Port Elizabeth: Route 67 and Heritage

Port Elizabeth offers tangible starting points for a trip focused on art, architecture and history. Route 67 leads to notable places in the city centre; historic buildings and collections add to the cultural picture. If you are looking for hotels in Port Elizabeth, you can first decide whether these city themes will be the main focus or whether you also want to include destinations in the wider Nelson Mandela Bay area.

Route 67 and the Donkin Reserve

Route 67 runs from the city centre via the steps at St Mary’s Terrace to the Donkin Reserve and the Great Flag on the hill. The route’s 67 public artworks symbolise Nelson Mandela’s 67-year-long struggle for South Africa’s freedom. The route map identifies specific stops; the number 67 explains the artworks’ thematic connection.

The Donkin Reserve offers views of Gqeberha, the harbour and Algoa Bay. Guided tours of Route 67 are available from the Donkin Visitor Information Office in the lighthouse building. Check with the office before your visit to find out whether these tours are currently being offered. This helps distinguish the route itself from the viewpoints at the Donkin Reserve as separate aspects of this cultural theme.

Historic buildings and memorial sites

The colonial-era City Hall stands at Vuyisile Mini Square. The building dates from the mid-19th century; its clock tower was added in 1883. City Hall was recognised as a National Monument in 1973. The square also has a replica of the Diaz Cross, commemorating Bartholomew Diaz’s arrival in Algoa Bay in 1488. This brings together a 19th-century building and a memorial to an event from 1488.

No. 7 Castle Hill, on Castle Hill Road in the Central neighbourhood, was completed in 1825 and opened as a museum in 1965 following renovation work. Yellowwood floors and beams, as well as a restored slate roof, are among the building’s features. Exhibits include a dolls’ house, lacework and a kitchen. The building’s history and exhibits offer different insights into the house: the dates place its construction and later opening in context, while the objects and rooms give a more concrete picture of the collection’s themes.

Art collections in Gqeberha

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum complements the city’s architectural and urban history with a wide range of collections. These include South African art, particularly from the Eastern Cape, British art and international prints. Indian miniatures and Chinese textiles are among the works representing Oriental art. Together, the collections bring regional art into conversation with works and objects from a range of cultural contexts.

Additional themes in the wider Nelson Mandela Bay area

The following examples relate to the wider Nelson Mandela Bay destination. Algoa Bay, the coastal region of Nelson Mandela Bay, has 40 kilometres of beaches. A different landscape can be found at Kragga Kamma Game Park, with its coastal forests and grassland. Species found there include white rhinos, lions, buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes and zebras. The park offers guided game drives and self-guided wildlife viewing; however, sightings of any particular animal are not guaranteed. Check what is currently available before going on a game drive.

Uitenhage is also part of the wider Nelson Mandela Bay destination. The Drostdy Museum documents the historical development of Uitenhage and the surrounding districts. Its themes include exhibitions on toys, porcelain and clothing, as well as an archival library. The museum is located at 50 Caledon Street in Uitenhage.

You can focus your search on Port Elizabeth or also include regional themes.

Discover more destinations: Uitenhage, Clarendon Marine

Go to the wider travel overview: Nelson Mandela Bay.