When traveling along the South African coast, you can’t help but retrace (on land) the path of the Portuguese explorers of yore. Algoa Bay made its way onto maps thanks to Bartolomeu Dias in 1488; by the 16th century, it had become a hub for Portuguese merchants trading with Goa. Port Elizabeth has continued this tradition today, while at the same time becoming an industrial powerhouse. In particular, the car industry reigns supreme, and most major manufacturers have a plant here. We wanted to make the most of our time today because it was our last chance to breathe in the sea air—our expedition turns upcountry for a fortnight, with the first stop being the Addo Elephant National Park.
