Automotive Hub of the Eastern Cape
Uitenhage
The charming little town of Uitenhage is situated only 38 kilometers from Port Elizabeth and 30 kilometers from the sparkling Indian Ocean. Situated in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, the city has just recently been made part of the greater Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Not only does Uitenhage serve as the automotive hub of the Eastern Cape, but it is filled with a rich history and it has so many beautiful gardens and parks that it is often called ‘The Garden Town’.
The town was founded in 1804 by J.A. Uitenhage de Mist, a Dutch governmental official sent to the Cape Colony in the early 1800s. Named in his honor, the town is filled with a number of excellent 19th-century South African buildings such as the Drostdy (built in 1815), the Town Hall (1882), and the Court House (1898). There are many other beautiful examples of Settler and Victorian architecture, drawing architecture lovers and history enthusiasts alike.
One of the standout historical attractions is the Cuyler Manor, situated just outside Uitenhage. This elegant home once belonged to the Landdrost of Uitenhage (1802–1829) and has been lovingly restored. Today, it offers a peek into the past with period furnishings, a demonstration farm complete with Angora goats, and old-world crafts such as soap and candle making, spinning, and weaving. The manor also features herb gardens, farm animals, and an old millhouse.
Additional historical landmarks in town include old churches, war memorials, and cultural monuments that highlight Uitenhage’s colonial past and community development over the decades.
