Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Travel Guide — Beaches, Penguins, and Addo

Gqeberha — renamed from Port Elizabeth in 2021, though both names are widely used — is the Eastern Cape’s main city and the gateway to Addo Elephant National Park. It sits on Algoa Bay, where the Indian Ocean meets the semi-arid Karoo hinterland, and has a beach strip, a public art trail, a penguin rehabilitation centre, and a working port that predates most of the country’s major cities.

It doesn’t have the drama of Cape Town or the pace of Johannesburg, which works in its favour. The Summerstrand beachfront is walkable without the crowds. Addo is 75 km away, making it possible to do a proper Big Five game drive and be back for dinner. And the Eastern Cape’s malaria-free status removes one of the major friction points for visitors who want wildlife without pharmaceutical preparation.

For context on the broader region — Wild Coast, Jeffreys Bay, Karoo — see the Eastern Cape travel guide.

The City at a Glance

Area	What it is	Best for
Summerstrand	Beachfront strip, hotels, restaurants	Main tourist base
The Boardwalk	Casino, restaurants, waterfront promenade	Evenings out, families
Central / Hill	City centre, Route 67, Donkin Reserve	Walking, history
Walmer	Residential suburb, airport corridor	Quiet guesthouses
Sardinia Bay	Wild beach 20 km south	Swimming, dunes, solitude

Route 67 and the Donkin Reserve

Route 67 is Gqeberha’s most distinctive attraction — a 67-metre-long public art trail through the upper city commemorating Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service to South Africa. Sixty-seven artworks by South African artists line the route, which descends from the top of Donkin Street through the Fort Frederick precinct to the beachfront.

Donkin Reserve sits at the top of the trail — a terraced public park on a hill overlooking the harbour, with the original 1820 lighthouse, a pyramid built by Sir Rufane Donkin (after whom the city was originally named) in memory of his wife Elizabeth, and views across Algoa Bay. Entry is free. Allow an hour to walk the reserve and another hour to descend Route 67 at a comfortable pace.

The street art quality varies — some pieces are excellent, others are functional — but the trail is a genuinely good way to see the upper city on foot, and it ends at the beachfront, which makes natural sense as an itinerary structure.

The Boardwalk

The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World sits at the northern end of the Summerstrand beach strip. The casino itself is unremarkable but the surrounding waterfront complex is the city’s de facto social hub — a promenade of restaurants and coffee shops facing the beach, with the Indian Ocean on one side and a small lagoon on the other.

In the evenings this is where most visitors end up: sundowners on the deck, dinner at one of a dozen restaurants, and a walk along the Boardwalk promenade. Access is free; the restaurants run from casual pizza to proper seafood. It can feel slightly sterile compared to Cape Town’s Waterfront but it’s pleasant enough.

Sardinia Bay

Sardinia Bay, 20 km south of the city centre (25 minutes by car), is the Eastern Cape coast at its least developed. A long, wild beach backed by coastal dunes, no development, virtually no facilities, and on most days only a handful of people. The water is warmer here than on the Atlantic coast — Algoa Bay catches the Indian Ocean current and typically reaches 19–22°C in summer.

Access is through the Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area via a short walk from the car park. There are no cafés, no lifeguards, and no beach vendors — bring water and don’t swim alone (currents exist near the rocks). It’s worth the trip specifically because it’s the opposite of every developed beach resort.

SAMREC — South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre

SAMREC is a non-profit penguin and seabird rehabilitation centre at Van der Stel Road, near the harbour. It treats African penguins (the same species as Boulders Beach near Cape Town) alongside oiled seabirds, injured Cape gannets, and other coastal birds that arrive from Algoa Bay, which has one of the highest concentrations of African penguins in the world — St Croix Island offshore holds the largest breeding colony.

Visiting: The centre offers guided tours (approximately R150 adult, R80 child as of 2026 — check current rates on their website). Tours run twice daily on weekdays. You see the recovery pools, meet birds at various stages of rehabilitation, and learn about the threats to the species — primarily oiling from ship traffic, fishing bycatch, and food competition from commercial fishing.

It’s a small operation but a good one. Unlike a zoo, every bird here has a story and is being prepared for release.

Addo Elephant National Park (Day Trip)

The most important reason most visitors come to Gqeberha. Addo is 75 km north on the R335 — about 1 hour from the city centre. It is the world’s third-largest game park for African elephants, with more than 600 in the main section alone. It’s also Big Five, malaria-free, and compact enough to self-drive in a standard car.

Entry: approximately R492 per adult per day (SANParks 2025/26 international rate, effective November 2025). Book via sanparks.org — entry is by timed slot.

Practical detail for a day trip from Gqeberha:

Depart city	06:30 — arrive at main gate by 07:30, shortly after opening
Game drive	3–5 hours; focus on the northern section around the waterholes
Best sightings	Elephants guaranteed; lion, leopard, rhino, and buffalo less reliable but present
Facilities	Addo Main Camp has a restaurant (good breakfasts), a shop, and a pool
Return	Back in Gqeberha by 14:00–15:00

What makes Addo exceptional for a day trip rather than an overnight:

• Elephant sightings are essentially certain — the density is extraordinary; you’re unlikely to drive 15 minutes without seeing them
• No malaria means no preparation friction
• No 4x4 needed — all main game loop roads are manageable in a standard hire car
• Compact layout — the main viewing area is tight enough to cover in a half-day and still see a lot

For stays within the park, Addo Main Camp starts from approximately R700 per night (SANParks chalets). Private options nearby include Riverbend Lodge (from R3,500, game drives included) and Gorah Elephant Camp (from R8,000 all-inclusive, within the park boundary).

