9 Best Sights in The Eastern Cape, South Africa

Gonubie Beach is at the mouth of the Gonubie River, about half an hour northeast of the city. The riverbank is covered in dense forest, with giant strelitzias (wild banana trees) growing right to the water's edge. A lovely white sandy beach, tidal pools, and a 500-yard-long wooden walkway make this a fantastically user-friendly beach. It's also a good place to watch whales and dolphins, and compared to some of the more central beaches it's pretty quiet. There are picnic tables, fire pits, and a playground. Gonubie is ultimately not just a beach destination, but quite likely the closest to downtown East London you should consider staying. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

The 137-meter (450-feet) long Shark Rock Pier is a Gqeberha landmark and definitely worth traversing for the view back towards Summerstrand it affords. It also marks one end of Hobie Beach, where sailing catamarans and jet skis launch, and where some of the city's best-loved annual sporting events and festivals are held. The section of beach nearest the pier is great for swimming and sunbathing, and there are also rock pools to explore; it can get very busy on a hot summer's day. With a view of the pier, Blue Waters Café serves very good food and is a great spot at sunset; you will doubtless also witness countless joggers making use of the long promenade strip that stretch along the seafront. There are plenty of restaurants along the other side of the promenade, including Ginger (offering what's considered the city's most upmarket dining) at the Beach Hotel; next door, the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World is a major draw for families, with places to eat, drink, shop, play, and even spend the night. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; sunbathing; walking.

Humewood Beach runs from King's Beach to Shark Rock Pier. This beach has fine white sand and is a great place for families, with shaded areas supplied by an overhead promenade. A convenient parking lot is behind the beach, and there are excellent facilities, including picnic tables, plus lifeguards on duty during peak times. Some grassy areas lead into Happy Valley, but it's not recommended that you walk into the valley, as it's often completely deserted and you may be in danger of being mugged. The beach slipway has a little reef, and the water beside it is great for snorkeling. Humewood Beach is close to the bustling Boardwalk Hotel and all its facilities (including a casino and mall) and the Beach Hotel, where Ginger Restaurant is located. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Within the bay and starting closest to the city center and harbor (which is best avoided), the first beach you come to is King's Beach, so named because King George VI slept in the Royal Train here during a visit to the city before World War II. You may want to avoid the far end of King's Beach, as it can get pretty crowded. The beach is one of three Blue Flag beaches in Gqeberha (along with Hobie Beach and Humewood Beach), meaning that it has met international standards of cleanliness, safety, and facilities. It's another very family-friendly beach, too. The Macarthurs Baths pool complex is along the promenade. The Garden Court King's Beach Hotel offers rooms with views across King's Beach. Amenities: lifeguard; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

The section of beach near McArthur Baths is great for swimming and very popular. If you'd rather swim in flat water, head for the bath complex. Open from September through April, for a small fee you can use a range of pools, two of which are heated to a few degrees above sea temperature. There's no natural grass here, however, so you will need to rent a lounge chair to be comfortable. Amenities: lifeguard; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Nahoon Beach, at the mouth of the Nahoon River, is about a 10-minute drive from the city. There's some fantastic surf—but only for people who know what they're doing. It's also just a beautiful beach for sunbathing, watching surfers, and evening walks, and the lagoon is good for swimming and snorkeling. The walk from the parking lot to the beach takes you through a beautiful forest, which helps make the beach feel secluded despite its proximity to the city. There are picnic tables, fire pits, and a playground, making a perfect spot for a braai. Nearby, The Beach Break cafe sells wonderful coffee and breakfasts and all kinds of scrumptious wraps, burgers, toasted sandwiches (or sarnies, as they call them here), and excellent cakes. It's a very pleasant spot pre- or post-beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); toilets. Best for: sunsets; surfing; walking.

Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve is set on 2,471 verdant and rolling acres of land that hug 7 km (4 miles) of private beach and pristine Indian Ocean. Though this isn't Big Five country, the reserve is home to white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, and a variety of antelope. The reserve's close proximity to both Port Elizabeth and East London make this a great game-viewing option for those who have only a few hours. The pristine, untouched beach is guaranteed to be unlike anything you've experienced in the States. There are no lifeguards or signs to restrict you from walking on the dunes, which are vertical not horizontal. Be sure to wear shoes, as the sand is peppered with coral. Swimming is prohibited, but this is a great place for rock and surf fishing.

Adjacent to the suburb of Summerstrand, Pollock Beach is one of the better swimming beaches, with a lovely small natural tidal pool. It also offers great surfing. (Generally the surfing in Gqeberha isn't too challenging, unlike at Jeffreys Bay, just over an hour's drive to the west, which has some pretty exciting waves.) The far end of Pollock Beach is best avoided, as it can get crowded with somewhat boisterous, picnicking, partying crowds. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (free); toilets. Best for: partiers; surfing.

For a truly fantastic Gqeberha beach experience, very little can beat Sardinia Bay Beach, outside the bay and about a 20-minute drive from the main beaches. Here, miles and miles of deserted, snow-white sand are great for long walks. It's best to come on weekends, however, as during the week it can be isolated and there have been a few incidents of muggings. On weekends there are plenty of people, and you will be perfectly safe. It's also a popular beach for scuba-diving and this part of the coast has been declared a marine reserve, so no fishing is allowed. There are also fire pits so come prepared for a braai. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (free); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.