At the eastern end of the Garden Route in South Africa and 400 mi/650 km east of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, or Gqeberha as it was renamed in 2021 to reflect the city's indigenous origins, is an industrial city fringed with excellent beaches. Gqeberha is the Xhosa word for the Baakens River, which winds its way through the city.
Allow a couple of hours to walk the 3-mi-/5 km-long Donkin Heritage Trail that links the most interesting historic building, monuments, churches and parks. These include Fort Frederick (built in 1799) and Donkin Reserve with its lighthouse (built in 1861).
Along the Humewood Beach waterfront is the large Bayworld complex that houses a museum, an oceanarium and a snake park. It makes a nice refuge if you're in town on an all-too-common blustery day.
Do leave yourself enough time to visit Addo Elephant National Park, about an hour's drive north. It has Eastern Cape elephants, black rhinos and other animals. Most visitors will find two nights in Gqeberha sufficient.
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