See the full Addo Elephant National Park guide for lodge comparisons, the marine section at Woody Cape, and the park’s whale-season detail.

Where to Eat

Gqeberha’s restaurant scene is small but has a few genuinely good options — mostly in Summerstrand and along the Boardwalk strip.

Restaurant	Area	Price range	Notes
Ginger	Summerstrand	R180–350 pp	Indian Ocean seafood focus; prawn peri-peri and line fish; reliable over many years
Fushin	Summerstrand	R150–300 pp	Asian fusion; sushi and wok dishes; good value lunch menu
Vovo Telo	Walmer Park	R80–180 pp	Artisan bakery and café; breakfast and lunch; excellent coffee
The Boardwalk restaurants	Marine Drive	R150–400 pp	Mixed quality; best for convenience and evening atmosphere
Guido’s	Summerstrand	R200–350 pp	Italian; wood-fired pizza; long-standing local favourite

Vovo Telo is worth knowing about specifically because there’s often nothing in its category — proper bread, good espresso, interesting sandwiches — in this part of South Africa. The Walmer Park branch is compact but consistently good.

Where to Stay

Property	Category	Rate from	Notes
Hacklewood Hill Country House	Boutique luxury	R2,500/night	Victorian manor in a residential suburb; 8 rooms; pool; excellent breakfast included; the best option in the city
Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth	Mid-range	R1,800/night	Beachfront Summerstrand; reliable international standard; good gym and pool; closest hotel to the Boardwalk
The Kelway Hotel	Mid-range	R1,400/night	Summerstrand beachfront; older but well-positioned; sea-facing rooms worth requesting
39 On Nile Guest House	Guesthouse	R900/night	Humewood; 8 rooms; well-reviewed; 5-minute walk to beach
Lungisa Backpackers	Budget	R600/night	Backpacker lodge; double rooms; central; good for solo travellers
Port Elizabeth Backpackers	Budget hostel	R280 dorm	Long-running; central; dorm and private options

Our pick: Hacklewood Hill at R2,500 is the most characterful option in the city — a Victorian country house with formal gardens 10 minutes from Summerstrand. For the Addo day trip, wake-up logistics are easy from any Summerstrand property.

December–February is peak season with the warmest water and higher prices. June–August is quieter and cooler (around 14–18°C) but the city doesn’t close down.

Getting There

From Cape Town

Method	Duration	Cost (approximate)	Notes
Fly	1 hour	R500–900 one-way	FlySafair and Airlink; multiple daily departures; most convenient
Drive N2	7.5 hours	R200–400 fuel	Via the Garden Route — Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Tsitsikamma; one of South Africa’s best road trips

If driving from Cape Town, consider doing the Garden Route over 2–3 days rather than one long push. The Garden Route guide covers the route in detail. Break in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay on the way east.

From Johannesburg

Method	Duration	Cost (approximate)	Notes
Fly	1.5 hours	R600–1,200 one-way	FlySafair, Airlink, and Kulula; OR Tambo to PE Airport (Chief Dawid Stuurman International)
Drive N1 / N9	11 hours	Not recommended as a single-day drive	Break in Graaff-Reinet (Karoo) if driving

Most Johannesburg visitors fly. The drive is 11+ hours and not scenic enough in one go to justify it.

Getting Around the City

Gqeberha is a driving city. Public transport is limited and unreliable for tourists. Uber operates and is the recommended option for in-city movement. A hire car is essential for Addo, Sardinia Bay, and any coastal exploration.

Method	Use	Cost
Uber	All city movement	R40–120 per trip
Hire car	Addo, Sardinia Bay, coast	R400–700/day from the airport
Metered taxi	Airport to hotel (pre-booked)	R150–250

Practical Notes

Malaria	None — Eastern Cape is malaria-free
Best months	November–March (hot, swimming weather); April–May (warm, quieter)
Water temperature	19–22°C in summer; 15–17°C in winter — warmer than the Atlantic coast
Airport	Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PE Airport); 7 km from Summerstrand
Currency	ZAR; approximately R18–19 to USD 1, R23–24 to GBP 1 as of 2026
Budget	R600–900/day budget; R1,800–2,500 mid-range

Day Trips and Onward Travel

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Highlights
Addo Elephant Park	75 km	1 hour	Big Five safari, malaria-free
Jeffreys Bay	75 km	1 hour	Supertubes surfing, coastal path
Tsitsikamma National Park	185 km	2 hours	Storms River gorge, suspension bridge, coastal trail
Graaff-Reinet (Karoo)	255 km	3 hours	Valley of Desolation, Karoo architecture, stargazing
Hogsback	230 km	2.5 hours	Mountain village, forests, waterfalls

Gqeberha makes sense as a base for 2–3 nights: one day for the city (Route 67, Donkin Reserve, SAMREC, Sardinia Bay), one day for Addo, and the third for either Jeffreys Bay or the Tsitsikamma coast.

Ready to plan? Tours and activities in Port Elizabeth, car hire from Port Elizabeth airport, and travel insurance for South Africa.