Start here · By Dean Cothill
Things to do in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): a local guide
Plan your Gqeberha visit with beaches, wildlife, local food, culture and family outings, plus practical guides to help you choose.
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A local’s love letter to the Friendly CityThere’s more
There’s more
to this city.
The beaches. The little coffee spots. The people who make it home. Come and find your kind of Gqeberha.
Explore the city33° south. A world of possibility. Shark Rock Pier, Algoa Bay
Photograph by Dean Cothill
Photograph by Dean Cothill
What are you in the mood for?A good day starts somewhere.
Same city. A fresh pair of eyes.Salt in the air.
Salt in the air.
Stories everywhere.
Some call it Port Elizabeth. Some call it Gqeberha. For us, it’s home.
We’ve explored the bay high and low, gathering the places, people and experiences worth sharing. From a familiar stretch of sand to a small business doing something beautiful — there’s always more to discover.
Meet the person behind the picturesGo where the day takes you
Explore every storyFind your kind of day.
Gqeberha & the Eastern CapeGood pages
Plan your tripGood pages
before you go.
Where to stay. A day in Addo. A little more of the coast. Begin with our practical travel guides, then make the journey your own.
Safari planning · By Dean Cothill
Visiting Addo Elephant National Park from Gqeberha
My starting plan for an Addo day: Matyholweni or Main Camp, self-drive or a collected tour, dated fees and time to enjoy the wildlife without rushing.
Read the guideCity itinerary · By Dean Cothill
3 days in Gqeberha: a beach, city and safari itinerary
How I would arrange a first visit: the beachfront, a full day in Addo, then Sards and coffee or a guided city outing. Named stays and food stops along the way.
Read the guideOn the wild edge of the cityA little less rush.
A little less rush.
A little more ocean.
Rock pools, a lighthouse and a coastline that asks you to stay a little longer. Step into our story from Cape Recife.
Discover Cape Recife
Cape Recife · Through Dean’s lensA few good places to begin
Start somewhere good.
Favourite reads from the archive. A walk, a coffee, a day with the people you love.
3 October 2022 · 1 min read
An afternoon at the Donkin Reserve
A pyramid, a lighthouse and stories written into the city. Step inside our original guide to the Donkin Reserve.
Read the story21 December 2022 · 3 min read
A flat white at Holiday Coffee
A little coffee, a little conversation, and the people behind the counter. A local visit from our December 2022 archive.
Read the story17 December 2022 · 9 min read
Family days around the bay
Animals, outdoor adventures, play spaces and rainy-day ideas. Our original family guide, with venue details to confirm before you go.
Read the storyPeople, places & the life between
Visit the story archiveStories from around the bay.
11 August 2026 · 5 min read
Four books, and the life beneath them
A local writing story about grief, faith, fatherhood and the questions that stay with us. Originally published before the September 2026 book release.
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22 April 2025 · 1 min read
9 marathons. 9 provinces. One heart.
From the 2025 archive: an invitation to run across the country, raise support and give something back to local communities.
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22 December 2024 · 3 min read
21 half marathons. A journey of heart and sole.
A story from December 2024 about showing up, running together, and finding meaning one day at a time.
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The writing beyond the cityA few books.
A few books.
A little more of the story.
I’m Dean Cothill, the writer and photographer behind this guide. My author site brings together my books and writing on grief, faith and becoming.
Visit my author siteRace weekendsBring your running shoes.
Bring your running shoes.
Make a little weekend of it.
A plan for visiting runners and the people travelling with them.
Plan a race weekendBeyond the websiteMore of the city.
More of the city.
Between the stories.
A morning on the beachfront. A corner you haven’t noticed before. Follow along, share your discoveries, and keep a little piece of the bay with you.
For the people building something hereYour business belongs
Work with usYour business belongs
in the picture.
Local stories, thoughtful photography and partnerships with a little more heart. Let’s talk about what you’re making.