The Donkin Reserve
The Donkin Reserve
3.5
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3.5
189 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
78
Average
34
Poor
6
Terrible
22
Andy P
39 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Not knowing if there was a fee to park we were approached (like many others said before me) but a well dressed man who appeared to have a real looking security badge and said because we drove in and stopped our car (no more than 2 min) we were captured on camera and needed to go to a parking meter and buy a ticket. He said there was another man going this way and we could follow him. We proceeded to but "it just felt wrong"- no other than gut instinct told us it was fake. When we tried to turn around- another car started beeping and swerving wildly at us and flagging us down to "pay the man". We kept on driving away. Later on I read reviews that said either the machine eats your card, swipes your data (pin, etc), or possible muggings.....PLEASE DO NOT fall for it!! I spoke with a local later on down the coast and they said yes, we were lucky we weren't jumped or accosted.
Written 26 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert C
31 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
A car parking scam is in operation round the area. Do not follow the ‘city official’, do not put your card into the ATM if asked and do not provide them your pin. I luckily avoided losing anything but a very intimidating and unpleasant experience
Written 21 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kent D
4 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
I had a few hours in Gqeberha and decided that rather than tour the local malls, I would check out the inner city. Donkin Reserve is a sample of the current state of the inner city. At some time, great thought and love went into this space. There are unique sculptures which were placed with great care and thought. The space was intelligently designed and in its prime, it must have been an enjoyable public space. However, this space has been badly neglected and as a consequence is no longer a pleasant place to visit. Under every bush is a piece of rubbish and litter blows throughout the space. I don’t think it will take much to revive it to its former glory but until that day, it feels abandoned (much like the rest of Gqeberha).
Written 20 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HenryandWanda
Seattle, WA24 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
We unfortunately didn’t see the lighthouse as we left due to scammers that were intimidating. Someone reported the exact same encounter in July 2019 so it seems nothing has changed.
A man approached us in a suit with a badge that said city security. He said we had to pay to park. I told him there were no signs and argued. But he was persistent and very well spoken.
We decided to avoid him and went back to our car. As we approached it, another guy drove up and the first guy told the second guy he needed a ticket. They went through a charade of discussing where to go to get one, and then the second guy said he knew what to do and that he’d show us where the machine was and we could follow him.
We got in our cars and left. I’m not sure if the scam results in them mugging you or getting you to use your card at an ATM but glad we didn’t find out. Since this has now been going on for four years (that’s when the fist report was), it sounds like the city isn’t addressing it.
A man approached us in a suit with a badge that said city security. He said we had to pay to park. I told him there were no signs and argued. But he was persistent and very well spoken.
We decided to avoid him and went back to our car. As we approached it, another guy drove up and the first guy told the second guy he needed a ticket. They went through a charade of discussing where to go to get one, and then the second guy said he knew what to do and that he’d show us where the machine was and we could follow him.
We got in our cars and left. I’m not sure if the scam results in them mugging you or getting you to use your card at an ATM but glad we didn’t find out. Since this has now been going on for four years (that’s when the fist report was), it sounds like the city isn’t addressing it.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine G
Nice, France2,029 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We are 4 people and when we just arrived in P-E we drove to see that place which is maybe the only one thing to see here. We made some photos but we saw it was 3 p-m and we saw drunk people near us. We parked our rental car on the road and 4 people came in our direction and also 4 other people came to tell us something from the opposite direction. We were afraid…we didn’t feel safe.
You must pay attention. We were the only tourists here. All the old hotels are closed with destroyed windows. The roads are very dirty with glass, papers, cans…
You must pay attention. We were the only tourists here. All the old hotels are closed with destroyed windows. The roads are very dirty with glass, papers, cans…
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Respectnatureall
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
Parking scam beware. Spoiled our experience. Do NOT follow a car to buy a ticket! We left without seeing anything. What a pity the PE municipality does nothing about these scammers. Lucky our BS sensor was on high alert. Do not waste your time to go there!
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
prettygurrly
Shrewsbury, UK127 contributions
July 2019 • Couples
Agree with all excellent reviews of lighthouse. This review is a warning:
Yesterday we visited the lighthouse and had a pleasant visit. We left for a short while and then returned to eat our lunch on the grass. I was approached by an officious looking man with a name badge that said "City Security". Really well spoken, polite and harmless appearing. He asked me if I was the driver of my car and I said yes (I had ignored him when he just called out ma'am a few times). He said I had to buy a ticket to park my car. I pointed out the sign said I could park for 2 hours only between 9.30 and 4.30. He said no, I had to drive to a green kiosk to but a ticket. Then a second car arrived and the guy and the driver went through the whole charade of him being told he had to buy a ticket. My husband then decided to go to the tourist office to see what they said and the guys followed him trying to dissuade him from going into the office. The first guy said that we should follow the second car to find the kiosk, we said fine and then finally stove away once the car and give in the opposite direction.
FYI, parking on the street in free but if there is a few to be paid, the only way we found to buy a ticket was off a parking attendant who has ID and a little machine that will print out your ticket for you. Don't follow anyone, just be polite and don't antagonize them.
Yesterday we visited the lighthouse and had a pleasant visit. We left for a short while and then returned to eat our lunch on the grass. I was approached by an officious looking man with a name badge that said "City Security". Really well spoken, polite and harmless appearing. He asked me if I was the driver of my car and I said yes (I had ignored him when he just called out ma'am a few times). He said I had to buy a ticket to park my car. I pointed out the sign said I could park for 2 hours only between 9.30 and 4.30. He said no, I had to drive to a green kiosk to but a ticket. Then a second car arrived and the guy and the driver went through the whole charade of him being told he had to buy a ticket. My husband then decided to go to the tourist office to see what they said and the guys followed him trying to dissuade him from going into the office. The first guy said that we should follow the second car to find the kiosk, we said fine and then finally stove away once the car and give in the opposite direction.
FYI, parking on the street in free but if there is a few to be paid, the only way we found to buy a ticket was off a parking attendant who has ID and a little machine that will print out your ticket for you. Don't follow anyone, just be polite and don't antagonize them.
Written 14 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Markus J
Nuremberg, Germany5 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
We got robbed at the corner to the Edward Hotel during day (1 pm) with lots of people around. Three men with a gun. Its not safe at PE. Even at touristic places. So watch out.
Written 19 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Markus, sorry to hear about your unfortunate incident. Security has been informed and there should always be metro security guards in the area.
Written 19 April 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gualope
1 contribution
Nov 2018 • Couples
Got robbed at noon by two men with a gun. Terrible experince being pushed on the ground being pregnant getting a gun pointed at you. Stole my phone, tried to streal purse and camera. Ruined whole holiday. Didn’t see any guards or police. DON’T COME HERE!
Written 11 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonymous1099
46 contributions
July 2019
Parked car and then two locals calling themselves parking attendants told us to pay even though it was free parking. So we left, we were then chased around the city by fraudsters who eventually got us to hand over our credit cards with pins. I would like the security/police to be informed and to prevent this happening again.
Written 18 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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