Visiting Gqeberha

Known as The Friendly City, Gqeberha (previously known as Port Elizabeth) is a small city located on South Africa’s Cabo Oriental coast. Its long hours of sunshine, safe sandy beaches and calm waters make it a popular holiday destination for watersport enthusiasts and families with young children.

With the start of the Rota do Jardim only a few hours' drive away, Gqeberha is a great place to start or end your journey if you’re sticking to the Western and Eastern Capes, while its easily accessible airport makes connecting to other destinations in South Africa a breeze.

Where to stay in Gqeberha

Regardless of where you stay on your Gqeberha holiday, the city's major attractions and beaches are always nearby. For those looking for upmarket accommodation near the city centre, the elegant suburb of Summerstrand is situated just ten minutes from the airport and features several stylish guest houses and hotels.

For those seeking accommodation closer to the beach, the coastal suburb of Humewood is located a stone's throw from two of Gqeberha's best beaches – Humewood and Kings Beach – both of which have blue flag status. But what this suburb is best known for is its challenging links golf course, ranked as one of the top ten in South Africa.

Humewood is a popular spot for travelling families due to its close proximity to Bay World – featuring a snake park, oceanarium and museum – while the Boardwalk Casino and entertainment complex will provide hours of fun.

An Eastern Cape Safari

For safari-lovers there are a number of malaria-free, Big-5 reserves around the city which will provide a thrilling Gqeberha safari add-on. And don't worry too much about the best time to visit Gqeberha – the weather here tends to be very stable with year-round moderate temperatures and rain scattered throughout the year. Summers are warm with low humidity levels while winters are mild and pleasant.

Ready to plan your South African Holiday?

Chat to one of our Africa Safari Experts. They will plan the perfect route for your South Africa trip, organising the right tours and booking the right accommodation all along the way.