Hire a car in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, without a credit card. Collect it at the airport or in the city, with full cover included and the deposit on your debit card.
What a week costs in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
| Car | Port Elizabeth Airport | Gqeberha (city) |
|---|---|---|
| Small car | from €168 | from €168 |
| Midsize car | from €246 | from €253 |
| Large car or SUV | from €648 | from €648 |
From prices per week for a seven-day rental, all-inclusive, with the deposit on your debit card. Your price depends on your dates and how early you book. Updated 13 November 2026. About this price
Why hire a car in Gqeberha?
Gqeberha lies on Algoa Bay, east of the Garden Route. Port Elizabeth was renamed Gqeberha in 2021, the Xhosa and Khoe name for the Baakens River, and the airport became Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. You will still see the old name in booking systems, including our search.
Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third largest national park, starts about 50 kilometres from the airport, and you can drive through it in an ordinary car. West along the N2 are Jeffreys Bay and Tsitsikamma, the start of the Garden Route. The airport is only four kilometres from the city centre, and there is a branch in the city as well. For more destinations, see car hire in South Africa.
Exploring Gqeberha and the Eastern Cape by car
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo is home to the Big Five, and with whales and great white sharks along its coast it is known as the park of the Big Seven. It also has the largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle, which has right of way on the park roads. The Matyholweni Gate is about 47 kilometres from the airport and the Main Camp about 74. The entrance road and several loops are tarred, and the gravel roads are suitable for normal cars, though they can close after heavy rain.
The speed limit in the park is 40 km/h. You may only get out of your car at marked places, and driving after the gates close is not allowed. A daily conservation fee per person applies; SANParks sets new rates every November.
West along the N2
Jeffreys Bay, about 85 kilometres from the airport, is home to Supertubes, the surf spot where the World Surf League has held its contests. Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park is about 190 kilometres away, with the suspension bridge over the river mouth and the start of the Otter Trail. Just past it, the Bloukrans River marks the border with the Western Cape. Continue to Plettenberg Bay and George to drive the Garden Route from east to west.
Driving in Gqeberha
South Africa drives on the left. Your own licence is valid if it is in English and has your photo and signature; otherwise bring an International Driving Permit. Heading west on the N2, you pass the Tsitsikamma toll plaza.
Best time to hire a car in Gqeberha
Gqeberha has a mild climate. Rain falls in every month, from about 33 millimetres in January to 72 in August, spread over five to seven days a month. Average highs range from about 20°C in July and August to 26°C in February, and lows from about 8°C in July to 18°C in February. The sun shines for seven to eight hours a day all year round.
Whale-watching boats go out in winter and spring. Southern right whales are seen off Gqeberha from June to September and humpback whales in Algoa Bay from June to November; Bryde's whales follow from September to November.
The longest South African school holiday runs from mid-December to mid-January, with shorter breaks around Easter, from late June to mid-July and in late September.
| Season | Average highHigh | Average lowLow | Rain a monthRain per month | Sunshine a daySun per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SummerDec to Feb | 25°C | 17°C | 38 mm | 8 hours h |
| AutumnMar to May | 23°C | 14°C | 47 mm | 7 hours h |
| WinterJun to Aug | 20°C | 8°C | 58 mm | 7 hours h |
| SpringSep to Nov | 22°C | 13°C | 53 mm | 8 hours h |
Averages measured at the airport of Gqeberha, 1991 to 2020 (World Meteorological Organization climate normals).
One-way trips from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
You can also return the car somewhere else. These are the measured routes from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
| To | Car hire from | One-way fee | Total, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | €178 | R1,314about €72 | €250 |
Seven days, airport to airport, all-inclusive rates without a credit card. The car hire is paid when you book; the one-way fee is paid in local currency when you collect the car, so its euro amount and the total are approximate. Measured on 2 November 2026. All one-way routes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does car hire in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) cost without a credit card?
A week of all-inclusive car hire in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): a small car from €168, a midsize car from €246 and a large car or SUV from €648. That is the total for seven days, with the deposit on a debit card. These are the lowest prices across Port Elizabeth Airport and Gqeberha (city). Updated 13 November 2026.
How much is the deposit in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)?
About €164 (R3,000), held on your debit card when you collect the car. Updated 13 November 2026.
Can I hire a car at Gqeberha airport without a credit card?
Yes. Choose Port Elizabeth Airport in the search above; it is the same airport, now called Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. We show you the cars that let you leave the deposit on a debit card.
Can I drive through Addo in a normal car?
Yes. The entrance road and several loops are tarred and the gravel roads are suitable for normal cars. Only the Bedrogfontein trail needs a 4x4.
How far is Addo from Gqeberha?
About 47 kilometres from the airport to the Matyholweni Gate and about 74 kilometres to the Main Camp.
