Nelson Mandela Bay

NELSON MANDELA BAY IS AN EXCELLENT VALUE-FOR-MONEY, FAMILY FUN-IN-THESUN-HOLIDAY DESTINATION, NAMED AFTER NELSON MANDELA – HUMANITARIAN, FREEDOM FIGHTER AND WORLD ICON OF PEACE – NELSON MANDELA BAY IS LOCATED 763KM EAST OF CAPE TOWN, AND IS REGARDED AS THE GATEWAY TO THE SCENIC EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE AND THE WORLD-RENOWNED GARDEN ROUTE.

Nelson Mandela Bay is home to Gqeberha, Kariega and Despatch and is the only metropolitan area that was allowed by the former president to bear his name. Nelson Mandela Bay also holds a large percentage of South Africa’s biological diversity.

The area also boasts a marine biodiversity second to none and has been declared the ‘Bottlenose Dolphin capital’ of the world. Algoa Bay sees four whale species, two of them all year round and has the largest colonies of African Penguins and Cape Gannets in the world.

Quick facts

• Nelson Mandela Bay is the Mohair Capital of the world and processes most of the mohair produced in the world.

• The area is home to Addo Elephant National Park, the only national park in the world that is home to the Big 7 (Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant and then the Great White Shark and the Southern Right Whale).

• The Bay boasts 50% of the endangered African Penguin in its natural habitat on the islands of Nelson Mandela Bay.

• Bird Island has the largest colony of Cape Gannets in the World (approximately 70% of population) and can be seen in its full glory during the Sardine run.

• The Gqeberha opera house is the oldest theatre on the continent of Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.