Saturday, March 8, 2025 – Photo of the Day – Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Where in the World Are We?

PORT ELIZABETH (GQEBERHA), SOUTH AFRICA
The Friendly City
Port Elizabeth, or PE is an uncut gem of a destination. Loved by wealthy South African families as a holiday destination, it is a city with two faces.
One: a natural haven with unspoiled beaches, rolling sand dunes and the warm Indian Ocean lapping at your feet and two: a post-industrial migrant city with a rich heritage. PE is also called Nelson Mandela Bay, and there is much here that celebrates him – starting with Route 67, a collection of 67 artworks honouring the 67 years that Mandela dedicated to achieving South Africa’s freedom. Known as “the friendly city”, Port Elizabeth is enjoying an urban regeneration, spurred on by the youth of the region that want to put it (back) on the map. Think vibrant creative projects spilling out wherever you go; a pedestrianised central zone, galleries selling local artworks, restaurants serving South African fusion food, award-winning buildings that house museums, restored Victorian terraces. Unsurprisingly, the boardwalk is buzzing. PE’s proximity to the excellent nature parks at Addo and Lalibela make it an ideal destination for game lovers. Both of these parks are a little way from PE (70 and 90 kilometres east respectively) but both offer a chance to revel in South Africa’s no holds barred natural beauty.
This is the real reason why people come to South Africa – for a chance to see the fabled Big Five. Addo even boasts the Big Seven (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, as well as the great white shark and Southern right whale).

SIGHTS
• Addo Elephant National Park
• Cape Recife Lighthouse Villa
• Donkin Reserve, Pyramid and Lighthouse
• Fort Frederick, Eastern Cape
• Kragga Kamma Game Park
• Kwantu Private Game Reserve
• Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
• Art Museum
• Sardinia Bay Beach

CUISINE AND SHOPPING
Port Elizabeth has a diverse culinary scene with many local foods to try, including seafood, meat dishes, and baked goods. Locally grown oysters are a popular dish in Port Elizabeth. Biltong: A popular snack made from dried, cured, and spiced meat. Malva pudding: A sweet and sticky baked sponge pudding made with apricot jam and served with hot cream sauce.

There are plenty of places to shop In the Eastern Cape. From large shopping malls in Port Elizabeth to small boutique shops in Richmond Hill and country shops in the Gamtoos Valley there is a wide range of shopping in the Eastern Cape. Some of them are Greenacres, Baywest Mall, Walmer Park, Sunridge Village, MetLife Mall, Oceanside Surf Store, Pier 14, Moffet on Main Lifestyle Centre, Cleary Park.

Today’s Excursion – Township Exploration – South Africa’s Past & Present Difficulty
We explored South Africa’s turbulent past and how its citizens are working to help overcome it.

Port Elizabeth City, Orientation Drive, Landmarks, Local Townships, Kwa Magxaki Viewpoint
We departed from the pier for a brief orientation tour of Port Elizabeth’s city center, including stops at the Native Strangers location, Livingstone Hospital, and Luthuli Square en route to Missionvale, an impoverished and undeveloped residential township. From here, drive past the Govan Mbeki Township, then continue to the middle-class areas of Kwadwesi and Kwa Magxaki. Following a photo stop at a scenic Kwa Magxaki viewpoint, re-board your coach and head to the New Brighton Township via Veeplaas, Zwide, and past the main trading area, Njoli Square, before reaching Kwazakhele.

Gonjwe Hostel, Aya’s Ceramic Art Studio, Ceramic Art, Emlotheni Memorial Park

We drove past the hairdressers at the Goniwe Hostel before a visit to Aya’s Ceramic Art Studio. Situated in the heart of the
New Brighton Township and close to the Red Location, Ayanda (Aya) Mji draws her inspiration from the African landscape,
animals, birds, and even her dreams of creating some of this beautiful country’s most interesting ceramic art.

We drove to Emlotheni Memorial Park, recently built to commemorate the death of the first Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres, who were hanged by the previous regime in the early 1960s.