabeth

33

Shore excursions from Port Elizabeth

15

Signature experiences in Port Elizabeth

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