Gqeberha — officially renamed from Port Elizabeth in 2021 — is South Africa’s most underrated coastal city. It offers world-class surf, an easily accessible Big Seven wildlife park, and a 40-kilometre beachfront on Algoa Bay, all without the crowds of Cape Town or the pace of Johannesburg.
What to Do in Gqeberha
Hobie Beach & Summerstrand Beachfront
The heart of Gqeberha’s beach scene. Hobie Beach stretches along Marine Drive in Summerstrand with calm, protected water ideal for swimming. The adjacent beachfront is lined with restaurants, bars and the Boardwalk Casino complex. Wild bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted from the beachfront — particularly in the early morning. Boat trips offering guaranteed dolphin encounters depart from the Shark Rock Pier.
Addo Elephant National Park
Just 60 km from Gqeberha, Addo is one of Africa’s great parks and the only place on earth where you can see the Big Seven — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, great white shark and southern right whale — within a single conservation area. The main rest camp is excellent for self-drive; guided morning and evening drives can be booked at the camp reception. From Gqeberha, allow 45 minutes each way.
The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk casino and entertainment complex is Gqeberha’s entertainment anchor. It houses restaurants, a hotel, a waterpark and regular live events. The strip along the beachfront here has the city’s best concentration of restaurants.
Cape Recife Lighthouse & Penguin Colony
The Cape Recife Nature Reserve at the southern tip of Algoa Bay houses a working 1851 lighthouse and a small colony of African penguins. It’s less visited than Boulders Colony near Cape Town, which makes for a more intimate encounter. The reserve also hosts rare coastal fynbos and diverse birdlife.
Sardine Run (June–July)
The annual sardine run — billions of sardines migrating north along the Eastern Cape coast — draws sharks, dolphins, whales, gannets and an armada of fishing boats and divers. Gqeberha is well-positioned for sardine run expeditions. Bookings fill up quickly; arrange well in advance.
Where to Stay in Gqeberha
Dolphin Bay Boutique Hotel & Spa ★★★
53 Marine Drive, Summerstrand — directly across from Algoa Bay. Rated 8.6/10 Excellent across 383 verified reviews. Dolphin Bay is the finest boutique property in the city: an outdoor pool maintained to exceptional standard, a full-service spa, and the hotel’s party trick — wild bottlenose dolphins reliably visible from the breakfast terrace on calm mornings. 12 rooms ranging from a standard king to a three-bedroom luxury apartment (200 m², sleeps 6). From R1,007 per night.
Where to Eat
- 34 South — Waterfront deli and restaurant, known for its prawns and local seafood
- The Tap Room — Craft beer and gastropub fare in a relaxed Summerstrand setting
- Ginger Restaurant — Fine dining at the Radisson Blu, consistently the best tasting menu in the city
- Fushin — Best sushi in Gqeberha; reliable and fresh
Getting There
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) is 7 km from Summerstrand — a R100–R150 Uber from the airport. FlySafair and Airlink operate daily services from Johannesburg (1h 40m) and Cape Town (1h 15m). Car hire from PLZ is recommended for Addo day trips.
Getting Around
Uber and Bolt are reliable and affordable throughout the city. Car hire is essential for Addo Elephant Park — no shuttle service runs to the main camp. Gqeberha’s beachfront areas are walkable; the city centre is best avoided on foot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Big Seven at Addo Elephant National Park?
Addo is one of the only places on earth where you can see the Big Seven within a single conservation area: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, great white shark and southern right whale. It’s just 60km from Gqeberha, with the drive taking about 45 minutes.
Can I self-drive at Addo Elephant National Park?
Yes — the main rest camp is excellent for self-drive, and guided morning and evening drives can also be booked at the camp reception if you’d rather not navigate yourself.
Where can I see dolphins in Gqeberha?
Wild bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted from the Summerstrand beachfront, particularly in the early morning. Boat trips offering guaranteed dolphin encounters depart from the Shark Rock Pier, and Dolphin Bay hotel’s breakfast terrace is known for dolphin sightings on calm mornings.
Is Hobie Beach good for swimming?
Yes — Hobie Beach, stretching along Marine Drive in Summerstrand, has calm, protected water that’s ideal for swimming, with the adjacent beachfront lined with restaurants, bars and the Boardwalk Casino complex.
What can I see at Cape Recife Nature Reserve?
The reserve, at the southern tip of Algoa Bay, houses a working 1851 lighthouse and a penguin colony, making it a good stop for both history and wildlife on the same visit.
How do I get to Gqeberha and get around once there?
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) is 7km from Summerstrand, with FlySafair and Airlink running daily flights from Johannesburg (1h 40m) and Cape Town (1h 15m). Uber and Bolt cover the city reliably, but car hire is essential for Addo, since no shuttle service runs to the main camp.
Where’s the best place to eat in Gqeberha?
34 South is known for prawns and local seafood at the waterfront, Ginger Restaurant at the Radisson Blu consistently has the city’s best tasting menu, The Tap Room covers craft beer and gastropub fare in Summerstrand, and Fushin is the pick for sushi.
About the author
Makume Toti is a digital marketing veteran with 15+ years of cross-vertical experience and a 12-year foundational career in the airline industry. He leverages his extensive insider knowledge of travel and enterprise SEM & AIO expertise to curate authoritative guides to Southern Africa for ExploreMzansi.