About Gqeberha

Gqeberha, long known as Port Elizabeth and nicknamed the Friendly City, is the anchor of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro on Algoa Bay, one of the few South African cities where wide sandy beaches sit within walking distance of the city centre. It has been a car-manufacturing hub for over a century, with Volkswagen and other plants in and around the metro giving it the nickname "the Detroit of South Africa." The Donkin Reserve, with its pyramid memorial and lighthouse overlooking the bay, and the Route 67 public art trail trace the city's history from 1820 Settler landing point to democratic South Africa. Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, built for the 2010 World Cup, anchors a sporting calendar that runs from rugby to athletics, while the city serves as the main gateway to Addo Elephant National Park and the start of the Garden Route.

Gqeberha's dance floors and sports fields stay busy through the week. The Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival takes over the Savoy Theatre from 24-29 August, while runners can join the NMB Stadium Women's Night Run at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 28 August, the same night Jack Parrow performs at Elements in Little Chelsea. Choirs take the spotlight the day before when the Charlo Primary Choir Festival fills Viljoen Hall, and mountain bikers can close the month with the Hayterdale Classic MTB Race & Trail Run through the Zuurberg trails.