{"id":771,"date":"2020-08-16T08:25:28","date_gmt":"2020-08-16T06:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/gh\/?page_id=771"},"modified":"2025-11-22T12:45:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T10:45:04","slug":"things-to-do","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/gh\/things-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism<\/a> has a great application that will be handy to have when you visit the city.<\/p>\n

Here is the link for downloading: https:\/\/www.nmbt.co.za\/port_elizabeth_apps.html<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is also a fabulous pass available, take a peek: https:\/\/www.nelsonmandelabaypass.co.za\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Nelson Mandela Bay Pass, a smart card access pass, provides you with free admission to a variety of attractions and activities in and around Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth area. This includes, amongst others, museums, game reserves, scuba diving, art galleries, sightseeing tours and many more. It also entitles you to some great discounts in selected stores for shopping, activities, entertainment and more.\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"Gqeberha\/Port Elizabeth forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Gqeberha \/Port Elizabeth, Kariega\/ Uitenhage, Despatch and Colchester are the towns that comprise the metro, named after the first President of a democratic and free South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013).<\/p>\n

Our 15 favourite attractions that we highly recommend, in no particular order:-<\/h2>\n

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1. <\/strong>Addo Elephant National Park<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third-largest national park and is home to the traditional Big Five (Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Rhino, Leopard) and the Big 7, which includes the Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark in its marine environment.<\/p>\n

Situated a mere 30-minute drive from Port Elizabeth \/ Gqeberha, the park is perfectly situated to show off all its natural wonders – from the small, flightless dung beetles to the hundreds of grey mammoths, the park was formed to protect and so much more in between!<\/p>\n

Activities at Addo abound – from self-drive game viewing, guided game drives and 4\u00d74 trails to short walks and longer overnight hikes or simply bird-watching or relishing in a relaxing spa treatment. Addo has it all!<\/p>\n

Addo Elephant National Park, situated in a malaria-free area just an hour\u2019s drive from the South African coastal city of Port Elizabeth\/Gqeberha, is a magnificently diverse national park and offers a wide variety of game viewing, outdoor adventure, accommodation and cultural experiences.<\/p>\n

Addo Elephant National Park is 43kms from Dempsey’s Guest House. http:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/addo-elephant-park-is-just-an-hour-from-us-at-dempseys\/<\/a><\/h4>\n

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Route recommendation: when travelling to and from Addo Elephant National Park, please be advised not<\/em> <\/strong>to use route R335 via Motherwell.
\nSee map above for alternative routes: travel via south entrance at Colchester, Sundays River Mouth, or N2 – N10 around the east and north of the park, via Paterson.<\/p>\n

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2. Whale, Dolphin and Penguin, island cruise in Algoa Bay<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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“Raggy Charters” is the first licensed, boat-based Whale and Dolphin-watching company running out of Port Elizabeth\/Gqeberha. This permit allows them to get as close as 50 metres to these beautiful animals, whilst other vessels are not permitted closer than 300 metres. They offer whale-watching cruises during the whale-watching season, which generally runs from June until December. Out of the whale-watching season they specialize in Penguin Island cruises, which take guests out to St. Croix Island. This island is home to the largest breeding colony of the endangered African penguin…on the planet.\u00a0 Also on offer, all year round, is a dolphin-watching cruise which often takes their passengers out to St. Croix Island.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/the-bottlenose-dolphin-reigns-in-algoa-bay\/<\/a><\/h4>\n

http:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/magnificent-book-of-our-south-african-coasts\/<\/a><\/h4>\n

Raggy Charters’ cruises depart from the Port Elizabeth Harbour which is 6.5kms from Dempsey’s Guest House.<\/h4>\n

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3. Cape Recife Nature Reserve<\/a> and SANCOBB <\/a><\/strong>: The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds<\/h3>\n

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The 366 hectare Cape Recife Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1973 and is situated next to the Pine Lodge Holiday Resort, just off Marine Drive, Summerstrand. A 9km circular, walking trail starts at the entrance gate of the nature reserve and offers beautiful unspoilt beaches, natural dune vegetation, rocky outcrops, a lighthouse built in 1851, an old military observation post, as well as a bird hide. The reserve is also regarded as one of the best bird-watching venues around Port Elizabeth\/Gqeberha.<\/p>\n

