Explore Gqeberha on One of its Many Walking Trails

Gqeberha has a reputation for being the Windy City, but locals will tell you there's one thing for sure: when the weather is good, The Bay is the best place for outdoors fun. There are so many Gqeberha activities to do that'll squeeze the juice out of a picture perfect day. Top of our list of things to do in Gqeberha with kids is walk.

If you're looking for something outdoorsy to do in Gqeberha, put on your walking shoes and head for one of the city's many trails. Here are our favourites, all easily accessible from your Gqeberha accommodation at The Boardwalk:

1. Take a Walk Through History

The 5km Donkin Heritage Trail links 51 places of historical interest on a stroll through PE's central district. It begins at The Campanile and ends at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum.

Explore 1820 Settler landmarks, Victorian buildings and monuments, and public art along the self-guided tour. 

2. Explore an Urban Wilderness

In the heart of Gqeberha's suburbs, there's a meandering trail that'll give you and the kids something of an enchanted forest escape. The 7.5km Lower Guinea Fowl Hiking Trail follows the edge of the Baakens River flood-plain through a steep valley into Settler's Park Nature Reserve.

The trail will take you through patches of wildflowers into wooded areas where the kids can spot dassies, leguaans and tortoises. It's also great for birdwatching. Make sure there's someone to pick you up at the end as it's not a circular route.

3. Walk Through the Cape Recife Nature Reserve

The 9km Roseate Tern Hiking Trail through the Cape Recife Nature Reserve serves up unspoilt beaches, natural dune vegetation, rocky outcrops, the oldest lighthouse in the Eastern Cape and a bird hide.

It's considered one of the prime bird watching areas in Gqeberha, where naturally you'll spot the trail's namesake: the rare Roseate tern. Tour the SAMREC penguin rehabilitation centre at the entrance before hitting the trail.

4. Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Easily our favourite Gqeberha hideaway, Scoenmakerskop is a 20 minute drive out of town, but a scenic one. It hints at the kind of seascapes and landscapes you'll see up close on the 8km circular Sacramento Trail through the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve. This is where the Portuguese galleon Sacramento ran aground in 1647 and it features some dramatic scenery.

The trail begins at the bronze cannon at Schoenmakerskop and then heads down to the shore to hug the coast. Once you've passed the Sacramento Monument you'll head into the Sardinia Bay Marine Reserve. Explore rock pools, watch for dolphins, or simply enjoy the wildflowers. The route continues into Cannon Bay to the ruins of a mill that used to crush seashells. Click here for a map of the trail.

5. Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve

35km from Port Elizabeth there's a 500 hectare floral wonderland waiting to be explored. The Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve new meaning to the term: stop and smell the roses (or here, the fynbos). The purpose of this small reserve is to protect and propagate unique indigenous flora.

Trails include the short Fynbos Ramble and the 3.5km River Walk which takes you along the edge of the dramatic Van Staden's Gorge. From wooded slope to river bank, enjoy the diversity of the natural fynbos, succulents and other indigenous flora.

Be sure to pack a picnic basket, you'll definitely want to spend the day.

What are your favourite things to do in Gqeberha with kids?