City of Saints
Makhanda is known as the City of Saints due to its magnificent churches. If you have over-indulged in local restaurants and nightclubs, you may want to walk yourself back to peak fitness on a 5-kilometre hike to the Grey Dam Toposcope. Here you can marvel at spectacular views that span much of the Settlers Monument makes for an ideal spot to partake of sundowners. Also popular is the Observatory Museum, where you can view the sole working camera obscura in the southern hemisphere.
New Street is where you will find a selection of clubs, pubs coffee shops and restaurants that cater for every taste and this is where things get very interesting as you find yourself surrounded by students, teachers, farmers and lecturers. There is likely nothing more entertaining than eavesdropping or conversing with the university students.
It is certainly refreshing being exposed to their fresh ideas and mind blowing theories. It is, furthermore, alleged that numerous ghosts frequent Makhanda! Commercial spirit thrives at the spaza shops in the township community. Here you will find goats and cows roaming the streets and donkey carts carrying the likes of wood.
Natural Attractions
Visitors to Makhanda enjoy engaging with locals at the shebeens. At Fingo Village, you can learn about the Mfengu people, who were the first black indigenous inhabitants to become British subjects. Traditional huts, referred to as kraals are dotted about Makhanda.
It takes about an hour and a half to drive to Makhanda from Port Elizabeth. Within this route, one has easy access to game reserves and unspoilt beaches of the Sunshine Coast. The approximately hour and a half drive between Port Elizabeth and Makhanda is scenically incredible in terms of natural attractions.