Vehicle entrance permits are available from Pine Lodge Resort, located at entrance to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve.<\/p>\n

Entrance for the purpose of visiting SANCOBB is free, provided proof of the visit is produced on exit from the reserve.<\/p>\n

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is an international body dedicated to seabird rehabilitation; the rehabilitation and education centre\u00a0 is situated in the Cape Recife Nature Reserve. The centre\u2019s purpose isn\u2019t just to rescue and rehabilitate but to also inform and educate the public through their different programs. Tour the marine rehabilitation and education centre and experience nature through sight, sound and touch. Visitors can experience the hospital and see the volunteers in action, helping to save our environment, in particular the endangered African Penguin.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/dempseys.co.za\/cape-recife-lighthouse\/<\/a><\/h4>\n

Cape Recife and SANCOBB are approximately 15kms from Dempsey’s Guest House.<\/h4>\n

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4. South African Air Force Museum<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The Port Elizabeth\/ Gqeberha branch of the South African Air Force Museum, Forest Hill Drive, Southdene, is located on the southern side of the Chief David Stuurman Airport\/Port Elizabeth Airport. The museum boasts a total of nine aircraft, including helicopters, a supersonic jet fighter, two of the world-famous Harvard trainer aircrafts and the oldest surviving jet fighter in South Africa. There are ongoing restoration projects being carried out by a team of dedicated enthusiasts who are members of the “Friends of the S.A.A.F. Museum.” There is a display of aircraft memorabilia, together with a fine collection of models and pictures in the main exhibition hall. Interested aviation enthusiasts will be pleased to actually view the restoration work being carried out in a restored World War II hangar.<\/p>\n

The South African Air Force Museum is 9.2kms from Dempsey’s Guest House.<\/h4>\n

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5. Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve is a 500 hectare \u201cfloral wonderland\u201d reserve and is located 35km west of Port Elizabeth\/Gqeberha. The terrain comprises southern wooded slopes, a large plateau and northern river banks each with its own vegetation type. The prime purpose of the reserve is to protect and propagate the unique indigenous flora. Visitors are encouraged to explore and enjoy the extraordinary diversity and splendour of the natural Fynbos, succulents and other indigenous flora. There are a number of hiking trails of various distances and degrees of difficulty, while mountain-bikers are welcome to explore the plateau section of the reserve. There are a number of flat gravel roads which are ideal for exploration on a mountain bike while the main circular route to the picnic and lookout spot, one can also drive the gravel route by car.<\/p>\n

Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve is 38.4kms from Dempsey’s Guest House.<\/h4>\n

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6.<\/strong> Kragga Kamma Game Park<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

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The park\u2019s lush, coastal forest and grassland plays home to vast herds of African game including the White rhino, the African buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, the Burchell’s zebra, also known as the Plains zebra, the Nyala, the Bontebok, the Lechwe buck and many more species. The animals roam freely, unrestricted in their natural surroundings, giving guests the opportunity to view the animals in the most peaceful, natural state.<\/p>\n

Explore the park from the comfort of your own vehicle on well-maintained roads (no need for a 4×4 vehicle) and enjoy viewing the game at your own pace, in any weather conditions, on our self-drive tours.<\/p>\n

For really close encounters with the animals, choose the 2-hour guided tour in an open Game Viewer vehicle, accompanied by a professional guide who will be ready to provide interesting facts and information about the animals as well as plentiful, historical background information to the area.<\/p>\n

Apart from game drives, one can also engage in other activities such as bird-watching from the Treetop Boardwalk, enjoy lunch or dessert at “The Bush Caf\u00e9,” a barbeque in the shaded picnic area or a tranquil stroll along “The Monkey Walk” with the opportunity to see Vervet monkeys, Cheetahs and even the shy and elusive Blue duiker.<\/p>\n

Kragga Kamma Game Park is located 15kms from Dempsey’s Guest House.<\/h4>\n

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7. Magnificent beaches<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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40kms of magnificent golden beaches, warm water, calm sea and fair breezes! We have one of the best sailing venues in the world!<\/h3>\n